The Secrets To Co-Hosting On Airbnb
BY MIKEL HUBBARD
FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN
So, you're thinking of hiring a co-host for your Airbnb? Well, here are some tips & things to think about before jumping in!
Before we get into some Airbnb co-hosting rights and their Airbnb co-hosting experiences, let's look at why it is a good idea to hire a host in the first place.
1. You don’t live near your rental. If you live far from the property you’re renting, it might be a good idea to have boots on the ground. Sometimes a cleaner can handle this, but if you’re in a remote location where calling Roto-Rooter in an emergency isn’t an option, a co-host may be salvation.
2. Save time. Hosting can be time-consuming or interrupt your life at extremely inconvenient times, so having someone else deal with the challenges may be your only option.
3. You deserve a break. You don’t have to be a superstar always, it’s ok to take on some help even if you don’t make as much money. Being on 24/7 with guests gets grueling over time and you should be able to escape that at times.
Tips to make everything flow!
So, you're looking at getting a co-host who buys supplies, who is responsible for booking guests, and who will make sure things are running smoothly? The secret is… that is what you as the owner need to lay out in your contract. What are the expectations for the co-host? Typically the main responsibilities of a co-host are managing the listing, updating the calendar and pricing, messaging with guests, and any in-person needs of a guest. Now, these may be changed based on each situation of each co-host. When planning, set limitations and expectations within a contract. In a contract, write out all duties of owner & co-host, payment plans, and any other needs or plans of each person.
Things to think about!
Typically when hiring a co-host, they will earn a percentage of your booking fees. We prefer to tie this directly to the room rate and carve out cleaning fees, TOT taxes, credit card fees and booking fees from that percentage up front. A co-hosting fee can range from 10%-30% of the nightly rate, depending on how much your co-host does. Just manages the bookings or only handles emergencies? They should make much less. Do they do it all, manage the home’s social media accounts and schedule all repairs? Definitely pay them more. We also think it’s fair for them charge a monthly minimum, so if the house doesn’t book or you decide to stay there for a month, they still make at least a few hundred dollars because chances are, they’re still doing things for the home during this time even if the owner isn’t getting bookings. Ultimately, this is your choice & negotiable between the two parties, especially if they are remote or you are using your vacation home as an Airbnb.
Can you have multiple co-hosts? Yes!! You can have up to 3 co-hosts on an Airbnb property. This can be an advantage, especially if you have multiple very popular properties or involve a lot of work in planning. Splitting them up by responsibilities and properties can come to your advantage and ease the nerves of knowing that things are being taken care of by a team of people.
How do I find a co-host?
If you decide that using a co-host is right for you, finding one is next. There are several things to consider when looking for someone to share your property with:
Experience – Some people may be new to hosting (like yourself), and others may have years of experience. Do your research on potential co-hosts to ensure they have a good track record as Airbnb guests or hosts.
Communication Skills – Communication skills will be important if something arises during your stay. A potential co-host should understand how Airbnb works and how quickly they need to access messages.
Trustworthiness – Make sure you feel comfortable sharing your Airbnb profile and listing information. You should only work with people you trust to respect your home as if it were their own.
Flexibility – Even the best plans can sometimes go awry. Look for potential co-hosts who are willing to be understanding in those cases.