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How to Host on Airbnb Remotely in 2023
With the advancements in technology and the rise of short-term rentals, hosting remotely has become increasingly popular for property owners who want to earn income from their properties without being physically present. In this post, we will provide you with practical tips and tools to make your remote hosting experience on Airbnb as seamless as possible. And yes, that includes some specific tools as well.
Find a local co-host
One of the most effective ways to manage your Airbnb property remotely is to enlist the help of a local co-host. This can be someone you know or a professional service provider who can handle tasks like cleaning, guest communication, and emergency cases. With a local co-host, you'll have someone on the ground to deal with any issues that arise, and they can also make sure that your property is kept in top condition between guests.
There are several services available that can connect you with a local co-host. Have a look at some of the options in a service comparison here.
2. Use a trusted cleaning and laundry service
Cleaning and laundry are essential tasks for any short-term rental, but they can be difficult to manage remotely. Hiring a cleaning and laundry service can take the burden off hosts and ensure that the property is always clean and ready for guests.
There are several services available that specialise in short-term rental cleaning and laundry. There are a couple of companies that have been used by our clients for years and we’ve noted they provide an outstanding service. We can vouch for Airlinen - a platform that offers short let & vacation rental linen hire, turnover services & consumables delivered to your door from one single portal. Another option is housekeep, which offers a choice of vetted cleaners, all managed online. And if you’re especially into sustainable services in your property, have a look at Oxwash, who use a fleet of electric cargo bikes and dedicated riders to deliver laundry.
Oxwash’s e-cargo bikes
3. Use a messaging service
One of the most important things you can do when hosting on Airbnb remotely is to use a messaging service. Airbnb's messaging system is a great way to communicate with guests, but it can be slow and clunky. Fortunately, several messaging services are specifically designed for hosts.
One such service is Guesty. You can set up automated messages that will be sent to guests at specific times, such as when they book your property or when they check-in. It can also respond to guest inquiries and handle check-ins and check-outs for you. Guesty also includes a range of other features such as automated pricing, channel management, and payment processing.
Another great product helping hosts with automated messaging is Zeevou. The platform offers a set of flexible, customised automated message flows, triggered either by booking or specific event. The team at Zeevou has developed a number of unique features, based on feedback from hosts that enables the product to meet real life requirements. It automates almost all areas of your short term rental business, optimises processes, and minimises human error.
An example of automated messaging setup on Guesty
4. Use a dynamic pricing tool
One of the most significant advantages of hosting on Airbnb is the ability to set your prices dynamically based on demand. However, keeping track of fluctuations in demand can be time-consuming, especially if you have multiple properties to manage. Using a dynamic pricing tool can help you maximise your earnings by automatically adjusting your prices based on supply and demand.
Tools such as Beyond Pricing and PriceLabs use machine learning algorithms to analyse historical data and real-time market trends to optimise your prices. They can help you increase occupancy and revenue by automatically adjusting your prices up or down based on demand.
Example of pricing analysis on BeyondPricing.com
5. Grant key access or do check-ins remotely in a secure way
One of the biggest challenges of managing an Airbnb remotely is giving guests access to your property. While key lockboxes and smart locks are popular solutions, they can be unreliable and difficult to manage. One alternative is to use a key exchange service like KeyNest.
KeyNest is a service that lets you check-in and check-out guests without being present on-site, and without the need to install any hardware on your door. KeyNest partners with 4,000+ local convenience stores, cafes and petrol stations. As a host, you can store your keys securely with one of the partners and grant access to the keys to guests or cleaners, who, after receiving a 6-digit access code, can pick up or drop off the keys in a nearby location.
You will always be notified about every key movement via the KeyNest app and emails - so you stay on top of actual guests' check-in or check-out time. You can also grant earlier property access in case your cleaner is done earlier and guests are already waiting. All this can be done remotely. Prices start at £5.95 + vat per key collection or £14.95 for monthly unlimited key collections.