How Time-Consuming an Airbnb Actually Is: What to Expect From the New Life As a Host
- marketing17691
- Jul 16, 2024
- 7 min read
Thinking of stepping into the world of Airbnb hosting? It might seem like a breeze—meeting new people, earning extra income, and maybe even making some friends along the way. But the reality is that hosting on Airbnb can be just as demanding as a full-time job – If not more. So, let's peel back the curtain on what it is really like to run a successful Airbnb!
Spoiler alert: it's not all sunsets and five-star reviews.
What you'll find in this article:
Listing Management: The Digital Shop
First off, creating a standout listing isn't just about snapping a few photos and writing a quick blurb. It's more like curating an online storefront that makes travellers click 'book now.' You'll need eye-catching photos, a detailed description that highlights your place's unique charm, and a price that strikes the sweet spot between attracting guests and covering your costs.
Imagine you’re browsing Airbnb listings. Now, take a look at these ads for the same room. Which one do you think sells the listing best?
Option A:
Cosy one bedroom, with a queen-size bed for two people, smart TV and a private bathroom in a shared apartment.
Option B:
Welcome to your home away from home!
Our charming one-bedroom features a comfortable queen-size bed, perfect for two guests seeking a restful night's sleep. Enjoy the convenience of a smart TV and a private bathroom for your comfort and privacy. In this shared apartment, you'll have the opportunity to meet fellow travellers while still enjoying your own serene space.
Book your stay and experience comfort and convenience in a warm, welcoming environment!
So, which one did you choose? Option B, right? It’s amazing how a professional touch and a bit more effort can transform the appeal of your Airbnb listing.
Think of it as setting up a digital shop—you need a little marketing to attract buyers, right? Once your listing is live, you're in for a marathon, not a sprint. You'll constantly tweak and tune your listing based on guest feedback, market trends, and the competition down the virtual street. You're now a digital entrepreneur, always refining your storefront to stay ahead in the game.
That’s a lot of time and work, and you haven’t even gotten to the hosting part yet!
Guest Communication: The 24/7 Hotline
Effective communication with guests is key to ensuring a smooth experience for both parties. This involves promptly responding to inquiries, managing booking requests, and addressing any concerns or questions guests might have before and during their stay. And trust me, guests have questions—lots of them, and they don’t just ask during business hours.
Expect messages at all hours about everything from booking details to recommendations for local restaurants. Your phone essentially becomes a 24/7 hotline, you’re the operator and quick responses are crucial to maintaining high ratings and avoiding cancellations. This aspect of hosting is particularly demanding, as timely communication can mean the difference between securing a booking or earning a bad review.
Remember those red phones superheroes had in cartoons? Well… You have one of them now, just with way less action, drama and no cape at all – Sorry.
Cleaning and Maintenance: The full staff
After each guest checks out, it's time to get into cleaning mode! Washing linens, scrubbing bathrooms and kitchens, restocking supplies, and checking for any damages can take a few hours depending on the size of your property. This needs to be done meticulously to keep everything sparkling clean. If you have frequent bookings, you might find yourself doing this more than twice a week, turning your weekends into a non-stop cleaning spree.
And then there’s the less regular maintenance. Think every two weeks—don’t wait months to do it, alright?! You have to make sure everything is in perfect shape. This means checking appliances, ensuring plumbing and electrical systems are working smoothly, and fixing any wear and tear regularly.
The never-ending cycle of cleaning and maintenance ensures your property is always guest-ready, but it does require a significant time investment. You’re running a small hotel, except you’re the entire housekeeping, handyman, and inventory staff, juggling a never-ending to-do list.
Check-Ins and Check-Outs: The Welcoming Committee
Coordinating check-ins and check-outs can be one tricky task. Ensuring that there's no overlap between guests and allowing enough time for a thorough cleaning and preparation between stays is essential. Some guests might arrive late at night, while others need to check out early in the morning. This means you need to be flexible with your time and often rearrange your schedule to accommodate to your guests’ plans.
Thankfully, modern technology offers a little helping hand. With smart locks and key lockers, guests can enjoy easy check-ins and check-outs at their convenience, sparing you the need to drop everything to greet them—well, at least not in person. These innovations reduce your workload and give you more flexibility in managing your time.
