To find someone to manage your Airbnb, look for a local property management company, or Airbnb VA, use the Airbnb Co-Host Network, or ask other hosts for referrals to trusted co-hosts or managers. When vetting candidates, check their experience and reviews. Also, make sure you understand their pricing, and ask about their guest and owner communication, their local market knowledge, and how they handle emergencies.
Many hosts underestimate the workload of managing their Airbnb alone until they’re buried in guest messages, handling multiple properties, or living far from the rental. From constant guest communication to coordinating turnovers and even screening potential guests, the responsibilities add up fast. All of these tasks are time-consuming, making it difficult to focus on scaling your business.
That’s when you realize you need someone to be your helping hand in managing your Airbnb business. The help can be an Airbnb co-host, a full-time property manager, or an Airbnb VA like those at STR Assistance, who are experienced and trained.
To help you make the right decision, we’ll guide you on how to find the best fit for your Airbnb.
Why You Might Need Someone to Manage Your Airbnb
Running an Airbnb isn’t just about posting a listing and waiting for guests. You may need an Airbnb manager to handle time-consuming tasks, manage guest communication, coordinate cleaning schedules, and take care of reviews.
Here are some more reasons why you need someone by your side,
- Save time on work, like handling bookings, 24/7 guest communication, and coordinating cleaning and maintenance.
- For professional guest management, managers can deal with guests, dispute management, Airbnb guest screening, negative review management, and crisis management.
- Revenue Optimization using dynamic pricing strategies and market knowledge to maximize occupancy rates and revenue for your property.
- A local manager can handle any emergencies or on-site issues that arise.
- By managing the listing, coordinating turnovers, and optimizing pricing, they help increase repeat bookings and occupancy rates.
- Property management companies often have access to advanced technology and tools for smoother rental task management.
As you grow, managing an Airbnb becomes less about guest messages and more about running a business. You may need help with regulatory compliance to keep up with shifting laws, permits, and taxes while also managing insurance and liability risks. At the same time, when scaling your rental business becomes chaotic, experts can bring in systems and technology to help you scale smoothly.
What are the Options for Managing Your Airbnb?
You can manage an Airbnb yourself (self-management) using property management software and automation tools. Or you can hire a co-host or property management company, or an Airbnb VA to handle operations for a fee.
A co-host offers a balanced, hybrid solution for owners who still want some involvement. Where a VA works fully remote environment, and property managers can provide local and hands-on support.
Self-management is ideal for tech-savvy hosts who want low costs. But hiring a manager is best for absentee owners seeking a hands-off approach.
Hiring a Co-Host
The first option for your Airbnb can be a co-host, who is someone you authorize to help run your listing directly through your Airbnb account. You can also choose the level of access they have.
Getting an Airbnb co-host service can step in to handle the parts of hosting that you don’t have time for, such as daily administrative tasks or even helping you scale your business. The nice thing is that you decide what to hand off, whether it’s just guest messages or the entire day-to-day, you can delegate as much as you like.
A co-host reduces the workload for the primary host. Guests receive faster service and enjoy a better overall experience.
Hiring an Airbnb Virtual Assistant
Another option is hiring an Airbnb virtual assistant, who works remotely to support your hosting business. Unlike a co-host, they don’t log directly into your Airbnb account but instead handle tasks virtually.
From Airbnb guest communication support, managing your calendar, coordinating with cleaners, creating digital guidebooks, or keeping track of reviews and performance, Airbnb virtual assistants who are experienced enough can handle all of these. You get to decide which parts of hosting to delegate to your VA.
We have our team of Airbnb virtual assistants at STR Assistance who are experienced to take care of all these tasks for hosts like you.
The benefit of hiring a VA is that you get flexible support without needing someone on-site. They reduce your daily workload, make sure guests always get timely responses, and help you stay organized.
Hiring a Full-Service Property Manager
Even a full-service property manager, who takes on almost every part of running your Airbnb for you, if you’re really busy. Unlike a co-host or virtual assistant, they handle both the online and on-site work.
A property manager covers the big to small rental management tasks. They may have a local team to run the rental business smoothly on your behalf.
The trade-off is cost. Full-service property managers often charge a higher commission, usually in the range of 20% to 40% of your booking revenue.
Where to Find Someone to Manage Your Airbnb?
