Here are 10 JUICY Airbnb hosting tips that’ll help you start working smarter, not harder with the right systems in place.

If you’re an Airbnb host, you know that running a vacation rental business can be both incredibly fulfilling and, well…a little wild. One minute you’re basking in five-star reviews, the next you’re frantically searching YouTube at 3 AM to fix a leaking toilet because your plumber won’t answer.

As an Airbnb Superhost and a Vacation Rental Expert, I scaled from 1 to 75 properties in just 2 years, and I’m here to help you create a sustainable property management system WITHOUT burning out. Snag My Operations Playbook to get started!

The Benefits of Becoming an Airbnb Host

Before diving into the Airbnb hosting tips, let’s talk about why hosting is worth the effort in the first place.

Financial freedom is the obvious draw. The average host earns $13,800 annually, and you can earn much more if you have multiple listings. 

Speaking from personal experience – My Airbnb business generates $15,000 a month in revenue!

Beyond the money, hosting lets you build a business on your terms. You can set your own rates, create a brand that reflects your values, and make it work around your schedule.

The best part is that you don’t even need to own property to get started. Co-hosting (managing someone else’s property for a percentage of bookings) lets you break into the vacation rental industry with minimal upfront investment. Many successful Airbnb entrepreneurs are co-hosts!

At the same time, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: Airbnb hosting comes with its fair share of facepalm moments.

You’ll deal with guests who text at midnight because they can’t figure out how to turn on the TV and the occasional bachelor party that somehow missed your “no parties” rule despite it being mentioned seven times. You may also get VERY bizarre requests (ask me how I know!) and random negative reviews that have nothing to do with your listing.

But using the Airbnb hosting tips that I’m about to share with you will help you save your sanity (while getting consistently booked out!).

10 Juicy Airbnb Hosting Tips to Build a Sustainable and FUN Business

1. Create a Clean and Welcoming Space

Cleanliness is everything. The fastest way to tank your Airbnb business is with hair in the shower drain or mystery stains on the bedding. So, while this might seem basic, creating a clean space is one of the most important Airbnb hosting tips.

Guests will forgive an outdated bathroom, but they’ll never forgive a dirty one, so make sure that your property is spotless for check in. Consider investing in a cleaning service or a fantastic cleaner who understands the demands of an Airbnb.

Beyond making sure that your listing is clean, think about the small touches that make a big difference:

• A simple welcome note or small local treat
• Extra phone chargers by the bed
• Blackout curtains for better sleep
• Proactive suggestions for local attractions
• Providing an iron and ironing board
• Having fresh flowers when your guests arrive

You’re selling an experience, so try to anticipate your guests’ needs to make their stay easier and more enjoyable. Going the extra mile always pays off.

2. Set Up Automated Messages

Your time is valuable, and responding to the same questions over and over is a fast track to hosting burnout. Smart automations help you deliver a great service without being glued to your phone 24/7.

Airbnb has a handy feature that allows you to create a series of pre-written messages that go out at key moments, such as:

• Booking confirmation with check-in details
• Check-in reminder with access instructions (24 hours before arrival)
• Mid-stay check-in to ensure everything’s going well
• Check-out reminder with instructions
• Post-stay thank you with a gentle nudge for a review

There are also mode advanced tools that can detect questions in guest messages and send appropriate responses automatically. This can feel a little impersonal at first, but it’ll save you and your guests a ton of time because they’ll be able to get helpful tips faster.

Plus, you can still make automated messages fun with a hint of personality! 

3. Ask for Guest Feedback

A simple message after the first night asking “Is there anything you need to make your stay more comfortable?” accomplishes two powerful things: it shows guests you care, and it gives them a private channel to mention issues before they become review-worthy complaints.

You should also always try to handle situations, not just the issues themselves.

For example, if a guest mentions that the shower pressure is weak and you can’t fix the plumbing immediately, acknowledging it and providing an alternative solution or a small gift for the inconvenience can make your guests feel supported and appreciated.

