How To Run an Airbnb Business Remotely

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Below we have listed 6 steps on how to run an Airbnb business remotely - make sure you read to the end to see our top tips for maximising profits.

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1. Systemise a Team

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As a host, you'll be responsible for taking care of guests at your Airbnb rentals. And taking care of your guests involves keeping the house clean while also managing their other needs. You'll also want to make sure that their stay is pleasant and comfortable, so you'll need to pay attention to maintenance issues, like broken appliances or leaky pipes.

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However, being a remote host, you're most likely to be physically unavailable to attend to your guests or other maintenance issues. This can cause issues as properties must be physically checked regularly before Airbnb guests arrive. Hence, you need reliable property maintenance vendors on speed dial because you won't be on-site at your property.

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Now, having established that you need a team that you can rely on, the following are the people you should consider when setting up one:

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• Handyman: The ideal handyman (or woman!) should be skilled in many home repair and maintenance areas to handle any problem, regardless of when it occurs.

• Housekeeper: In order to ensure that your Airbnb remains in top condition while you're away or after your guests have left, you should hire a housekeeper or a professional cleaning company. Many professional cleaning services take care of commonly overlooked areas such as stains on the countertop or cobwebs.

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• Electrician/HVAC (Heat, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) maintenance: You don't want your guests to have to put up with a malfunctioning heating system or AC unit. It's essential to have an electrician or an HVAC specialist on hand who can take care of any issues that arise.

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Note that to collaborate with your remote team effectively, you should be available to communicate around the clock. It's important that they can reach you 24/7 in case they need to ask you any questions about the property. If your guest is using your property 24/7, you need to be on call as such to provide the best Airbnb experience.

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In addition, share your expectations for every task with your service providers so they know what is expected of them and how they can create a positive guest experience.

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This aspect is one of the key reasons owners hire Airbnb management companies such as Houst. We have managed over 250,000 bookings, so know what a good team looks like!

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2. Incorporate a Self Check-in or Keyless Entrance

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You can ensure a seamless experience for your guests by installing a keyless entryway into your property.

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With a keyless entry system, guests can easily check in and out of your property. This means that you won't have to worry about always being present when they arrive or leave.

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Popular keyless entry systems or self-check-in options for guests include keypads, lock boxes, and smart locks.

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Lockboxes are storage devices for keys. With lockboxes, guests must manually enter a code to access a physical key. You can either hide the lockbox or install it on a door or wall. Also, you can change the code after each guest leaves.

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Keypads eliminate the need for a key. You can send your guest their code before they arrive, and you can use the same code for their entire stay.

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Like Keypads, smart locks do not require the use of any physical key. Smart locks enable guests to open a door using the designated mobile app or keypad. You can also sync the smart lock with your Airbnb account using third-party software. This way, your guests will receive an email with the code and authorisation to access your property.

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3. Implement Security Measures

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You don't want your guests to feel unsafe while at your property because this will cause them to leave a bad review on your profile. Ensuring that security measures are in place is a top priority when it comes to elevating your guests' experience. Some of the actions you can take include:

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• Proper lighting: Proper lighting is a great way to deter crime. Ensure your property is always brightly lit, and check outdoor lights to make sure they're working correctly.
• Consider installing cameras at your Airbnb property. You can install the cameras at the front and back entrances of your property, hallways, and anywhere else you deem necessary. However, ensure that there's no breach of privacy, and you should disclose to Airbnb that you mounted security cameras on your property.
• Make sure there are no obstructions around the entrances to the property that could threaten guests' safety. Having a clear entry will make people safe, as there is nowhere people can hide as guests approach.
• Email or put emergency numbers on a notice board in case guests need help. Emergency numbers could include the local police department, fire department and, most importantly, your emergency contact number.
• Install alerts and sensors that will be triggered when any unusual activity occurs in the area. For example, Ring Security Systems allow you to monitor anyone who comes to the front door of a property.

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4. Provide a Complete Guestbook

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If you want to run your Airbnb hosting business remotely, then you need to provide your guests with a comprehensive guestbook. Ultimately, a guestbook is a great way to impress guests and promote their stress-free stay at your property.

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Not only is a guestbook a great way to enhance your guest experience, but it also comes in handy in informing the guests about rules they need to follow that will help them keep your property in good condition.

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Make sure the guestbook is well-detailed and comprehensive. This will also contribute to your guests' experience while on your property. Your Airbnb complete guestbook should contain:

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• Local attractions, restaurants, and other facilities in the area.
• Transport options
• Check-in and check-out procedures
• Guides for appliances
• House rules
• WiFi code and Troubleshooting information.

