The REAL Superhosts

Will the "real" superhost please step up...

So, as you all know, Airbnb has a "Superhost" category, which they give to those hosts who meet certain criteria such as high percentage of inquiries/requests responded to, no cancellations of guest reservations, and a certain high star rating.

All of which doesn't really pertain to hosts' own "smarts" in doing business, it's more about the fate hosts had at guests' hands. Get a bad guest who retaliates when you confront them about some problem they caused or damage they did, and you might "lose superhost" because, in Airbnb's algebra on the matter, you failed when you didn't cave to a bad guests' desire to treat you as a doormat.

I propose that the host community come up with our own, "Smarter" definition of Superhost, a definition which actually pertains to smarts in hosting, not just the arbitrary fate we experience in random guests' hands.

For instance, here are some "smart" ways to host that could help hosts run their business in a way that more reliably leads them to success.

(1) Doing research on the STR market in your area before setting up a listing there. Studying other listings in the area and learning how to "work the market" to your advantage.
(2) Doing research on the laws and STR rules/policies in your city, region or state and "reading the writing on the wall" if there are no regulations on this issue yet.
(3) Know the landlord/tenant laws and landlord/guest laws for your area, and definitely know laws pertaining to eviction of short-stay guests, (and long-stay ones if you intend to have those)
(4) Setting up your listing in a way that is attractive and fits with your own temperament or your skillset. Getting tips from host community on design, furnishings, amenities.
(5) Writing your listing description and house rules in a way that
(a) Attracts the target clientele you seek, while perhaps deterring the clientele you do not want (eg, I want vacationers, not people moving to my area needing a "landing pad"...or whatever your clientele is...)
(b) Enables you to enforce your rules and/or get support from Airbnb in case of problems with guest (Eg, if you don't clearly state something isn't allowed, you probably wont' get help from Airbnb if guest does it and then you end up with a problem)
(c) Works for your own needs or style.
(d) Backs you up legally outside of Airbnb if you have to go to court.

Example: some hosts require that guests fill out and sign a rental agreement/contract before allowing them to enter the premises. Some really SMART hosts have an attorney draft said rental agreement. Some of these host's rental agreements are LONG...I heard one say his is 7 pages long.

(6) Do smart screening of guests. Don't just take anyone and everyone. Learn to look for red flags, ask questions of prospective guests if needed. Basically, figure out based on your own experience and other hosts' experiences/stories, what problems you want to avoid, and figure out what screening methods could help you screen out guests who may bring these problems.
(7) ID Verifiication: require that guests present valid ID upon arrival if not before.
(8) Credit card validation: Some hosts actually require guests to have a valid credit card upon entry, in case of problems, so they can be billed. I don't think this would apply to Airbnb as much as to VRBO or the like where you're getting paid directly. You can put a "hold" on their credit card if it's valid.
(9) If you are an offsite host, have some way of checking on your property and guests to ensure that
(a) Guests dont' bring more people than they booked for (Very common...and this is associated with the huge problem of out of control parties at hosts' homes)
(b) Guests dont' bring animals if those are not allowed.
(c) Guests dont' yank out your security devices or damage your property.
Eg, you could use security cameras, Ring doorbells, help from property manager, help from neighbors, Noise detector apps and more.

For instance: noiseaware.io/

Smarts on THESE things is the REAL "superhost", I say