Time is money. And if you have a well-established vacation rental, you know how important this can be. Having a co-host can help maximize the time the property is available, and your income from it.
In this suddenly shaky travel industry, many are concerned about keeping things above water, let alone profitable. New rules regarding vacation rental cleaning and Covid-19 add a new twist and take away rental days, especially if you offer your property to first responders.
I am currently a private co-host for some friends who live in a different state. I was also a former cleaner of many vacation rentals including theirs, having run a Airbnb cleaning business for 13 years. In my experience, the most successful properties are the ones that are run as a business, not a side-gig.
Why?
Popular properties can make a fair sum of money and a co-host will help you keep the sailing smooth especially if you have other things on your plate…you know, like kids, your job, your home, and maybe a vacation of your own.
- They can be responsive to guests if/when you can’t.
- Be a backup cleaner if the cleaners don’t show up (they sometimes don’t).
- If you and your property live in different parts of the country/world, they can be the local eye-in-the-sky for you.
- Help you expand your property list, and
- You can help someone earn money during these uncertain times.
Who?
This job can fall to anyone of your choosing. Depending on the responsibilities you would have them accept, from being just a back-up in case you can’t be reached to full-fledged supervisor doing everything from managing reservations to emergencies.
- Do you have a friend or neighbor who has helped out in the past that you trust?
- Do you have a loyal and responsible cleaner who would be willing?
- A management company.
Of course, the more you have them responsible for, the more you should pay them and that should be agreed upon ahead of time. In fact, write it down. And aside from the management company who likely has their own insurance coverage, YOU will be assuming all liability for your co-host.
Things happen, no doubt, and having a co-host can help in shouldering the what-ifs.