However, not everyone has access to these conveniences. In those cases, managing check-ins and check-outs involves more hands-on efforts. Late-night key handovers and early-morning farewells might be part of your routine. You become the welcoming committee, concierge, and housekeeping supervisor all rolled into one, ensuring a great experience for every guest!
Handling Issues: The Problem Solver
Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. No matter how well you prepare, issues will inevitably arise. From minor inconveniences like a guest forgetting the Wi-Fi password to major problems like a plumbing emergency, being a host means being the go-to problem solver. These situations often require immediate attention and can disrupt your day (or night), adding to the unpredictability and time investment of hosting.
Once, a few hours after a guest checked in, I received an unexpected call from him, informing me that a pigeon had decided to make itself at home under a chair on the balcony. A complete set with a nest full of eggs and all. Suddenly, I found myself tasked with the delicate mission of safely relocating the mama pigeon, along with her nest and precious cargo, to a more suitable location.
I certainly wasn't planning on that when I first embarked on my Airbnb hosting journey.
That showed me that handling these challenges requires not only quick thinking but also the ability to stay calm under any circumstances. You might find yourself juggling multiple tasks, from coordinating repairs with contractors to reassuring guests, minimizing disruptions to their stay and even relocating a pigeon’s nest!
It's a test of your resourcefulness and adaptability. Each unexpected issue is an opportunity to demonstrate your dedication and problem-solving skills, ensuring your guests leave with positive memories and a desire to return.
Reviews and Reputation Management: The Public Relations Expert
Your guests’ reviews have a huge weight on the success or downfall of your business. Encouraging guests to leave positive comments, responding to feedback, and managing your online reputation requires a consistent effort. It’s not just about receiving praise messages, you also need to handle negative ones with professionalism and grace, which might take a little time to formulate — especially when you need to calm yourself down because someone has struck a nerve.
We have another blog post dedicated to navigating these waters, offering tips on how to respond to a bad review maintaining your reputation and guest confidence, feel free to check it out.
Anyway, thoughtful responses to reviews, whether positive or negative, are crucial. Addressing any concerns raised by guests shows your commitment to their experience and willingness to improve. Maintaining a high rating is a must for attracting future bookings and ensuring the success of your Airbnb. So, think about reserving some time for that too in your busy week.
Conclusion: The Airbamboo Solution
As you can see, being an Airbnb host is far from an easy gig, your day-to-day life is full of unexpected twists and turns. You might just have prepared a nice bath for yourself when a guest calls to report a leaking washing machine. In your spare time, instead of going to a nice park to chill, you might find yourself cleaning a bathroom because a new guest is arriving the next day. Your phone becomes a 24/7 hotline, buzzing with questions and requests at all hours—like someone asking for restaurant recommendations at midnight or needing help with the Wi-Fi early in the morning.
You might be out running errands when a guest informs you they've lost their key, requiring you to drive over with a spare. Or you could be enjoying a quiet evening when a negative review notification can suddenly stress you out, leading to a thoughtful response you have to think about.
Managing your Airbnb listing is another part of the puzzle. You will also spend time updating photos, descriptions and adjusting prices to stay competitive and active in the platform. Sometimes, you even have to coordinate repairs during a guest’s stay. And between all this, you’re managing check-ins and check-outs, making sure there's no overlap and that everything is perfectly set for each new arrival.
It’s a nonstop juggling act, demanding flexibility, dedication, and problem-solving skills. Being an Airbnb host means being prepared for anything, anytime, ensuring every guest has a memorable stay while keeping your sanity intact. Maybe that’s why Airbnb calls the best hosts “superhosts”—we're a bit like superheroes.
So, that’s where Airbamboo comes flying in.
We handle all the heavy lifting—from listing management and guest communication to cleaning, maintenance, and reputation management. Let us take care of the details so you can enjoy the perks of hosting without the stress of it. Partner with Airbamboo and transform your hosting experience into a truly hassle-free experience. Relax, we’ve got this!
Article by,
Paola Castilho
