Rockridge Casita

🍃 Quality over quantity. Less is more. Fewer better things. 💜 Thats our approach to designing a beautiful space for guests. We don’t fill the space with knickknacks. We do fill it with the best of the best when it comes to essentials: from coffee to pillows to the garden view. AND that’s our approach to hosting in general. We don’t overdo the communication or tech or amenities. We focus on the essentials and make those the best we can possibly imagine. What’s your favorite top quality essential to see in an Airbnb?

Visiting the Bay in winter

One thing is top of mind as we design a new Airbnb space 👇 The guest’s experience. In fact, that’s all I’m really thinking about when I decide details about the space. Why? ❤️Caring about your Airbnb guests during the design phase is important for so many reasons: 1️⃣👉Positive Reviews: Happy guests are more likely to leave positive reviews, which can attract more guests in the future. Good reviews impact your property's reputation and occupancy rate. 2️⃣ Repeat Bookings: Satisfied guests are more likely to return for future stays, increasing your revenue over time. 3️⃣Word of Mouth: Guests who have a great experience are likely to recommend your property to friends and family, leading to more bookings through word of mouth. 4️⃣Superhost Status: Airbnb rewards hosts who consistently provide excellent hospitality with Superhost status, which can boost your listing's visibility and credibility. 5️⃣ Ethical Responsibility: As a host, you have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of your guests during their stay. 6️⃣Differentiation: In a competitive market, offering exceptional service and care can help your listing stand out and attract more bookings. Caring about your Airbnb guests benefits your guests' experience AND enhances your property's reputation in the long run. ❤️

Autumn in the bay

Pups are a part of our hosting. What makes a guest feel more at home than being greeted by a furry neighbor? Do you travel with your pup? If so, what do you love to have on hand? Thanks to Ziggy for being our new co-host and posing patiently.

Quick story about my last Airbnb stay. It was a small house in wine country and everything in it was clean and functioning. But it had zero personality. I could have been anywhere. I slept well and had a nice shower, but I don’t remember the Airbnb’s name and nothing about it stood out. There is an abundance of these Airbnbs - marble countertops, dark gray couch, a giant “relax” quote. I wish that hosting would stick to its original roots of people opening their homes and designing a space with thoughtful intention over time. Designing this way doesn’t have to be expensive but it does take time and thought, and that seems to be a thing of the past. What’s something you miss about the good old days of airbnb when it first started?

Our hosting is going strong. ❤️ After 12 years of Airbnb hosting, we have it on auto pilot. That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to the details and aim for five-star cleanliness. It means we are pros! I’m currently revising my Airbnb hosting masterclass to share again soon. 👉What’s one thing you would love to know about hosting?

our hearts still ache from saying farewell to our sweet Mia but if there’s anything helpful to speed our healing it’s the ridiculous personality this little pup Ziggy. he likes to snuggle, but only in the morning. he likes kibble, but only with Greek yogurt. he likes long walks, but only if he’s carrying a really good stick. is there anything better than a good laugh because of a rambunctious puppy?

“This is our favorite Airbnb in the Bay Area, and we’ve stayed at a number of them. While not large, the casita is very well-designed which makes it a pleasure to stay in. Its also an easy walk to the shops and restuaants in downtown Rockridge. Diana is a gracious host who clearly cares about making your stay here a pleasure. We’re looking forward to our next stay at the casita.” — Elliot, a frequent guest who just stayed for his fourth time while visiting family in the Bay. We are so grateful to have great guests who appreciate the care we put into hosting. ❤️ And a shoutout to our friends @chothompson who designed the casita with us years ago and who continue to wow us with their beautiful work. ❤️

Let’s talk about perfect mornings: there’s something about fall that just makes me want to spend the morning in bed with a good book and a coffee. what’s included in your perfect morning? what would you love to have on hand if you were staying in the casita?

how can you elevate your Airbnb branding? as we embark on a new airbnb project I have branding on my mind. In case you missed it, I had a great conversation with @sawgrassmktg about this last week. here were my main takeaways. 1. Know your ideal guest. Really know them! Know where they’re traveling from, why they’re visiting, what amenities they’ll value, their style, what their dream stay involves, and what would make their stay above and beyond! 2. Consider the five senses. Decide how you’ll appeal to each sense of your guests’ experience. What do you want your space to smell, feel and sound like? What tasty treats can you provide? what do you want your guests to feel like? 3. Do your homework. Before choosing a name, logo, etc make sure its not in use already and check that its not trademarked. 4. A brand is much more than a logo. A brand includes name, colors, overall look and style, amenities and photos. 5. Last but most important: branding includes photos and its helpful to include PEOPLE! Real estate photography is human-less, whereas great Airbnb photography tells a story about how your guests will use the space. Show us some people in your Airbnb photos. What comes after branding? Working with influencers. More to come on this one!

Branding! How To Craft an Unforgettable Airbnb Brand Identity, with @sawgrassmktg and @rockridgecasita

💔 We said goodbye to sweet Mia this weekend. She was 14.5 years and full of love. She was in pain and it was time. If you stayed with us you probably gave her a belly rub or saw her lounging on the deck in her favorite spot. She was our best friend, a great adventure dog and loved everyone. Thanks for all of your kind messages the last few days. We will miss her very very much. 💔

crossing our fingers that this becomes our next adventure. lil cabin in the woods (haven’t named her yet) in Truckee, California. follow along as we transform her into an even cozier cabin for outdoor adventures. #cabininthewoods #skihouse

Why is it hard to make time for creativity? When there is laundry, meals to make, hosting, my work, my life… you can relate. Who has time to journal and draw? To paint, garden, or play with photography? Well, this week for my birthday I gifted myself a membership to @exhale.creativity which is a supportive community of women writing and cheering each other on in our creative endeavors. The secret I’ve learned so far is that the TIME for creativity can be found in snippets - 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there. I learned about this community from following a former Airbnb guest @ashleegadd who snapped this pretty photo! If you need a writing retreat, the casita is always here for you. But if it’s community you need, or inspiration and help with creating a routine for creative practices, then checkout @exhale.creativity. I’m excited to dig into it and get writing. What would you do with a few extra minutes for creativity in your day? 📸 @ashleegadd #oakland #airbnbhosting #womenwriters #creativity #writersretreat #bayarea