I need to rewrite my Airbnb listing description so it's clear and honest.

What Airbnb asks of a title

Airbnb's host resources say the title field gives you 50 characters and you don't have to use them all; its newer guidance suggests fewer than 50, because longer titles are shortened in search results on small screens. Capitalize only the first word and proper names such as a neighborhood or a landmark. Airbnb's help center says not to use symbols or emojis in titles, and its resources add that there's no need to repeat what search results already show: your city or town, the total number of beds and whether the listing is new.

That leaves the title one job: the detail that sets your place apart from the twenty others on the same map. A view, a garden, a quiet courtyard, a short walk to something people come for.

Before: “COZY DOWNTOWN OASIS *** 2 BEDS *** NEW” After: “Courtyard bedroom above a bakery, near tram” (43 characters)

The before title shouts, repeats symbols for emphasis and spends its space on beds and “new”, which Airbnb shows anyway.

The description sections, and what goes in each

Airbnb's guide to listing descriptions names the parts: Listing description, for what's unique about your place; Your property, a general description of the rooms and spaces; Guest access, which parts guests can use; Interaction with guests, which you pick as a preference in the editor; and Other details to note, for anything not covered elsewhere. It says guests often scan descriptions for key features, so lead with what matters most, and it warns against repeating what's already in the listing, such as the full amenities list.

A rule of thumb for size, not an Airbnb limit: three or four sentences for Listing description, a short paragraph for Your property, one or two sentences for Guest access, and a short list of plain facts for Other details to note. Airbnb also lets you pick up to two highlights and suggests an opening line from them; its advice is to replace that line with your own words and details.

Before and after: lines guests can trust

Before: “Welcome to our cozy oasis nestled in the heart of vibrant downtown, perfect for everyone.” After: “A one-bedroom flat on the second floor above a bakery, 4 minutes' walk from the number 2 tram.”

Before: “Fully equipped kitchen.” After: “The kitchen has a 2-ring induction hob, a moka pot and a kettle; there's no oven.”

Before: “Sleeps 3.” After: “The queen bed is in the bedroom, and a sofa bed in the living room sleeps one more.”

Before: “Easy access.” After: “It's 38 steps up, and there's no lift.”

Airbnb's own guide asks hosts to be realistic, because overselling can lead to disappointment and negative reviews, and to mention anything that could be hard for guests with limited mobility or with children. The bakery line shows the trick: the 5am baking could have been a complaint, and written down plainly it reads as a reason to book.

Describe the place, not the guest you want

Airbnb's Nondiscrimination Policy lets hosts give factual information about the home, including features that make it unsuitable for some ages, and leaves the decision to the guest. What it doesn't allow is indicating a preference for or against a type of guest. So “38 steps and no lift” and “the loft is reached by a ladder with no rail” are facts a guest can weigh; “no kids” or “ideal for young professionals” says who you want. Rules that apply to every guest, such as quiet hours, belong in your house rules.

What to cut before you paste: 1. “Oasis”, “gem”, “nestled”, “vibrant” and “perfect for everyone”. 2. The amenities list, which already has its own section. 3. Your city and bed count in the title. 4. All caps, emojis and runs of symbols. 5. Anything you've stopped offering, like the bikes you sold last summer. 6. Words about the kind of guest you hope for.