4. Be Responsive

Airbnb’s algorithm favors hosts who respond quickly, boosting your listing in search results. But most importantly, quick responses help you convert more inquiries into bookings and keep your guests happy. Try to respond within an hour during waking hours.

If you can’t always be that available (can’t blame ya!), this is where having clear, efficient systems that I teach in The Operations Playbook becomes invaluable.

5. Plan for Low Seasons

Here’s one of the most underrated Airbnb hosting tips! Every vacation rental market has seasons when bookings naturally slow down. That can feel scary, but planning for lower occupancy rates can make a big difference.

Here are a few things you can do to plan for low seasons:

• Adjust your pricing (you can use this dynamic pricing tool I recommend)
• Offer longer-stay discounts to attract digital nomads and remote workers
• Use downtime for deep cleaning, updates, and improvements

Keeping your calendar 100% full year-round is virtually impossible for vacation rentals, and that’s fine! Many hosts make a large chunk of their annual revenue in just a few months of the high season.

6. Be Honest

It’s tempting to oversell your space with wide-angle photos that make your studio look much bigger, or to conveniently “forget” to mention the construction next door. Don’t do it.

Disappointed guests become bad reviewers, and bad reviews cost you far more in the long run than being honest upfront.

Be transparent about potential issues:

• Limited parking? Say so.
• Fourth-floor walkup with no elevator? Make it clear.
• Thin walls? Mention it.

Addressing negatives actually builds trust. When you acknowledge your property’s limitations, guests believe your positive claims, too. Plus, you’ll attract guests who are genuinely fine with your space as it is instead of those who’ll be unhappy.

Managing guest expectations is EVERYTHING!

That said, you don’t have to dwell on flaws. You can frame limitations as information instead of actual negatives. For example, you can say “Please note this apartment is in a lively neighborhood with local businesses that stay open until midnight – perfect for night owls but light sleepers might want earplugs!”

7. Create a Manual

A comprehensive house manual can be INCREDIBLY helpful when your guests arrive. You can create one online or as a physical book – I have a template you can use! 

Think of every question a guest might ask: How does the coffee maker work? Where’s the circuit breaker? Which remote controls the TV? Answer them all in one organized place. The best manuals also have labeled photos of anything that might be confusing (like which light switch controls what).

You can also include local recommendations in your manual, such as your favorite coffee shop, fun things to do in the area that tourists may not know about, and best restaurants that your guests should absolutely try.

The hour you spend creating a manual will save you from answering the same questions hundreds of times. Plus, guests who can solve their own minor issues are happier guests who leave positive reviews.

8. Invest in High-Quality Photography

Numbers don’t lie, and listings with 40+ photos typically see occupancy rates around 55%, while those with only 11-15 photos on the Airbnb website average about 49% occupancy.

Guests can’t touch, feel, or experience your space before booking, so your photos need to do the heavy lifting.

Ideally, hire a professional Airbnb photographer to take care of the photos. But if your budget is tight, follow these tips:

• Shoot during daylight with all interior lights on
• Clear all personal items and clutter before shooting
• Capture each room from multiple angles
• Include detail shots of special features and amenities
• Show the view from your property if it’s a selling point

When guests arrive to a space that looks exactly like (or better than) the photos, they’re already primed for a positive, memorable stay.

9. Get a Co-Host

The fastest route to hosting burnout is trying to do everything yourself.

That’s what I tried doing when I just started my property management business, and managing bookings and guests got overwhelming SO quickly.

A good co-host is worth their weight in gold, and they can help you handle guest communications, check-ins, and emergency responses when you can’t – or simply don’t want to.

Co-host services fees are typically between 10-20% of the nightly rate, and the best host-cohost relationships have crystal clear boundaries and expectations.

I have a Cohosting Contract Template in my Shop to help you clearly outline exactly who handles what, when to escalate issues, and how communications should flow.

