This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosures for more info.
As Airbnb becomes more competitive, it’s super important for hosts to have all their ducks in a row when welcoming any guest. I’ve compiled a list of Airbnb host essentials that I use to run my listings while working a full time job, being a mom (x3) and managing my day to day responsibilities.
Before you list with Airbnb read and understand this list of Airbnb host essentials! It’s taken me 5 years of hosting to fully grasp that I have a great set of tools to run this business. Most people think they have to spend 20% on management fees to get this business to produce truly passive income, but I am hear to tell you you do not have too!
By utilizing this list of tools and fully integrating all the hosting features, you can meet all the Airbnb requirements to rent to guests, while self managing and maximizing profits.
This post is all about Airbnb host essentials.
Best Airbnb Host Essentials
1. Schlage Encode Smart lock with full integration into the Airbnb app
Omg, this lock changed my business! This takes so much off my plate as a host! Prior to this update, I was creating a unique code for each guest and changing my auto messages by reservation to ensure every guest had the right information. If your goal as a host is to have a seamless operation, this is a must have at all your properties! Here’s why I think it’s essential.
In 2024, Airbnb launched a feature allowing hosts to integrate their smart locks with the Airbnb platform. When a guest makes a reservation, it allows the Airbnb platform to generate a unique door code for the guest that is only active during their reservation window. This feature will be coming to other smart locks eventually but for now this is the only lock that is able to be integrated.
2. Wyze door bell camera
I’m in a lot of Facebook groups with other hosts and people can get weird about their cameras on their property. The hosts that are loud on these platforms have this scarcity mentality around guests trying to screw them over and just not being decent people. I truly believe that mentality will hold you back from achieving great things as an Airbnb host!
With that said, do not go crazy with cameras all around your property. Just have a doorbell camera so you can see who’s coming and going, IF NECESSARY. Do not check this thing every day or track your guests moves. I mainly use this to verify when a package is delivered. If Instacart has dropped something for me at the right house. And it’s there for quick guest communication during check in. To be honest, a guest has never contacted me over the camera with check in help (and that’s because I have a KILLER check in process that is fool proof).
3. Requesting feedback from guests
Requesting feedback from guests always scares me because I’m worried about all the negativity that could come! But that is a fear that I have had to squash and now realize how helpful feedback can be to enhance the guest experience. It’s also so important to word it in a way that will be constructive to your listing rather than asking guests for their preferences. My favorite way to phrase this is “Was there anything else we could have clarified about the listing prior to your stay?” Or “Is there any home essentials we could have added to make your stay run smoother?”
The feedback I have gotten with these questions have all been super practical and not suggestions like “I wish there was a hot tub”. Guests have told us they hand washed dishes so having a dish drying rack would be nice. That’s literally a $20 fix and could make the difference for a guest in the future! I also learned that one of my listings didn’t have hair dryers and a guest told me this in that feedback section on my review. I was SUPER thankful that they did because that’s a hotel essential that most definitely needed to be in my Airbnb!
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4. Back up of all major supplies
Sheets, towels, toilet paper, paper towels, anything major that you supply guests at your Airbnb, make sure you have back stock at your listing. This will save you late night issues that could be solved by giving your guests the code to a storage closet.
I have par levels for all my properties so there’s a certain amount of these essentials I always have at the properties and when something is getting below the par, I restock. As a remote manager, I never want to be stuck in a situation where I can’t get guests what they need or have to pay extra money for an Instacart delivery.
5. Instacart subscription
Now this is crucial even if you manage a property in your same city. An Instacart subscription has saved my butt time and time again! I use it all the time and can truly trust the delivery drivers because they all work based on reviews.
One time, I had a guest complaining about a weird smell when they checked in so I was able to send pet absorbent odor plug ins for them within 45 minutes. There’s no way I could not have done that as quickly as Instacart.
Use my Instacart referral link to get $10 towards your first order!
6. Quick communication from cleaners
My cleaners are my lifeline. They literally do so much for me and always tell me what’s going on at the property! Now I have some cleaners that are alarmists and others that are much more tempered in their approach. But regardless of their communication style, I am always able to get quick communication from them regarding any last minute things that are needed.
Whatever it is, they trouble shoot with me and we can always collaborate on a solution. When my cleaners go above and beyond for me, I always tip them! This is so important and hosts need to realize that their cleaning team is probably the most important of any other team member or contractor.
7. Automated messaging
If you have not automated your messages to guests, do this now! These are the messages I automate in my Airbnb business:
- Booking confirmation message
- Check in instructions 48 hours prior to check in
- House manual sent 1 hour after check in
- Check out instructions sent at noon the day before check out
It’s not overkill, but it ensures my guests are getting all the information they need to stay at the property without much help from me.
Check out this article for an Airbnb host checklist!
8. Signs in the house explaining everything!
Again, another killer way to ensure guests know how to navigate your property without having to ask you a bunch of questions upon check in. I put these all around my listings explaining anything that could be confusing (i.e. fireplace switches, three way switches, laundry room instructions, etc).
9. Easily accessible batteries
Having extra batteries in an obvious place is such an easy win for you and your guests! If the remote isn’t working or the ceiling fan remote dies, they can just replace the batteries themselves and self troubleshoot. I can not stress this one enough. You need to have these especially if you have a battery powered smart lock, your cleaners (or even guests) will be able to easily swap the batteries to ensure your operation continues to run smoothly.
10. An Airbnb welcome book
So everything you send to guests about the house through the Airbnb platform needs to be in writing in the listing. Some of your guests will not be as savvy on the app so you want to ensure they still receive all the same information about the listing and local recommendations. I have my exact Airbnb welcome book template linked below. I’d love to email it to you!
11. Your internet providers app on your phone
99% of my guest issues have to to with the internet. I have found it to be so easy to solve their problems if I have that providers app downloaded and push notifications on. This way I am always notified about problems in the area and can troubleshoot quickly.
For one of my listings, guests always unplug it and then complain the internet isn’t working. Mind blowing to me that they will not realize this before sending a message but they do!
What do you use to self manage your Airbnb portfolio? I’d love to know in the comments!
This post was all about Airbnb host essentials.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosures for more info.
