Can You Manage an Airbnb Remotely?

Written by Ashley Sutphin Posted On Wednesday, 31 May 2023 00:00

There are different scenarios where you might be interested in the feasibility of managing an Airbnb remotely.

Maybe you have a second home or are considering one that when you aren’t using it, you’d like to rent on Airbnb. This is common. Another scenario might be if you want to travel the world for a while or take a sabbatical, and you want to rent out your primary residence while you do so.

How possible is it to manage an Airbnb remotely?

Have a Local Team

There’s going to be no way to manage your Airbnb remotely unless you have a good local team of people you can count on.

First and foremost, choose the right housekeeper. The cleanliness and how well maintained your Airbnb is are important to your ratings and the amount of money you can make. Your housekeeper can make or break you when it comes to Airbnb.

Your housekeeper will be more than someone who cleans your property and gets it ready for the next guests. They’re also going to let you know your property's condition regularly and whether something is damaged or needs to be repaired. They can alert you if one of your guests breaks or steals something so you can deal with it in a timely way.

Along with your housekeeper, you’ll also need a reliable handyman. There are going to be plenty of situations where guests are going to need things around the house fixed.

While you might need them less often, have a plumber, electrician, and HVAC professional in mind who you can call as needed.

Create a List of Items That Need to Stay Stocked

Along with your housekeeper, you might also hire someone who serves as a property manager. All of these people will cost money, but if you’re going to make money remotely, you’ll need them.

A property manager should keep a running list of everything the house should always be stocked with and should replace items or let you know when they’re needed.

In some cases, your housekeeper may be able to do this, but it needs to be someone you trust to do a thorough job.

Self-Check-In

You don’t necessarily need someone to be present during check-in, and a lot of guests prefer self-check-in.

You can use a lockbox, such as a smart lock.

There are services you can use to send access instructions to your guests automatically. You can also manage entry remotely. If guests are having a hard time, many of these services will send you an alert.

Create a Detailed, Comprehensive Guestbook

If you’re going to manage your Airbnb remotely and you’re not working with a management company, you’re going to need a detailed guestbook. The book should include any and everything that your guests might need to know.

This includes local restaurants and attractions, how to work appliances and house features, transportation information, what to do if the power goes out, and how to access Wi-Fi. You should also include phone numbers and contact information for your service providers such as your plumber and electrician. Provide your phone number and give your guests the option to FaceTime you if they need help with something.

If you aren’t sure where to start with your guestbook, consider spending a few days in the home as a guest would. Go through your day-to-day routines and think about what you might have questions about if you were a guest at the property.

Provide Welcome Gifts

If you aren’t going to greet your guests personally, you can make them feel welcome with gifts. Have your housekeeper leave something personalized for each new set of guests. Before they check-in, ask if they’re celebrating anything special.

Maybe you leave a bottle of wine, or perhaps some snacks.

Your guests will appreciate the personal touch, even if you aren’t there to personally deliver the gifts.

Overall, it is possible to manage an Airbnb remotely, particularly with technology and a dedicated team of people on the ground who you trust. Finding people to trust is perhaps the most critical part of managing your rental business from afar.

You also need to make time to regularly check in on the property in person and ensure that everything looks good and nothing needs repairs or updating.

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