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From 4.6 Rating to 5.0 Rating: What It Takes to Become a Top 1% Vacation Rental Listing

  • Writer: Seth Balogh
    Seth Balogh
  • Jul 3
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jul 4

In August 2024, In The Sun Vacation Rentals took over the co-hosting services of a beautiful beach property in St. Augustine. While the home had strong fundamentals—great location, stylish design, and plenty of value—it had plateaued as a 4.6-4.7 star listing. The culprit? A lack of consistency in cleaning, communication, and quality control. These are areas we knew we could elevate.


You can view the property here: Almost Heaven or check out its Airbnb listing: Top 1% Airbnb Listing

Ranking as a top 1% vacation rental in St. Augustine, Florida on airbnb

At In The Sun, we operate with a five-star, hospitality-first mindset. We treat every property as if it were our own. To us, achieving top 1% status isn't luck. It's the result of relentless attention to detail and the commitment to control every variable we can.


Controllable Variables = Controllable Outcomes


In the short-term rental space, not everything is within our control. We can't guarantee every guest will love the location, or that a lightbulb won't go out. But there are core pillars we can manage that significantly influence the guest experience:


  • Cleanliness: Detailed cleans between each stay, quality control inspections, and accountability from our cleaning teams.

  • Communication: Proactive, friendly, and responsive guest interactions. We're there before, during, and after each stay.

  • Accuracy: Listings that match reality. No surprises.

  • Value: Competitive pricing matched with high-quality offerings.

    A 5 star airbnb review from a recent guest who stayed with us in St. Augustine, Florida who listed the highlights of their stay

Standing Out in a Competitive Market


As new vacation rentals continue to hit the St. Augustine market, it becomes even more essential to evaluate and elevate your offerings. We ask ourselves: How can we improve, even if we're already rated 5 stars?


Key guest expectations in our market include:

  • Pool or hot tub (or both!)

  • Walking distance to the beach

  • Outdoor fun and entertainment spaces

  • Game rooms for kids and adults

  • Fully stocked kitchens

  • Beach gear and essentials

  • Backyard with pool, firepit, and lounge chairs. Evening sky, tropical plants, tiki bar, and string lights create a cozy atmosphere.

We build experiences, not just stays. When families arrive, they should feel like they packed light but brought everything. That thoughtful touch sets our listings apart.


Results Speak for Themselves


Thanks to our detailed systems and guest-first approach, this once-underperforming property is now in the top 1% on Airbnb. According to Airbnb's percentile ranking system, homes that are in the top 1% of eligible listings receive a gold trophy icon, a Guest Favorites badge, and a label showcasing their achievement. Rankings are based on factors like cleanliness, accuracy, communication, cancellation rates, and overall guest satisfaction.


The Secret? We Care.


Things still go wrong. A dishwasher may stop working. A guest might forget a door code. The difference lies in how quickly and empathetically we respond. We show up, we fix it, we follow up.

This level of care—genuine, detail-oriented, and heartfelt—is what turns a 4.6 rating into a perfect 5.0.

And that, in the end, is how you build a top 1% listing.


Ready to partner with co-hosts who care like you do? Let’s talk.

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