How is the accommodation taken care of when you go on holiday?

[Ashleen2]

Hi all so I have been hosting since September last year and doing quite well. My partner and I do the management and cleaning since we only have one property and it only takes 2/2.5hours to clean, tidy, change linens and throw out the trash. I usually take linens (got enough on rotation) home to wash and air-dry there though I have a dryer if needed. We are already quite booked for the next three months.

My question is what do similar hosts do when you decide to go for a holiday yourself?

A. Get a company to take care of it all the time?

B. Find someone to do it only when you are away?

C. Block the nights you are away on holiday and are ok with the financial loss?

D. Something I haven't thought of?

Just curious as B. would be my ideal option, though I don't know if many companies would have even done that since they would be such one offs and not profitable for them.

Thanks in advance!

[Shelley159 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ashleen2 

I make sure guests check in before I leave, and check out after I return. You can set this up in the Professional Tools calendar by making a rule to block anyone from checking in and checking out while you're away. Sometimes when I struggle to get a long enough booking, I start relaxing the blocks a bit closer to the time (for example, by allowing check-out a day or 2 before I'm back, and then I just leave the remaining nights open).

It's ideal to have check-in at least the day before you leave, as most questions and uncertainties are on the first day, and you relax much more once you know the guests are properly settled.

[Nash-Cottages-LLC0]

@Ashleen2  

I haven’t tried @Shelley159’s approach, but I love it! Of the options you listed, we go with C—unless it’s a returning guest we know and trust. Even then, we block a few days to avoid the stress of a back-to-back turnaround right before we leave and upon our return.

We actually know another host who went with B when they had surgery and also chose to travel.  They had an awesome experience with their cleaner, but it took time to find the right person—someone familiar with Airbnb turnovers (a whole different game from regular cleaning!). Plus, that person had other clients, so availability was a factor.

Maybe scope out an experienced co-host in your area who’s open to picking up occasional cleaning gigs while you are away. 

Judy

[Ashleen2]

Ye I approached one acquaintance but they couldn't help out. I will see if anyone else I personally know does short lets before approaching any other hosts in the area.

Thanks for the advice!

[Ashleen2]

Oh that's an interesting feature of the calender! Thanks! Will definitely look into that! 

This is exactly the type of experienced Airbnb host user knowledge I sought!

[Maile19]

I have a former classmate who went to Hotel Management school with me in Switzerland who lives in Malta.  DM me and I can put you in touch.  He might know some local folks? 

[Helen3]

I wouldn't recommend going away and not having anyone available to support locally if there is a problem with the listing @Shelley159 

Or if there is a problem with the guest .

@Ashleen2  I pay a local cohost a retainer to look after things or I block out dates . 

[Ashleen2]

Not too worried about that as my mum as very reliable and has her own handyman etc..shr rents but long let's.

Thanks for the advice!

[Maile19]

I offer my services as a temporary co-host for when hosts are out of town.  They add me as a co-host to their listing about a month before they leave.  I do 2 walk throughs with their cleaners during that time to get up to speed.  The owners do an automatic payout for any bookings that I have to manage while they are away and then remove me as a co-host when they return.   See if you can reach out locally to find other co-hosts who can help out. 

[Ashleen2]

Interesting. I will see if I know anyone personally else in town who hosts before approaching other hosts but 🤞🏻. Thanks!

[Helen3]

You mean the owners pay you before they get paid themselves ? @Maile19 

[Maile19]

@Helen3 No - I just have airbnb pay me directly in the co-host payout.   I have heard of other co-hosts just charging a flat fee per week that the owner is gone, so it just depends on how you want to set it up. 

[Robin4]

@Ashleen2 

Ashleen, from my point of view, we are dealing with 2 principles here....

1/.....Murphy's Law....'What can go wrong, will go wrong'

2/.....Patrick's Law......'Patrick thought Murphy was an optimist'!

(In other words everything will go wrong)

If there is going to be a hosting issue you can bet it will be when you are not on hand to deal with it!

Your option B/.....If you have a regular co-host who is readily available and understands fully the intricacies of your listing, then continuing to host in your absence is a good option.

Leaving it to an acquaintance is not a good option on 2 levels. There could still be issues they might not be able to deal with and it would put them under a bit of pressure. And secondly you would be worried the whole time you were away that there wasn't someone totally competent on hand and something might go off the rails!

Your option A/....I would not trust a company who knows nothing about your business, to handle it while you are away. Management companies deal with a number of properties, and from many reports do not necessarily do it well, particularly if you haven't dealt with them before.....it can be something of a gamble.

Your option C/.....For my own hosting I block off dates I personally am unavailable. I won't even trust my hosting to my wife Ade, her lack of mobility might see her struggle in some potential problem situations and I would not want to inflict that on her. We own the property outright and don't need the money to survive so.....unless I am here and available, I don't host and am prepared to take the financial hit.

That way, the property won't come to harm, I won't have an unhappy guest and I can enjoy my break without worrying about Patrick's Law!

Cheers........Rob.

[Ashleen2]

Heh very true. 

I agree with you ..the only little problem is when emergency trips crop up and you haven't been able to block nights. My mum rents long lets and I trust her and her handyman but would still need someone to come in and clean. We just wish to try save some more money by trying to do as much by ourselves for as long as possible for now.

[Lorina14]

@Ashleen2 

I have chosen B, I had someone I trusted and they cleaned the space and were available when we went out of town but no problems happened. I always let the guests know if we were out of town and that this cohost was available for any location sensitive questions. I still was able to check messages during my vacation but understand why someone would want to complete unplug.

You could consider getting a cohost for that time only (adding them on for the time you are away then taking them off) or find another host in the area who wouldn’t mind covering when you are away and vice versa (as a temporary cohost).