Buying an airbnb

[Joseph2709]

Hello, I'm am buying a condo that is currently an airbnb, I intend to keep it as an airbnb and it has bookings going out into the summer.  I know I can't transfer the previous owners account, but here are my questions:

1) Can I create my new listing and activate it now and just block out the calendar till after my closing date?

--- 2) if I can - the current owners intend to give the tenants my information/explaining that they need to cancel their bookings and re-book with me if they want to -- how do I ensure that same pricing structure for the tenants (is this something I can adjust per reservation?)

3) Also can I 'book' them in my listing or do they individually need to do it?

[Helen3]

Hello @Joseph2709 

the person you are buying on should really be advising you on these matters ... assuming you don't have any STR restrictions in your location I would advise 

1. yes you can set up a listing to go live in the calendar after the closing date as long as there is no risk the sale won't go though - obviously blocking out dates where the original owner has booking if you want guests to rebook with you then opening them if the guests want to rebook

remove IB. 

2. it would be highly unfair for the owner to advise the guests (not tenants) to cancel as they would at least be liable for the Airbnb fee . The current owner should cancel and pay the cancellation fee.

you will need to ask the current owner about their  pricing they charge and create a special offer to match 

3. I don't understand the question 

do have a look at the Airbnb Help website and familiarise yourself with how airbnb works 

[Joan2709]

@Joseph2709 

Keep in mind that Airbnb has been suspending listings as duplicate listings in these scenarios, despite showing that you are the new owner. You might touch base with Airbnb on that.

[Helen3]

Good point @Joan2709 . I thought that was only when the original listing had poor reviews and there was a concern the second listing was being set up to hide the original - but you may well be right . 

[Joelle43]

Hello @Joseph2709 

Further to @Helen3 great advice and regarding that famous #3 question, if you are asking whether you can book the dates FOR any guests that are willing to be transferred to your new listing, then the answer is no.  The guests must do this themselves through their own Airbnb account.  We can't book our own listings using our profiles and if you try, you'll get an error message saying "Error, you seem to be wanting to book your own place"!

Did I answer your question successfully?😅

All the best
Joëlle

[Lorenzo306]

Hi Joseph! Congrats!

1) yes you can!

2) you can create special offer (if you want I can show you how to do it)

3) they have to do it but you can share the link