How a co-host can help you host your home on Airbnb

Key overview: Insider tips for becoming a successful Airbnb Co Host

• Connect with other local Airbnb co-hosts through host clubs to share insights and experiences.
• If bookings are low, find out why – is it the price point? The style of the Airbnb?
• Make sure the homes you co-host have good photography and a good listing – including details of bed sizes, location and amenities like coffee machines.
• The first five photos on your listing and the descriptions are important.
• Hire a great Airbnb cleaning services team so properties are spotless.
• As a co-host, run regular cleanliness and maintenance checks on the properties you look after.

Adam is an Airbnb co-host for this beautifully renovated Melbourne property while owners Georgia and James are away. This lovely three-bedroom home is a Guest Favourite on Airbnb, and it’s easy to see why. The 19th-century terrace boasts a full kitchen, three comfortable bedrooms and a roof terrace with city skyline views. Owners Georgia and James bought the property in 2021 and gave it a full renovation. When they recently left on a long overseas trip, Georgia turned to the Co-Host Network, where homeowners can find an experienced local host to take care of their home and guests. That’s how she found Adam.

How to connect with other Airbnb co-hosts

As well as being a co-host, Adam is also a volunteer community leader for a local host club in the Melbourne area. It’s a place for hosts to gather, connect, and share insights and experiences with community leaders and other local hosts. “We organise catch-ups four times a year and have guest speakers to learn from as well,” says Adam. Airbnb, as a platform, is straightforward to use. “It’s really easy. Very user-friendly,” he says.

What are the benefits of being an Airbnb co-host?

• Flexibility. People have the flexibility to choose when they host, and can manage their calendar to suit their schedule. Some people host year-round but others might only host for a weekend or when they are away travelling.
• Extra income. Which could be used to help pay for flights or accommodation**.
• Positive feedback. As a co-host, Adam puts in a stellar effort; in addition to tasks like cleaning and check-ins, he also arranges a welcome gift. “When guests tell you that you’ve made their holiday so special, that’s probably the best part,” he says.

Insider tips for a hosting an Airbnb

A former tennis coach, Adam began hosting his own place on Airbnb before becoming a co-host. He has plenty of hosting experience to share:

• Good photography is important, as is the listing: include the number of beds, a description of the house, its location – such as CBD proximity – and extras such as a barbecue or coffee machine. “A big one is the size of the bed – for example, if you have three king beds, and an ensuite,” he says. “The description means a lot, and the first five photos. You’ve got to really capture the imagination!”
• Find a great cleaning team. “If there are issues with cleaning, there are going to be issues throughout the booking,” he warns.
• Style for the listing, not just for the photography. “People expect when they turn up that the place looks like the photos,” he says.
• Bring in extra help. If you don’t have time to host your own place on Airbnb, find a co-host to help. “People can find a co-host for their property for two weeks while they’re away – or for the long-term,” he says.
• Get curious. “If you’re not getting bookings, there may be a reason behind that – the price point, the style.”
• Even if you have consecutive bookings, spotless presentation is still vital. “The main thing is having the right people around you,” says Adam. “Cleaners are the key – if you have a good cleaner, it is much easier to run.”
• When renovating, aim for durable materials that are relatively straightforward to maintain. Adam runs regular cleanliness and maintenance checks on the properties he looks after, as well as topping up supplied amenities and products. “I check the property after guests have left and before [the next guests] arrive, then I have the reassurance about what they will be coming into.”

Want to host but don’t have the time?

Find a co-host on the Co-Host Network at airbnb.com.au/host.

Looking for Airbnb listing inspiration?

Check out our article on Airbnb hosting tips to make your first listing feel premium.

Photo credit: Andrew Paravitana.

**The information in this article is general in nature. Individual experiences vary. Any earnings will depend on several factors, including availability, price and the demand in your area. Your ability to host may also be subject to local laws. You should look at your own financial position, and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.

Please note: Any plumbing or electrical works must be done by a licensed tradie.