If you know other hosts, you can ask for referrals to find a trusted manager. Otherwise, you can turn to communities, freelancing platforms, or rental companies to help you out.
Airbnb Co-Host Community: You can look for help directly through the Airbnb Co-Host Community, where co-hosts are already familiar with the platform. The advantage here is trust, as these co-hosts have similar rental management experience.
Specialized STR VA Companies: Short-term rental VA companies provide trained virtual assistants who understand Airbnb hosting. Their advantage is their expertise as they’re focused only on STRs. So you don’t need to train them from scratch, as we have at STR Assistance.
You can start working with your VA by simply sharing your needs. Our pre-trained Airbnb VAs have already taken the side hustle for many hosts.
Freelance Platforms: Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr let you hire freelancers for guest messaging, Airbnb calendar management, or marketing. The big advantage is flexibility; you can hire for just a few hours a week or for specific tasks.
Local Property Management Companies: Local property managers offer hands-on support, covering on-site tasks like cleaning, maintenance, and emergencies. Their advantage is presence. They can physically be at your property when needed.
Referrals from Other Hosts: Asking around in host groups or your local network can connect you with trusted managers through referrals. The advantage here is reliability and recommendations from fellow hosts.
How to Choose the Right Airbnb Manager: Qualifications You Should Check
You don’t just want someone who can handle bookings. You want someone who understands hospitality, communicates well, and knows how to keep your listing performing at its best.
Here are the qualifications you should check for your Airbnb manager,
- Pay attention to how the Airbnb manager communicates, because for your guests, you need someone who can respond quickly and properly.
- You can ask about their Airbnb content marketing process so you know how they can keep your listing visible and competitive.
- Looking at their short-term rental management portfolio shows a lot. You can check if they have handled properties similar to yours. Also, have a look at their experience, as expert managers can better handle everything for your Airbnb.
- Today, everyone uses several tools and software to make bookings and tasks more efficient, so the Airbnb manager or the VA should be good at using modern rental tools.
- Talk at the very beginning about whether the Airbnb manager can be available 24/7 or not, because your guests can come anytime to your property with a basic query or booking.
- Checking reviews and references lets you see how other owners and guests have felt about working with them.
- Also, knowing about their pricing model makes sure you understand exactly what you will be paying for and avoids surprises later.
Interview Question You Should Ask Before Hiring Someone
While interviewing your Airbnb VA or manager, you can learn a lot about their approach, communication style, and experience. The best way is to prepare a set of questions and ask them directly. Here are 13 common but effective questions you can add to your checklist.
Here are the qualifications you should check for your Airbnb manager,
- How many Airbnb properties have you managed before?
- Can you handle guest screening?
- Are you familiar with Airbnb’s Host Damage Protection policy?
- Can you provide 24/7 guest support?
- Can you share examples of guest reviews from listings you managed?
- How do you handle late-night guest issues or emergencies?
- What tools or software do you use for property management?
- How do you approach pricing and adjusting rates for better occupancy?
- Can you explain your process for cleaning and turnover management?
- How do you market a new Airbnb listing to attract bookings quickly?
- What is your preferred method of communication with property owners?
- How do you handle negative guest reviews or complaints?
- What is your pricing model, and what services are included?
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Someone to Manage Your Airbnb?
Hiring someone to manage your Airbnb, you can expect to spend anywhere from 10% to 40% of your rental income, or $20–50+ per hour if you hire a virtual assistant. The exact cost depends on the service level you choose, whether you need part-time or full-time help, the manager’s experience, and the specific tasks you want them to handle.
Here are the qualifications you should check for your Airbnb manager,
Airbnb Co-hosts
Hiring a co-host usually costs 10–30% of booking revenue. If they handle everything (guest messaging, check-ins, cleaning, and maintenance), expect to pay 20–30%. But for specific tasks to help with bookings or cleaning, the cost is lower at around 10–20%.
Airbnb Property Managers Cost
Airbnb property managers charge 15–25% of your rental income, though some premium, full-service plans can go as high as 40%.
Guest communication only is cheaper, but full-service (maintenance, cleaning, marketing) is on the higher end. High-end or prime-location rentals come with higher fees (as noted by AirDNA).
The pricing models may vary as some charge a percentage of income, others a flat monthly rate, or a hybrid approach.
Airbnb Virtual assistants Cost
Airbnb VAs work on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis, depending on your needs. Their costs range from $5 to $50+ per hour.