I’m not a lawyer, so make sure to edit this template to match your state and local laws and consult with a lawyer if necessary! 

10. Build Simple and Scalable Systems

The difference between stressed-out hosts and successful Airbnb entrepreneurs? Systems that allow you to scale.

Great systems mean you can add additional properties without proportionally increasing your workload and build a sustainable + FUN vacation rental business.

I speak from experience. Like many hosts, as I took on more and more Airbnb listings, I faced incessant 24/7 demands, never being able to look away from my phone, and, well – severe burnout.

But I knew that there had to be a better way for me and other Airbnb hosts to grow our property management businesses.

So, The Operations Playbook was born – an in-depth guide for Airbnb hosts packed with all the systems and tools that helped me go from working 100-hour weeks to LESS THAN 10 without compromising my income.

If I could do it, you can do it, too! You’re building a business that serves your life, not a job that consumes it. With the right systems in place, your Airbnb hosting can be both profitable and sustainable for the long haul.

So, How Do You Become a Successful Host on Airbnb?

Becoming a successful Airbnb host comes down to two things.

Crafting a genuinely exceptional guest experience AND having streamlined systems that let you deliver this experience consistently without working yourself into the ground.

The hosts who truly thrive aren’t necessarily doing more work. They’re doing smarter work. You could know all the Airbnb hosting tips in the world, but if you don’t have time to actually implement them, does it really matter?

When you’re managing multiple Airbnb listings, it’s virtually impossible to stay on top of cleanliness, property maintenance, and responsive communication without having clear and scalable protocols (if you want to keep your sanity, that is!).

Learn more about my services and how I can help you become a successful Airbnb host with Systems and Operations! I can host your property or show you how to build a business like I have. 

Airbnb Hosting Tips FAQs

How to Be the Perfect Airbnb Host?

The perfect host isn’t perfect at all. They’re just human and responsive. First, nail down the fundamentals: spotless spaces, clear communication, and quickly addressing issues when they arise. Do your best to be genuinely helpful when guests reach out. You don’t need to have the fanciest property if you can make your guests feel seen, heard, and cared for. Trustworthy and consistent experiences turn first-time guests into repeat bookers.

As you grow your property management business, it becomes increasingly difficult to be the “perfect” Airbnb host without overworking. This is when building sustainable and scalable systems comes in, and The Operations Playbook is a great place to start doing that!

How Do I Get Higher on the Airbnb Algorithm?

Airbnb’s algorithm rewards hosts who deliver fast response times (aim for under an hour), high acceptance rates, minimal cancellations, and consistent five-star reviews. Cleanliness and accuracy ratings are particularly important. It’s also helpful to regularly update your listing with fresh photos and amenities. Lastly, qualifying for the Airbnb Superhost status makes a big difference as well.

How Profitable Is Airbnb Hosting?

The average host earns $13,800 annually, but the more Airbnb listings you manage, the more you earn, so the potential is truly infinite. Profitability will also depend on your location and the types of properties that you manage. You WILL eventually hit an income ceiling because you’ll run out of time that you can realistically dedicate to managing multiple properties with a high level of care, but building strong systems and operations can help you manage 50+ properties without burning out.

What Do Airbnb Guests Want Most?

Guests want exactly what they saw in your listing! They want a clean space, WiFi that actually works at the speeds advertised, a straightforward check in process, and good communication with you. If your listings target a specific group, such as business travelers, they might also be looking for special amenities, such as a reliable workspace with multiple charging stations. But ultimately, your guests want to have a good time with no hiccups!

Build a Simple and Scalable Airbnb Business with SYSTEMS!

Your systems and operations is what makes a difference between running your property management company as a side hustle and a scalable business. With proper systems, your second, third, or tenth property becomes incrementally easier to manage.

Your goal should be building a business where you’re NOT the bottleneck!

If you’re ready to ditch burnout and work on your business and not in it, learn more about my services and how they can help you build smooth operations or host your property for you!