How to Find Out if You Are Working with a Good Airbnb Manager

Signing your home up to be an Airbnb property can easily turn out to be a good and very profitable move for you. Of course, if you want this venture of yours to be successful, you have to be willing to put in the work, or at least find someone else who can.

While many of the people who offer up their properties on Airbnb still like to accommodate their guests themselves, there are also those who want to make the most of the time they’ll be getting away from home to go on a vacation themselves.

Before they can do that though, they will have to find an Airbnb manager who they can trust completely to take care of their guests and their property. It’s easy enough to find a manager, but how can you tell if you’ve hired someone who is capable of doing the job well?

 

1. Rely on Reputation

If you live in an area where a lot of homeowners have already rented their properties out via Airbnb previously, then you can try to ask them if they have worked with managers. In case your neighbors haven’t worked with managers in the past, then it may be best to go online to look for some reviews.

I’m not saying that all reviews you’ll find online are trustworthy, but if you see a bunch of people saying positive things about a particular manager with evidence to back that up, I would consider that as a pretty good indicator that working with this company or individual is something worth doing.

For a more trustworthy detailing of a specific manager’s quality of work, you can also try to get in touch with previous guests to see if they liked their experience of being accommodated by that individual or company.

 

2. Seek Out the Experienced

Experience is always important regardless of what job you’re applying for. There’s just nothing that can take the place of having already experienced what the job is like and knowing what to expect.

When it comes to a manager for my property, I also want someone who already knows all about what the job entails and can react accordingly to everything that happens because they’ve dealt with all those things in the past.

It may cost you a bit more to hire an experienced property manager, but that money will be well-spent once you get the chance to enjoy your own vacation.

 

3. Find Someone Who Will Help with the Vetting Process

A good property manager will not wait until the guests are checked in to start working. Instead, they will take initiative and help you find the right guests by assisting in the vetting process.

The vetting process isn’t necessarily just about finding guests who are likely to violate the terms of the agreement. It’s also about finding the people who are best suited to stay in your property.

It wouldn’t be ideal to host a family of five in a small home meant only for a couple. Some travelers may also be seeking services that neither you nor your manager can provide.

With some help from your manager, you can ensure that the vetting process will go smoothly and only the travelers who pair up best with your property are going to be considered.

 

4. Check Out How Well They Communicate

As a guest at an Airbnb property, I would want to have an always open line of communication with my host.

I would want the same thing if I was the host because I don’t want to constantly be left in the dark regarding what’s going on at the property.

Ideally, the manager you hire will provide and maintain that open line of communication between you and the guests. You don’t need hourly updates or anything like that, but it is fair for you to expect that inquiries from you and your guests will be answered promptly.

A manager that cannot provide that should not be working for you.

 

5. Inquire about How They Handle Maintenance Issues

Put yourself in the shoes of a guest for one moment and imagine what you would feel if you suddenly discovered that you’re not getting any hot water at the Airbnb property you’re renting. You’re supposed to be on a relaxing getaway, but instead, you’re dealing with problems you thought you left at home.

Maintenance issues wouldn’t even be that troubling if they were just handled right away and that’s exactly what you should expect from the manager you’re hiring.

As the owner of the property, you should also be notified first before any maintenance work takes place and the manager should handle that task as well.

 

6. Ask if They Can Supply Regular Updates

In conjunction with the manager taking care of maintenance issues as soon as they arise and telling you about them, you should also aim to work with someone who will give you frequent status updates about your property.

The vetting process should have already weeded out those travelers who could have potentially caused trouble to you and your property, but there are always those few bad apples that manage to get through.

It’s possible that it may already be too late and those guests have already done damage to your property. However, if your manager is on top of things, then you can prevent the real and lasting damage from taking place.

 

7. Will They Leverage Technology to Your Benefit?

Lastly, the manager you’re hiring for your property should also know how to make use of technology to your benefit.

We’re not talking about them installing high-tech stuff at your home..

You just want the managers to be capable of optimizing your property listing on Airbnb’s website so that travelers can check it out and potentially set up a booking. Keep in mind that numerous properties are up for rent all the time on Airbnb so you need all the help you can get to be noticed.

 

Conclusion

You may have your reservations about having a manager handle your Airbnb property, but there’s no need to be afraid as long as you make the right hire. Put in the time required to find a hardworking and trustworthy manager and you are sure to reap the benefits in the form of greater profits and more relaxing vacations.