How to charge for bookings/requests for host

[Louise337]

Need some help/advice on what to charge for taking bookings.

I am a host, I look after the bookings, messages etc for my property & have my co-host look after the cleaning & key for self check in as I live in a different town. So I just pay for cleaning here.

I am also a co-host for three properties where I currently live. I look after all the bookings, message & cleaning for these properties. I charge for the cleaning by the hour & the host usually rounds up the amount paid for dealing with the message /booking requests/enquirers.

Have been asked if I would take on the bookings & message for some new properties (4 on one site) by another person. Essentially manage the Airbnb app. I wont have to meet for check in, organise the cleaning or attend the property. How do I charge for this service? Price it my message/booking? What sort of amount should I charge?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Louise

[Paul1255]

Hi @Louise337  I hope you are well.

If you're going to be working as a virtual assistant, and not having to be physically present or deal with organising and managing cleaners and other services etc for this new client, then maybe consider charging a flat fee per booking.

You already have the experience of manging bookings, so you have an idea of how much time dealing with a booking online takes up for you, from the point of a guest enquiring to checking-out, so maybe base it on what you'd be happy earning on an hourly rate x rough time calculation.

Remember to think about what you'd do/charge in a situation where you communicate with guests, and they don't end up booking, or they cancel at some point before arriving and so on and so forth.

Best wishes

Paul.

[Louise337]

Hi Paul, Thanks for your reply. I didn’t get any notification for your message, so only seeing it now. Maybe I’ll go through other bookings I have taken & work out the average amount of messages sent & received. I know all booking/enquires are different. It a difficult one to price.

[Paul1255]

You're welcome @Louise337 

Absolutely they're all different! Some much quicker and easier than others 🙂

Perhaps think about pricing that factors in the top end of your time taken.

Best wishes with it all.