How to Manage Your Airbnb Remotely
You're not always going to be hanging out in the same city as your Airbnb when you have guests. You might be taking the opportunity to travel, or your Airbnb might be your second home or summer getaway. So how do you manage your Airbnb remotely and make sure everything runs smoothly when you're not there?
Create a keyless entry
Hiding a key under the mat isn’t the safest way to get your guests through the front door. But if you're not going to physically be at the house, you need to get them the key somehow, right?
If you have a garage that’s connected to your house, consider installing a keypad and texting the code to your guests. Just be sure you can easily change it before the next guest arrives in order to stay secure.
If that sounds like too much trouble, you could install smart locks. Once your guests arrive they can text you and you can unlock the door remotely. Just leave a physical key on the kitchen counter so that your guests can come and go as they please!
Get a good cleaning crew
Just because an Airbnb is someone’s home doesn’t mean people expect it to be any less clean than a hotel. Since you’re not there to do it yourself (or check the work), you need to make sure you find a great, reliable cleaning service that can make the place sparkle.
Craft a great welcome binder
When you walk into a nice hotel, you’re usually greeted by the concierge who’s full of tips about where to eat and what to do while you’re there. An Airbnb can have the same experience, even if you’re managing it from far away.
Be sure to create a great welcome binder that tells the guests important details about the house (like what the wifi password is), lists out the area’s attractions, and includes your personal recommendations to make them feel really welcome.
Sign up for a subscription service
When your Airbnb needs something, it needs it now. Maybe the cleaning crew is low on cleaning supplies or maybe your last guests “walked out” with your comforter and you need a new one before your next guest comes tomorrow.
Services like Amazon Prime are going to save the day when you run low.
Looking for other options? Target also has two-day delivery for it’s Red Card holders. And if you want to stay ahead of running out of the basics, you could look at subscription services. There's one for everything these days, even toilet paper.
Listen to your guests
Having an Airbnb can feel extremely personal. You’re letting people into your home (or your vacation home), and you’re expecting them to love it as much as you do. The only problem is sometimes they don’t.
If you get a negative review, don’t just chalk it up to picky guests or people who don’t know what they’re talking about.
Instead of getting defensive, take their comments seriously and see how they can help you improve for the future. Chances are if one person said it, several others thought it.
Get your list of vendors
When something goes wrong (and it will) you can’t be there if you’re living in a different city or state. That’s when it pays to have a list of great plumbers, electricians, handymen, etc. who you can call to get stuff fixed A.S.A.P.
Be on call
When a guest gets locked out or a pipe bursts in the kitchen, they’re going to call you.
It might not be a great time for you, or you might even be in a different time zone. But it’s extremely important you’re available to your guests when they need you--and that you have someone on the ground who can take care of just about any situation.
If you’re not available to fix the situation, it could be at best annoying for your guests and at worst a potentially dangerous situation.
Ready to dive into the Airbnb life? Check out our guide to getting started as an Airbnb host.