Transfer a listing to a new owner?

[Hot-Springs0]

I have two properties listed on AirBnb. I am selling one. Can I transfer my listing with its reviews for that property to them? The closing should be in late August. I have two reservations for October already that the new owner will be honoring. I would like to be able to transfer the account and payment to him, but keep my current account with the other propery for myself.

Thank you in advance!

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

No.  The reviews are for you as a host and the property you are providing.  It's host-based, not location-based.  They will have to start off new and start from scratch, because, well, they are not you.  

However, there is a new function where you can add a manager of the properties under your profile.  You could add them to this but their behavior and their keep of the property will be reflected on you.  

[Hot-Springs0]

Alice and Jeff:

Thanks for the answer! So if he needs to set up his own listing, can I transfer the future reservations to him so he receives the payment?

If that is not possible, can I deactivate that listing but still receive the payout to forward to him upon successful guest stay? Can a guest still review me if the listing is deactivated?

Thank you!

Amy

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

Upon further reflection.... I want to modify some things.

Please be aware, by the rules set forth in Airbnb, you cannot rent a property that does not belong to you.  Once the properties change hands legally, you are not allowed to rent it without a contract specifying such. You may need to talk to a lawyer about this.  

I think you need to get Airbnb involved.  You cannot just assume that your future renters will want to rent from anyone but you.  I know, it's unlikely, but they have the option to bail on the future reservation with an unknown, un-reviewed host.  It's for their safety and concern as well as your own.  You will not have any insurance on a property you do not own, even for those few reservations so they do need to be transferred in some way to the new owner.

Finally, while it's an unlikely scenario, your new buyer may not qualify to be an Airbnb host.  He may have a criminal background that will prohibit him.  You should immediately, block any days available past the closing date to avoid additional bookings.   

[Melanie58]

I think what you would want to do is have a graduated plan.  

Step One:  Add him as an additional host to your current listing, and discontinue the booking dates at a certain agreed upon time, such as no bookings on your listing after the closing date (except leave the ones that are already booked, as agreed).

Step Two:  (Up to the new owner) - at any point, he should add a listing under his account that is the same address.  For now, he can just have  a photo of the front of the house or whatever he wants to do.  That listing should only be available for booking starting in the future, such as  on or after the closing date, at a date which he chooses.  (Maybe, for example, he wants a break period to refurninsh or clean or do maintenance, whatever).   You would not be included as a host on this listing.

Upon closing, he would use the listing you have set up to manage the final guests that were already booked post closing.  For example, he can message the guests and let them know he is the new property manager and to send any requests to him.  If there are any changes to his checkin procedures whatever he could let the guests know.  Then, depending on the terms of your agreement, after the final guest checks out on your account you can delete the account or simply snooze it if he is planning on utilizing some of the information in the account for some purpose. But my inclination would be to offer to print out the entire contents of the account and give to him as a bound book and then you delete the account.

He would use his new listing to manage all future guests.  

Is closing all but certain at this point?  It may make sense to wait until after all inspection contingencies are removed to embark on this plan, or run it by your agent/any business partners.  You can immediately remove anyone as an additional host if something were to go wrong, but always better safe than sorry.

[Melanie58]

Oh!  And to address the payment issue, Why not just write that into your sales contract - you could credit him x dollars at closing for those two October reservations?  If you are worried they may cancel and then you would be out some money, I guess the only other option is to set up a different account for payments but since you have another listing that will remain active on your account that could be a little tricky.  Might be easier just to write it into the contract and not mess with your payment settings.

[Melanie58]

And the additional host receives all messages that the account receives, so that part could be a little tricky.  You would have to clue him in which account to respond to, and realize that in any reply where you mention a new purchaser, etc he would be reading that too. 

[Hot-Springs0]

Hi Melanie:

I don't want him to have access to my account and other property so it sounds like I will just have to send him a check upon the guest's successful stay.

So - if I deactivate/snooze that listing at closing:

1) Will I still get payment for the future stays already booked?

2) Will those future stays be able to write reviews that will reflect on me?

I don't anticipate problems as the new owner wishes to keep renting it as a vacation rental, but want to do what I can to protect myself and the future guests I have booked.

Thanks!

Amy

[Melanie58]

So, if you are closing at the end of August, and the two listings in October are happening after closing, are you planning on fulfilling their needs or would the new owner?  As it stands, the two listings booked in October would write reviews on your account, and the payout would go to your account.  If you want something different to happen, then I think Airbnb might have to be involved, i.e. maybe after the new owner closes, gets his listing up and running, yall could contact airbnb and see about transferring those guests to the new account.  (I assume the guests would have to agree to that, maybe they would have to cancel with you/book with the new owner.  Also, remind new owner to block those october dates so he doesn't get double booked:))

As it stands now, you would want to block all the dates on the listing calendar for the property you are selling after August 31/Close Date.  (Just set that calendar to default to blocked days in your availability settings.  If you are open to having new listings before the close date you can open up those dates if you wish.) 

[Stacie4]

How do you call Airbnb?  I cannot locate a phone number.  I would like to be able to transfer my bookings to a new owner.

Thanks!