Being an Airbnb host is a very interesting experience. As a host for several years, I can confidently say that I have been through most of the common Airbnb host experiences and I have seen good things as well as very ugly ones. According to The Zebra, Airbnb unites more than 4 million hosts and I am sure all of our experiences are different. Although, I strongly believe that I have learned some lessons that should be shared with the Airbnb hosting community. Let’s get straight into them.
Being an Airbnb host is a full-time job
Even if you only have one extra property listed for short-term rental, being a host is a full-time job and you should treat it that way. As hosts, we always have to be prepared to offer support for potential guests and current guests, meet them, and accommodate lots of their needs. Even if you spend one hour per day, your mind is still always occupied by the job. Are you looking for airbnb management in Melbourne? Speak to Airbnb Property Management Company. They will take care of and manage your properties on Airbnb.
It can be exhausting
In spite of the fact that I love to meet new people and live an active lifestyle, being a host is very exhausting at times. Your attention may be required for more many hours a day, and sometimes seven days a week. This often leads to exhaustion. On the bright side, every happy guest and every nice comment makes up for all the hard work.
You have to love communicating with people
If you want to be successful at this job, you have to love communicating with people. It may seem like a technical task, but it is all about relationships and customer service. This lesson is especially useful when things go wrong and guests complain. Even if it is not your fault, you have to be compassionate and understanding and if you are not good at communication then your chances are that you’re going to have a rough time.
It is extremely rewarding
It might seem like an overestimation, but trust me it is not. As a host you meet people from all around the world and learn so many things about different cultures. This experience gives you a different perspective and outlook on life. I have become more knowledgeable and learned to be more patient as a host. Many people have different experiences but I believe in focusing on the positive things. Believe me, when you receive a postcard or a small gift from your guest, you really feel like you have done a good job and made an impact in their life.
You have to delegate
From my experience, many Airbnb hosts try to do every home-related task by themselves and I think that is a massive mistake. First and foremost, you won’t be able to clean and manage everything perfectly, and you should also be aware that people can do it better and more efficiently than you.
Personally, I work closely with a cleaning company that sends an employee to organize my home and make it perfectly clean for the next guests. To manage all the bookings, I use software that saves a lot of time and effort, and as a bonus, they even bring more bookings to me.
Sometimes, when I am very busy I trust the local café to keep my key and give it to the guests. Of course, I try my best to meet all the guests, but on the rare occasion that I can’t, I have learned to delegate the tasks and even automate the process with a self check-in system or a channel manager for airbnb.