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For your guests' convenience, place the guestbook on a prominent spot such as the living room or kitchen coffee table.

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You can also set up different types of guest books depending on what information you want from your guests or how much time they spend in your place. For example, if you want people to leave reviews about their stay, then include that option in the guestbook.

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5. Keep Your Airbnb Stocked Up

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If you want to run your Airbnb remotely, you will need to stock up on basic amenities for guests. What are basic amenities? They are those things that make your Airbnb property feel like a home away from home for guests.

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According to an Airbnb survey, amenities are a top priority for Airbnb guests. While managing an Airbnb remotely, ensure that your guests don't run out of the necessary supplies they would need.

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Here are some of the necessities you can include:

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• Toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and other bathroom supplies (such as hand soap or body wash). You might also want to include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions or other toiletries, particularly if you're looking for Superhost status.
• Kitchen supplies like coffee filters, tea bags, and sugar packets. These are beneficial if you provide breakfast services or snacks. You can also provide salt & pepper shakers, and dish soap sponges for washing dishes (which also helps at check out!)

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• Cleaning items like laundry detergent, surface cleaner spray or wipes, dish soap, trash bag, etc. Some guests will want to clean the space during their stay.
• A small bottle of wine or a box of chocolates can be a nice touch too. It's not necessary, but it does add some personalisation to your space which helps guests feel more at home.

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You can order these items from a local store and have them automatically delivered to your house, or your housekeeper can help you buy and set them up.

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6. Collaborate with a professional Airbnb management company

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A professional Airbnb management company is ideal when you are not available 24/7 nor want to be in constant communication with a housekeeper, handyman, and electrician.

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Unlike a team, a professional Airbnb management company takes care of all the tasks related to managing your property without calling you at every slight issue. They check in your guests, clean up after them, and make sure everything runs smoothly without any problems.

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They understand how Airbnb works for owners and will also ensure that your guests leave positive reviews about their stay at your place so that more people can book it for themselves in the future. Furthermore, they help with the listing and advertising of your Airbnb so you can gain high visibility and maximise your earnings.

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At Houst, we manage all guest communications on our hosts' behalf. We also assign a dedicated account manager to help you stay on top of your finances so that you can make the most of your property.

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PRO TIPS: How to Run An Airbnb Business Remotely.

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▶Maintain a Healthy Communication with your Guests: It might seem daunting, but you should know how and when to communicate with your guests because this will help you establish a good relationship with them.

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When you keep up good communication, you promote professionalism, establish trust, and impress your guests in a manner that they'd most likely book you again if they ever revisit the area.

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One popular way of maintaining communication with guests is through Airbnb messaging. Automated messages can even be personalised and you can also share important documents with guests. However, this is only after they have a reservation with you.

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▶Hospitality is Business: Being an Airbnb host isn't just about providing your guests with a comfy apartment or house. You have to consider the full guest experience and deliver high-quality service.

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As a host, you're in constant competition with millions of other Airbnb hosts, so it's crucial to stand out from others. Better experiences mean better reviews, and better reviews mean more bookings. So what is the best way to ensure this? By creating a unique hospitable experience for your Airbnb guests, such as providing an in-home yoga studio, home cinema, welcome pack, or swimming pool.

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Metrics for Measuring and Increasing Your Remote Hosting Productivity

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We have explored six tips on how to run an Airbnb business remotely. However, there are some factors you should consider when running Airbnb remotely. They include:

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1. Set SMART Goals

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Setting goals is a great way to upscale yourself and increase your productivity while running your Airbnb remotely. However, if you aren't accomplishing those goals, it can be helpful to evaluate what's going wrong and proffer solutions.

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To set good goals for your Airbnb business, make sure they are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound.

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• 'SMART' goals are specific in the sense that there's an incorporated action plan outlining how you will achieve the goals and a performance measure that tells you whether you were successful or not. In this case, it could be you increasing total bookings every week/month/year by a certain percentage or hosting more first-time guests in your Airbnb property than in years past.
• 'SMART' goals are measurable; that is, your goals should include a target (deadline) so that there is an understanding of when and how things need to progress.  

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• 'SMART' goals are achievable, especially when considering the possibility of achieving what you've set yourself to do. Begin by being flexible and thinking critically to ensure you know how to run an Airbnb business remotely.
• 'SMART' goals are realistic. Realistic goals entail that you should evaluate if the things you plan to do to improve your guest experience are helpful and achievable in light of current circumstances. For example, do you want to boost occupancy or revenue during the low season? Is it possible? What will be the outcome?
• 'SMART' goals are time-bound; this may seem like the easiest part but don't forget to consider it. Not all time frames are considerate enough, and you ought to be sure you're giving yourself enough time to track an objective.

