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Airbnb Hosting Services: Who Should Manage My Airbnb?
Some Airbnb hosts don't take the DIY route. Behind glowing five-star reviews are co-hosts, property managers, or virtual assistants running the show.
With the help of good co-hosts or vacation rental property managers and a clear strategy, you can still build a profitable business and keep a solid net profit.
Find out how to compare your options for Airbnb hosting services and choose the one that best fits your situation, business model, and business size.
Should You Outsource Your Airbnb Hosting?
Hosting short-term rentals offers plenty of advantages over long-term leasing, but it is also time-consuming.
Maybe your schedule or full-time job doesn’t leave room for the daily responsibilities that come with hosting—greeting guests, managing turnovers, updating listings, and being available around the clock.
If you realize you can’t handle these tasks every day, there are several ways to outsource your property management. Before we break down the different options, let’s look at what co-hosts and property managers actually do when providing Airbnb hosting services.
What Exactly Do Co-Hosts and Property Managers Do?
What property managers and co-hosts or virtual assistants will do depends on the contract you arrange with them. While there can be more or fewer tasks included in the contract, these tasks are what you can generally expect:
Guest support during check-in / check-out
A good co-host or property manager acts as the guest’s main point of contact from arrival to departure. They handle check-ins, answer questions, and step in if anything goes wrong, like when a guest can’t find the lockbox.
Guest communication and managing guest reviews
Beyond answering questions, co-hosts act like your property’s personal PR team. They handle awkward situations before they become reviews, such as calming a guest who is unhappy because the kitchen is missing something.
A co-host can quickly handle a guest’s request or offer a practical workaround. They respond to messages to ensure the guest’s experience is positive and reflected in their ratings, and they also reply to reviews.
Overseeing cleaning and maintenance
A great property manager anticipates surprises. Maybe a guest spills wine on the antique rug, so they must organize deep cleaning. They handle it all without you lifting a finger. The goal is that guests never notice the chaos behind the scenes—only the polished, five-star experience.
Guest screening
Some co-hosts act like detectives for your Airbnb. They pick up on subtle red flags: last-minute bookings from what might be a party-heavy group, and check guests' previous reviews for suspicious behavior.
On Airbnb, you can't often cancel reservation requests, as Airbnb can penalize your account. Managers should know how to act wisely and may suggest using liability insurance and STR insurance to protect hosts in unpredictable situations.
Airbnb listing management
Property managers take care of refining your listings on booking platforms, from professional photos to the title. A skilled professional knows how to present your property to attract more clicks and bookings, and can adjust the description to reflect seasonal changes or local events.
Pricing strategies
A professional manager knows how to apply dynamic pricing strategies, both manually and with the help of specialized tools. Effective pricing requires a solid understanding of the local market.
They need to recognize factors that affect demand, such as seasonality or local events, and adjust prices or offer discounts accordingly, both on a seasonal and weekly basis.
Following regulations and local laws
Managing short-term rentals also involves legal considerations. Local laws may support or restrict Airbnb operations, and in any case, certain permits will be required.
Property managers should know which permits are needed, how to file taxes correctly, and how to stay compliant with local regulations. Managers themselves may need specific permits or certifications if they operate as a company.
Co-hosts
Co-hosts are people who help Airbnb owners manage their listings and guests. They can be family members, friends, local partners, or professional service providers hired to handle specific parts of the hosting process.
Co-hosts can handle nearly everything, from guest communication to turnovers, and the agreement can be customized. You choose which tasks to delegate and which to manage yourself.
Co-Host Network on Airbnb
One easy way to find vetted co-hosts is through the Co-Host Network on the Airbnb platform.
It’s Airbnb’s official platform where local, verified co-hosts can connect with property owners who need hosting support.
Think of it as a matchmaking service for hosts and experienced helpers. You can browse co-host profiles, check their ratings, and see what services they offer.
How the Airbnb co-host network works
Each co-host on the network sets their own rates and decides which services they’ll handle. Some offer end-to-end management, including check-ins and check-outs, maintenance, pricing, and marketing, while others focus on specific tasks, like managing guest communication and coordinating turnovers.
How to find and vet co-hosts on the Airbnb platform
Airbnb made it very easy for Airbnb owners to pick co-hosts, as the company has high standards. The company requests verification and requires a co-host to have a rating of 4.8 or above.
You research them based on your location and the services they offer.
Benefits of finding a co-host through Airbnb
- You get verified, experienced hosts with proven track records (4.8+ rating required).
- The system lets you compare profiles, rates, and services in one place.
- You maintain full control and transparency over your property and payouts.
- Local hosting experts usually know the area laws, local cleaners, and vendors.
Property Management Companies
If you’re a serious investor with a growing portfolio and want complete hands-off management, a full-service property management company might be your best choice.
These companies handle everything from guest bookings to maintenance, allowing you to focus on growth rather than daily operations.
