Hey @Sherri325 - welcome to the world of hosting! 🎉
I wasn’t aware of any specific “time requirement”—my understanding has always been that once your listing is created and you hit publish, it’s live and searchable almost immediately. (Though Airbnb may take a short time to verify or optimize its visibility in search results.) But of course, maybe what you're really asking is how long it takes to get everything ready to publish in the first place—which is a totally different story.
If it’s your first listing, it’ll definitely take you some time. Not because it’s hard, but because there’s a lot to think through—and a lot you’ll want to get just right. That said, know that you can always update/edit your listing later, so don’t let perfection hold you back from getting it live.
Here are a few tips and things to prep ahead of time to help speed up the process without cutting corners:
1. Photos
Get great ones! Natural light, straight-on shots, clean space, no filters. Resize for fast upload (ideally 1024px wide or more).
2. Write Your Listing Copy
- Airbnb will prompt you for these specific sections:
- Listing Title
- Listing Description
- The Space
- Guest Access
- Interaction with Guests
- Neighborhood Overview
- Getting Around
- House Rules
- Wifi network and password
- Instructions for checking in (make sure these are detailed)
- Any other “Other Things to Note” or instructions
Tip: Draft this in a doc first (I personally use Google Sheets so I can see the copy for all our properties). That way, you can paste it in cleanly when you're ready.
2. Pricing & Availability
Have a general idea of your nightly rate, cleaning fee, and availability calendar. You can tweak these later, but it’s easier when you go in with a baseline.
3. Amenities & Rules
Be ready to check all the boxes for what you offer (washer, wifi, free parking, etc.) and set clear expectations on rules (no pets, quiet hours, etc.).
ID Verification & Payment Info
4. Airbnb may ask for identity verification and banking info—just something to have ready if it slows you down.
My biggest advice: When you get to something you don't know off the top of your head, take that extra minute to look it up or make a decision now—don’t skip it “for later.” That’s how little details get forgotten.
It’s such a fun journey, and the Airbnb community is really helpful.
– Andrew (& Jeremy)
