Airbnb Cohosting Walkthrough: How To Train Or Be A Co Host

Understanding Admin And Co-Host Permissions

Every Airbnb profile has an admin level. The admin has final authority on the account. You cannot transfer admin status to anyone else. This rule protects your listing reviews. If you sell a listing, the reviews stay with the admin. The only way to move reviews is to sell the whole account. Airbnb does not want you selling individual listings. This prevents people from farming reviews unfairly.

The admin can add or remove co-hosts. You can invite someone to help with your listing. They become a secondary host or a primary host. These roles have different powers and limits. The admin controls who gets access to the listing. You keep full control over your business. This setup keeps your account secure and safe.

You must know the difference between these roles. The admin cannot be shared or moved. This is a hard rule on the platform. Co-hosts can help with daily tasks. They can manage bookings and talk to guests. But they cannot take over the admin role. Understanding this helps you plan your workflow.

What A Secondary Host Can Do

A secondary host can read all messages. They can check guests in and out. They can handle many daily tasks for you. They can do little things like manage check-ins. However, they cannot ask guests for extra money. They also cannot process payouts to a bank account. Guests will not see the secondary host profile.

Your face and phone number stay as the default. This keeps your brand visible to guests. The secondary host works behind the scenes. They can see you talking to guests. They can watch how you handle issues. This is like shadowing you for training. They learn by watching your actions.

You can invite a secondary host to start. They can help without full control. This is safe for new co-hosts. They can practice tasks in a low risk way. You can monitor their work closely. This role is great for testing a person. It lets you see if they fit your team.

Upgrading To Primary Host Status

You can upgrade a secondary host to primary. This change happens in the co-hosting section. You find this in the edit listing menu. The primary host profile shows to guests. Guests can contact the primary host directly. The primary host can change reservations and give refunds. They can request money and handle guest issues.

The primary host can do all resolutions. They can fix problems for their profile. They cannot modify the payout information settings. This protects your financial setup from changes. The primary host has more control over bookings. They become the face of the listing. Guests see their name and contact info.

You should upgrade hosts when they are ready. Do not rush this step. Make sure they understand your rules. Primary status gives them more power. It also brings more responsibility. Use this role for trusted team members. It helps you automate your business safely.

Pricing And Fee Structures

Co-hosts should charge fair rates for their work. Some management companies charge as much as 25 percent. These companies handle cleaning and all other tasks. Sean charges 10 percent plus cleaning fees. Booking platforms charge 10 percent for remote management. A dedicated co-host should charge at least 10 percent. You can add cleaning fees to your rate.

Bulk pricing works for multiple listings. One example shows 18 properties for 7 percent. This is less than the standard 10 percent. Seasoned co-hosts can charge more over time. You can justify higher rates with experience. Hosts should negotiate based on workload. Clear pricing helps build trust.

Sean uses fees to balance his portfolio. He gives cleaners extra work this way. He also gives his property manager work. This creates extra revenue for the business. Co-hosts can offer similar value. They can handle cleaning coordination and guest support. Pricing should reflect the services provided.

Setting Up A Safe Training Account

Hosts should create a separate co-host account. Sean made a profile called Airbnb Automated. He invited this profile to all accounts. He pays this profile zero dollars. The property manager logs in to this profile. She has no access to the money. This setup protects the business from liabilities.

Sean has 21 accounts on Airbnb. He started by making her primary on five apartments. These units are in a building near her home. This allows her to fix mistakes easily. She can handle lost keys or communication errors. She can grow her skills in a safe way. This method reduces risk for the host.

You should sandbox finances from the co-host. Use a second account for co-hosting. Invite that account as a secondary host first. Ramp up their presence slowly over time. This protects you from oversight issues. It also keeps your money secure. This is a best practice for automation.

Tools Apps And Calendars

A co-host needs the right tools to work. Sean uses a dedicated phone line for the business. The company credit card is attached to delivery apps. Apps like Favor and Postmates help restock items. Instacart and Amazon Prime Now deliver goods fast. Prime Now can deliver in two to four hours. This helps solve guest issues quickly.

Sean uses Google Calendar for cleaning schedules. He exports data via iCal to shared calendars. Each city has its own shared calendar. The calendar shows guest names and phone numbers. Cleaners and co-hosts can contact guests if needed. This keeps everyone informed and organized. It streamlines communication across the team.

There are eight different buildings with unique needs. Each building has its own nuances. Check-in instructions vary by location. Some use lock boxes while others use concierge. Pass codes might change between units. The co-host must know these details. Clear notes help them handle each property well.

Checklists And Growth Strategies

Hosts must check every listing before handing it over. Make sure the house manual is clear and easy. Check-in instructions should stand alone without the manual. Verify that all amenities are present and working. A missing toaster can cause a big problem. Ensure the Wi-Fi password is easy to find. This prevents small issues from becoming big ones.

Let the co-host shadow you at first. Plan for them to make mistakes and forget things. This is how they learn and grow. Start with a small cluster of properties. Make sure they are close together. This helps them handle issues in person. Confidence builds with real world experience.

Use template messages to guide guests. A welcome message can link to a video. The video shows how to find the house manual. A checkout message can help get five star reviews. Sean is testing this message as a pilot. He wants to see how it affects reviews. Templates save time and improve quality.