What "full-service" actually includes
Full-service property management usually covers the entire hosting process. This includes guest communication, cleaning, maintenance, dynamic pricing, professional photography, listing optimization, marketing and legal compliance.
Some companies handle tax reporting and local permits. The goal is to manage every detail so your property stays booked and highly rated without your daily involvement. Because they usually earn a percentage of your property’s revenue, they have every reason to pull the highest returns from your property.
Level of control
When you hire a property management company, you hand over a large portion of control. They make operational and pricing decisions based on market data and company policies. However, you can still monitor performance through dashboards or reports, and if you use a PMS tool like iGMS, it's very straightforward.
Communication and reporting: how often you hear from them
Each company sets its own communication rhythm. Some provide monthly financial summaries, while others offer weekly or bi-weekly updates.
You usually have access to real-time data showing occupancy rates, maintenance tasks, and guest feedback, especially with software like iGMS. Before signing a contract, it’s worth asking how often you’ll receive reports and through which channels.
Local vs. national and franchise-based companies
Local companies offer more personalized service and stronger connections with local vendors and cleaners. National or franchise-based companies bring scale, standardized systems, and advanced technology. However, they can feel less personal and may rotate staff frequently.
It might take some due diligence to compare your options and find a company to partner with.
Benefits of property management companies
- Truly hands-off hosting – You don’t have to manage daily operations, from guest messages to check-ins and maintenance. The company takes care of it all.
- Your business has a full strategy: high-quality photos, optimized listings, and strategic pricing to attract more guests.
- Because the company earns a percentage of your income, they are motivated to get the most out of every booking.
- You benefit from their knowledge of local laws, permits, and reliable vendors, keeping your property compliant and well-maintained.
Airbnb Virtual Assistants
They handle many of the daily administrative tasks that come with running an Airbnb. The key is to find someone with the right mix of experience and communication skills. Start by identifying what you need help with.
What tasks Airbnb VA can and cannot handle
There are a lot of admin tasks VAs can easily handle:
- Respond to prospective guest inquiries and manage reservations
- Communicate with guests and answer their questions
- Respond to issues during a guest’s stay
- Keep your calendar and pricing updated
- Coordinate cleaning and maintenance services
- Handle reviews
The downside is that virtual assistants are not on-site, so they cannot verify that cleaning or maintenance is done properly or respond to emergencies in person.
Additionally, because they manage tasks remotely, they may not be as invested in your property’s overall success.
Finding and managing remote assistants
You can usually find virtual assistants through freelance job sites, such as Upwork or Fiverr. When searching, look for candidates with experience in Airbnb or short-term rental tasks.
Once you hire someone, set clear expectations, create detailed task lists, and establish communication routines, like daily check-ins or weekly progress reports.
Benefits of Airbnb virtual assistants
- Virtual assistants are a more affordable option than hiring local staff or full-service property managers.
- Many VAs work across time zones, ensuring fast replies to potential guest inquiries.
- As your portfolio grows, a VA can help manage multiple listings without a major increase in overhead.
- Your operations run more smoothly and professionally.
How Much Do Airbnb Co-hosts, Property Managers, and Virtual Assistants Charge?
A co-host will usually charge about 10% to 30% of rental income, but they could also charge a fixed amount per booking.
Full-service property managers typically take 15% to 40% of your rental income, depending on the services included. There are other payment structures, such as flat fees, but arranging a contract to earn a percentage of revenue is most common.
Virtual assistants for short-term rental management charge a fixed monthly fee or hourly rates. It can range from $10 to $30 per hour, depending on the skill set and location.
Vacation Rental Software for Hosting
Sometimes you don't even need to outsource management if you use a good property management system for vacation rentals.
Software for self-hosting and property management
Tools like iGMS are designed for Airbnb hosts and will assist both self-hosting owners and those who hire a manager.
When you self-host, you use the property management system directly to automate tasks such as messaging, reviews, task assignment, and calendar syncing across platforms.
When you hire a manager, they use the PMS on your behalf to coordinate cleaning, manage channels, automate check-in and check-out messages, and report performance. You still have access to the account anytime, including updates and reports.
Key features to search for in an Airbnb software
When you look for a proper tool to help you manage, you should make sure it's suitable to handle management for Airbnb-type properties. A good short-term rental management tool should have:
- Native integration with the Airbnb app, as well as other platforms like Vrbo and Booking.com
- Task management features
- A channel manager and unified inbox
- Automation features, such as automated guest messages and reviews
- The ability to create a direct booking website so you can drive bookings without platform fees
- A mobile-friendly app so you can check updates and reports anytime
iGMS includes all these features and more because it’s built around the needs of Airbnb hosts.
Takeaway
Revenue growth in the short-term rental world comes from satisfied guests. The right hosting support, whether a co-host, manager, or virtual assistant, along with the right tech tools in the background, will help you deliver that perfect guest experience consistently.
About the Author
Zorica Milinkovic is a B2B SaaS writer who is passionate about psychology, marketing, and, when inspiration strikes, cooking. You can find her on LinkedIn.
