Turning your investment property into a vacation rental might seem like an easy way to make a few extra bucks but before you take the plunge it’s worth considering how much of your life will become consumed by your Airbnb.
Waiting to hand the key to guests who are running late. Answering dozens of emails each day from prospective guests. Washing the sheets. Vacuuming the carpets. Arranging for professional cleaners to come to your property. Repairs. Reviews. The list of your duties as an Airbnb host is endless and many hosts upload their property pics before really thinking about the commitment they are making when they list an apartment on Airbnb.
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How many hours?
Depending on the type of vacation rental you are running, you could be looking at spending 2-3 hours a day managing your property and between 5-8 hours on days where you have a change-over of guests. What takes so long, you ask? Here are some things that are likely to eat away the hours in your day…
Guest communication: When it comes to being a good host, Airbnb expects you to answer emails from guests in a timely manner – usually within a few hours but definitely within 24 hours. Depending on your profile settings, you are likely to receive enquiries from travellers with questions about your vacation rental or guests seeking approval for their stay. This often means taking the time to look at their profiles and read their reviews before accepting them. There’s also the communication involved once the booking has been made – like liaising about house rules and check-in times. If you plan on hosting several guests each week, you can see how this communication can become overwhelming.
Cleaning: Even if you decide to hire professional cleaners to save yourself a few hours of dusting and mopping – you will still have to let those cleaners into your vacation rental, give them directions as to what you want done, and manage their invoices/payments. For hosts who prefer to do the cleaning themselves, it’s worth noting that Airbnb guests have high standards when it comes to cleanliness. Doing a below-average job on the vacuuming could mean a bad review from an unimpressed guest.
Check-ins/outs: This might not sound like a very time-consuming part of running an Airbnb business but you have to remember that not all guests arrive when they say they will arrive. Some will call a few times asking for additional directions. Others won’t be able to follow the map that you provide. Check-ins can take up lots of your time.
Managing hiccups: Even the most experienced hosts will be called on by guests in relation to issues that arise during their stay – from broken hot water systems, to lost keys or noisy neighbours. In many ways, you need to be prepared to put your life on hold for your Airbnb. That means leaving a party or missing your child’s performance at school if your guest needs you.
There are ways to make your life easier as an Airbnb host – for example, by automating online communication as much as possible or by adding a co-host to your listing who can share some of the responsibility.
Need help?
At the end of the day, if you want to avoid becoming a slave to your vacation rental ‘to do’ list, it’s worth considering a professional management company like GuestReady who can help with your Airbnb – allowing more hours each day for you to do the things you love. We are available London, Manchester, Edinburgh, to name a few cities.
FAQs
Depending on the type of vacation rental you are running, you could be looking at spending 2-3 hours a day managing your property and between 5-8 hours on days where you have a change-over of guests. What takes so long, you ask? Here are some things that are likely to eat away the hours in your day…
How hard is it to manage your own Airbnb? ›
Con: Time Consuming
While it's nice to have met guests personally, a big part of the challenge is staying on call 24/7. Property management companies usually have their staff who acts as a support to your guests and can be contacted anytime.
How to respond to a good Airbnb review example? ›
Response: "Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay and found the loft to your liking. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to see you again soon!"
Is managing an Airbnb a full-time job? ›
When you start hosting one of the main things you have to consider is where are you going to find the time from, because as we know from conversation here in the CC, there is often a lot to do! Some hosts host full-time, some part-time and some even juggling it around existing work commitments.
What is the average Airbnb lead time? ›
Fluctuating Lead Times
Lead times have fluctuated in recent years, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, August 2023's average lead time was 30 days and September 2023's average was 29 days. This was a week shorter than August 2022 (37 days) and September 2022 (36 days).
What is the success rate of Airbnb? ›
While there are rare instances where rates reach around 75%, these are typically outliers. The nationwide average Airbnb occupancy rate, irrespective of full- or part-time properties, stands at 48%.
How much does the average Airbnb owner make per year? ›
Average Annual Host Revenue By State (United States):2021/2020
| STATE | AVERAGE ANNUAL HOST EARNINGS 2021 | AVERAGE ANNUAL HOST EARNINGS 2020 |
|---|
| California | $54,461 | $33,718 |
| Florida | $53,209 | $28,012 |
| South Carolina | $49,641 | $28,547 |
| Utah | $48,568 | $36,206 |
6 more rowsHosts are paid out based on guest stays. Guests often find Airbnb is cheaper, has more character, and is homier than hotels. Risks of hosting include renting your place to rude guests, theft or damaged property, complaints from neighbors, and potential regulatory violations depending on your location.
Why is being an Airbnb host harder? ›
As Airbnb's popularity has increased, so have guests' expectations. The surge in demand has led to high turnover, and many hosts have come to depend on management companies to deal with cleaning and maintenance and have increased their cleaning fees as a result.
Can Airbnb hosts delete bad reviews? ›
While you can't remove a review, you can report it if you think it violates our Reviews Policy. Feel free to respond with more context or to provide your own perspective, so long as you, too, follow the Reviews Policy.
Reviews should be unbiased
For example, guests should not write biased or inauthentic reviews as a form of retaliation against a Host who enforces a policy or rule. Reviews may only be provided in connection with a genuine stay or Experience.
How fast should an Airbnb host respond? ›
If you got a booking inquiry or reservation request, responding within 24 hours helps you move toward a confirmed reservation. Guests who have already checked in or are planning a future trip appreciate quick responses, too.
Is it hard to manage your own Airbnb? ›
This is challenging for remote hosts who don't have everyday direct access to their property. However, even if you're investing remotely, you can still manage your property on your own and don't have to hire a full-service Airbnb management company.
What is the highest salary at Airbnb? ›
The highest-paying job at Airbnb is an Advisor with a salary of $233,689 per year (estimate). What is the lowest salary at Airbnb? The lowest-paying job at Airbnb is a Luxury Sales Associate with a salary of $82,905 per year (estimate).
Can you make a living off Airbnb? ›
On average, hosts in the United States make more than $13,800 per year, according to Airbnb, but those numbers vary. Some hosts buy or lease a number of apartments or homes and rent them out full time. Your earning potential depends on: How much you charge for your space.
Is it hard to maintain an Airbnb? ›
Although it can save you money, performing rental property maintenance yourself requires a certain level of handiness — and a vast amount of time. If you're not particularly handy, or if you're short on time, outsourcing your rental property maintenance may be a wise investment.
How long does the Airbnb process take? ›
Hosts have 24 hours to accept or decline your request, but the vast majority reply within 12 hours. Chances are, it'll be even quicker: More than half of all trip requests are accepted within one hour of the Host reading it.
How long should it take to clean an Airbnb? ›
But the cleans average around 4 hours, often going up to 5 for each clean between guests. The cleans do include making beds for next guests, and washing linen after.
Should I hire someone to manage my Airbnb? ›
Hiring an Airbnb property manager can be especially valuable for hosts who strive to expand their short-term rental business. To scale your portfolio efficiently and profitably, you need to spend time focused on investment strategy, property acquisition, and the preparations required to bring new properties to market.
