I am a Superhost based on my management of a listing on Manasota Key in Englewood, Florida since march of this year. I set up a co-host profile on Airbnb in hopes of attracting other listings from property owners that would be interested in benefitting from my expertise and success. I was approached by a property owner who is building a new two bedroom apartment in her home near Brevard, NC. She indicated in her intial contact with me that she was looking for someone to handle the full gamut of services from handling the initial inquiry from potential guests to qualifying guests to updating the calendar and pricing to preparing the apartment for guest arrival to restocking essential supplies to welcoming the guests in person to resolving guest isssues to coordinating cleaning and linens to coordinatinating maintenance and building the listing. For these services, I proposed a fee based on 15% of the net bookings with a minimum payment of $75 per guest stay. I had suggested that my engagement as co-host begin on Monday, August 14, which coincides with the date that the owner projects that the apartment-in-progress will be complete.
After seeing the apartment, which is still under constuction, I researched similar listings in the area on VRBO as well as Airbnb and determined that an appropriate price might be in the $175 to $200 per night range. After receiving my proposal, I received an email from the property owner who seemed to be backing awaay from the entire concept of a co-hosting arrangement with me. She stated that "there is every possibility that the apartment will not be ready by the 14th of August.; and with regard to responsibilities: I will meet and greet the guests and I will be the person they liason with. I will be responsible for the cleaning and resupplying if needed. Maybe I will be the host. Unsure about co-hosting. Only because of the fee and i need the experience. Nothing personal you understand? Weneed to stay in touch. Thanks for all your research."
I responded by telling her that I can do as much or as little of the co-hosting tasks as she thinks is appropriate. i indicated that if if she wanted to start out being the host, that is certainly her prerogative (although I don't think that it is wise and she woud not be getting the nenefit of my Superhost status). I also told her that I am totally open about changing the fee to a fixed fee basis or a lower % basis. I even proposed building her listing at no cost to her. Her last response to me was less harsh and she indicated that she "would love [my] help and gain some knowledge from your experience; what you propose sounds very good."
I would appreciate any insights or suggestions from other hosts who may have encountered similar resistance from property owners in initiating co-hosting relationships. This should be a win/win for both of us. I don't think that the property owner appreciates how much she doesn't know and how much value I caan bring to the relationship.
