Quick answer
Running accommodation well requires a ready property, an accurate listing and a designated person responsible for each stage of the stay. The first reservation begins a recurring process: arrival, support, departure, cleaning and inspection.
The practical goal is to know what is happening even when you are away from the home. A small operations file, kept current and accessible to the appropriate partners, helps more than instructions scattered across different conversations.
Before opening the calendar
Confirm the appropriate regime and the registration and declaration steps described by AADE with an accountant. Also check the suitability of the particular property and the Ministry of Tourism's applicable specifications with the relevant professionals.
Prepare the listing separately from this review. Photography can be scheduled, but the ability to accept reservations must be confirmed before publication.
- Test locks, hot water, lighting and basic appliances.
- Count beds and record the actual layout.
- Organise clean linen and storage space for supplies.
- Write down where instructions and immediate support contacts can be found.
- Ask a third person to carry out a trial arrival.
Allocate responsibilities before a problem occurs
Record a responsible person and a backup for each task. Who answers if a guest cannot find the entrance? Who calls a technician, and who approves a repair?
Also agree who keeps the guest informed while the issue is resolved. If everyone assumes someone else has answered, even a simple delay becomes a difficult arrival experience.
The arrival and access service can form part of this process with a clearly agreed scope. Personal access codes and reservation details are shared only with those who need them.
Keep every stay's process consistent
On confirmation, check dates, guest numbers and practical questions. Before arrival, send brief entry instructions after confirming that the access method works.
During the stay, record anything requiring action: the problem, next step, responsible person and completion. After departure, the cleaning team hands over the property using a specific checklist, rather than a general “ready” message.
Airbnb's rules emphasise accuracy, communication and cleanliness. Use these basic expectations as the starting point for your own procedures, without promises of ratings or reservations.
What to review every month
Review receipts, charges and actual expenses over the same reporting period. Distinguish completed stays from reservations relating to future months.
Also track recurring questions, outstanding repairs and consumable shortages. If three guests struggled with the water heater, it needs better instructions or a technical inspection, depending on the cause.
See the cleaning guide for the checks before handing over the property and the service fees before choosing which tasks to delegate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need to be nearby?
You do not always need to be nearby, provided someone is available for matters requiring physical presence. If you are far away, appoint a local partner and a backup before accepting guests.
Can I change the instructions after each comment?
Yes, when changes resolve ambiguity. Keep one current version so the listing, messages and house information agree.
When does professional management make sense?
When time, distance or coordination make consistent operations difficult. In the discussion about your property, start with the specific tasks that need covering.