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2. Measure the Outcome:

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You can measure the productivity of your remote hosting services by output/time. Without measuring the outcome, you won't know if you're going in the right direction or know how to run an Airbnb remotely. Some of the metrics you should measure include:

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• Occupancy Rate

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This is the percentage of nights that guests stay in your listing. For example, if there were 20 nights booked out of 30 days a month, then you have an occupancy rate of 67% for that month.

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Occupancy rate= Number of booked nights ÷ Number of available nights (100%)

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• Average Daily Rental Rate (ADR):

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This is the average amount your listing can earn.

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Average Daily Rate = Total bookings revenue / total number of nights booked.

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However, you should know that this calculation is not 100% accurate because it excludes some factors that may affect your ADR, such as tax. Better still, you can use our free estimator tool at Houst to determine the accurate pricing and average ADR for your Airbnb listing.

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• Average length of stay (ALOS):

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This shows how many nights a single occupant stayed at your place. The ALOS may be influenced by how comfy your place feels to your guests, and that's why it's important you go the extra mile to provide them with the amenities mentioned earlier.

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The average length of stay = Total number of nights booked ÷ Total number of different guest bookings.

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• Net operating income:

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Net operating income is the amount of revenue left over after you subtract your operating expenses from your total revenue. It's an important metric for examining Airbnb's profitability. From your calculations, you can determine whether to adjust or continue your management model.  

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Net Operating Income = Gross Income - Operating Expenses.

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You may be wondering if you have to keep track of all these as a remote host. The answer is yes. The insights you gain from tracking your Airbnb metrics will help you understand the trends and if there's a need for you to make adjustments in your management.

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Any guide that covers how to run an Airbnb business remotely that doesn't cover this is falling short, as if you don't track, you can't see your progress over time!

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Continue reading: Exploring the Top 13 Airbnb Alternatives to Consider in 2023

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Conclusion

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Learning how to run an Airbnb business remotely is not an easy task, but that doesn't mean it is impossible. Airbnb has a pace of flexibility that is suitable for workers to work from anywhere.

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Nevertheless, at Houst, we remove all the hassle of being a host from your plate. We know how to run an Airbnb business remotely and can boost your income by bringing exposure to your rental, replying to reviews, adjusting rates based on demand and other factors, tracking the metrics of your Airbnb, and so much more.

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Finally, consider contacting us for higher earnings, greater control and a vast number of other benefits - consider contacting us.

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Running an Airbnb Business Remotely FAQs

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Can I run an Airbnb remotely?

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Absolutely! You can run an Airbnb business and properties remotely, allowing you to make money flexibly. Once you have the systems set up, Airbnb businesses can run autonomously.

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As we have covered in this guide on how to run an Airbnb business remotely, there are several options available to you:

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• Set up a team and the systems yourself so that your guests get the best possible experience during their stay
• Hire an Airbnb management company such as Houst to streamline and manage Airbnb operations entirely for you

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Can you run an Airbnb remotely?

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As we covered above, you can absolutely run an Airbnb business remotely. In fact, Airbnb has moved their whole company remote! This means that remote is part of their culture, allowing you, as a property owner, to run your Airbnb business remotely too.

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How to do Airbnb remotely

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When looking at how to do Airbnb remotely, there are 5 steps that you must follow to ensure profitability and guest satisfaction:

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1. Systemise a team to run the Airbnb for you - there will always need to be someone who can physically visit the Airbnb if needed.
2. Incorporate a keyless entry system so that you don't need to be there when the guest checks in
3. Implement security measures - if you're not going to be physically there and you want to manage your Airbnb business remotely, you need to ensure your guests are safe. This can be as simple as adding security cameras, providing emergency contact numbers to your guest and adding alarms to the property.
4. Provide a comprehensive Guestbook - while your guests stay at the property, you need to give them all the information they need to enjoy their stay, but also so you don't have to be hands-on while they're there. The best guestbooks will also encourage guests to leave reviews so that you can increase your bookings over time.
5. Ensure the property is always fully stocked with necessary supplies (such as toilet rolls, toiletries, etc.)

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Of course, if you'd instead focus on your day-to-day business or spend more time with loved ones, you can hire an Airbnb management company that knows how to run an Airbnb business remotely.

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At Houst, we have managed over 250,000 bookings, so we know what it takes to save your time and make money.

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