The cost depends on factors like experience, task complexity, location, and the provider you choose. Basic tasks such as data entry are typically at a lower cost, while specialized VAs with deep expertise in Airbnb management and marketing charge higher rates.
At STR Assistance, our Airbnb VAs charge $50–100 per property per month, with fees adjusted based on the number of properties (generally 2–5%).
Airbnb Co-Host vs. Airbnb Property Manager vs. Airbnb VA: Which One Is Best for You?
When you look at a co-host, a property manager, and a virtual assistant, the main differences come down to their role and how much they cost. A co-host helps part-time and earns a share of the income, a property manager takes full control but charges higher fees, and a VA works remotely to handle only the online side of things at an affordable rate.
- A co-host is a great choice if you want someone you trust to share the responsibilities with.
- A property manager is best for owners who want a completely hands-off approach.
- A virtual assistant is affordable and efficient, but you’ll still need to manage the on-site tasks yourself.
Role | Main Focus | Involvement | Cost | Best For |
Airbnb Co-Host | Helping manage your listing and guests | Flexible, can be part-time | Usually commission-based | Owners wanting a trusted partner |
Airbnb Property Manager | Full-service management of property | High handles everything end-to-end | Higher fees (20–30%) | Owners wanting hands-off hosting |
Airbnb VA (Virtual Assistant) | Remote admin and support tasks | Low, works online only | Lower, hourly or fixed rate | Owners handling local tasks themselves |
Benefits of Hiring an Airbnb Manager (Co-Host, VA, or Property Manager)
Hiring an Airbnb manager can save you time and reduce stress. They take care of guest communication, so you do not have to be available 24/7. They manage check-ins and check-outs so every guest has a smooth experience.
An Airbnb manager can optimize your listing with better photos, descriptions, and pricing strategies to increase bookings and income. They often use property management tools to track reservations and automate tasks.
Hiring a manager also helps with legal compliance and local regulations, especially in cities with strict short-term rental rules. Their experience can prevent costly mistakes and improve your guest reviews.
What Red Flags Should You Avoid When Hiring Someone to Manage Your Airbnb?
If a manager hides details, responds slowly, or guarantees results that sound too good, that’s a warning sign. How to know which is a red flag for your property management? Here are some points you can consider.
An Airbnb manager can optimize your listing with better photos, descriptions, and pricing strategies to increase bookings and income. They often use property management tools to track reservations and automate tasks.
Hiring a manager also helps with legal compliance and local regulations, especially in cities with strict short-term rental rules. Their experience can prevent costly mistakes and improve your guest reviews.
- Lack of transparency about fees and services.
- No knowledge of local regulations and compliance.
- Promising guaranteed high occupancy or revenue.
- Poor online presence and bad reviews.
- Not using property management software or tools.
- Unclear contracts or missing written agreements.
- No references or unwilling to share past client details.
Always trust your instincts and ensure you thoroughly vet any manager before committing. Protect your property and business by making informed decisions.
STR Assistance: How We Help Hosts Like You
Hire 24/7 Airbnb Co-Host or Airbnb VA
et expert support for your Airbnb business with professional guest communication, cleaning coordination, and dynamic pricing strategies.
When you’re looking for someone to manage your Airbnb, you may either hire a freelancer you don’t fully know or pay big fees to a property manager. That’s where we come in. STR Assistance is a short-term rental virtual assistant company working for hosts who want reliable support without the high cost.
Our team of Airbnb virtual assistants handles the daily tasks that take up your time: guest communication, calendar management, coordinating with cleaners, dynamic pricing, review follow-ups, and even compliance tasks depending on your market.
Because we work across platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, we already know the little details that keep bookings smooth and guests happy.
Hosts tell us they choose STR Assistance because it’s the middle ground they were looking for. We have more reliable and trained VAs than hiring random freelancers, but far more affordable and flexible.
Conclusion
When Airbnb management tasks look side hustle can quickly turn into a full-time commitment. But having someone by your side managing an Airbnb doesn’t become stressful. You may choose to work with a co-host, hire a full-time property manager, or bring on an Airbnb virtual assistant. The right support can save you time, reduce stress, and help you grow your rental business.
At STR Assistance, we provide trained Airbnb VAs who give you reliable support at a flexible cost of traditional property managers.
Give us a call or contact us to learn more about how we can help your Airbnb business.
