Airbnb is becoming a popular way for homeowners and holiday let companies to easily rent out accommodation.  However, if you have considered buying a second property to rent out as a holiday let on Airbnb in a desirable location, then you may be wondering how you can manage your holiday home remotely.  It can be a fantastic source of extra income to rent out a holiday home, but how will you manage if you don’t live nearby?

Read on to learn some tricks and tips for how to manage your holiday rental home remotely.

Safe and secure access

Even if you do live near to your holiday rental, you might not always be available 24/7 to check guests in and out.  This is when remote access can be a lifesaver and even an attraction to many holiday guests.  Some holiday guests will prefer the freedom of checking in at a time that suits them and not needing to arrange a set time for a key exchange.

Nowadays there are lots of solutions for remote access management for holiday rentals to make your life easier.  If you have stayed at Airbnbs then you may already be familiar with the coded lockbox which contains a key to your accommodation, meaning you never have to meet a host in-person and can be independent at your holiday stay.

Omnitec has won an award for its RENT&PASS solution for holiday homes and tourist apartments.  They install electronic locks and access controls which can be opened using a Bluetooth code or a numerical code which is sent to a guest (or even the cleaners / house management) before their stay.  It makes access to your accommodation for your guests and yourself hassle-free and contact-free.

These electronic key systems also allow for better security.  You are able to grant time slots for certain key codes to control who can access your property and when.  For example, you may allow a key code for a cleaner to only be valid at the time they are supposed to be cleaning your property.  This allows for better security at your property.

You can also delete keys, cancel and block them remotely, giving you full control over who can access your property.

Keyless entry also means no more lost keys or risk of keys being copied.

Eufy video doorbell

Another easy way to secure your property is with a Eufy video doorbell.  You can read my review of the Eufy video doorbell on our residence here, but it also makes a good security feature at a holiday rental.

The main hub with chime can be left in the rental property so the doorbell can be used by the guests, if needed.  However, the benefit of this doorbell is the ability to see a video of every arrival and departure from the property thanks to its camera feature.  It records motion and sound and you can see who is coming and going in real time via their smartphone app.

It adds an extra layer of security to your property from intruders and also proof of who has stayed at the property.

Get £40 off your Eufy purchase with this referral link

Just make sure this is located on the outside of your property and guests are aware of its presence at the time of booking so they know there is external CCTV.  You cannot and should not have recording devices inside your rental property.  Here are Airbnb’s rules on security cameras.

Smart thermostats

Whilst on the topic of smart tech, a smart thermostat such as Hive is a great idea for a holiday rental.  Leave the main dial at the property for the guests to adjust, but if they forget to turn it off when out or after checkout, then you can use the app to control it remotely.

High quality resilient fittings

Whilst it’s fun to be creative and decorate your Airbnb premises to a certain theme or even your own individual taste, it pays to think about high quality, durable fittings that are suitable for high traffic or a high turnover of people. For example, you won’t want to add a plush carpet that is easily ruined, stained or may be walked all over by guests in their outdoor shoes, so instead opt for a commercial resilient flooring that is made to stand the test of time, is easy to look after and can cope with whatever comes its way!

The same goes with the furniture you choose and also fixtures and fittings. Don’t choose flimsy materials that may break easily or regularly need replacing. The idea is for your Airbnb to be managed remotely as much as possible so you need to ensure the furnishings will last and look as good as new for as long as possible.

Use a professional and reliable cleaning service

If you are managing your holiday rental remotely then chances are you won’t be available to clean your property in-between each guest.  Instead you’ll want to hire a cleaning service who offer high quality cleans and linen changes for each changeover.

As you may have random bookings and not a set changeover day, you’ll need a cleaning company who can easily schedule in cleans based on your bookings each week.

By using the abovementioned keyless systems, you won’t need to provide a physical key for the cleaning company as they’ll be able to use your keyless entry codes to access the property as and when you need them too.  Or you can provide them with a master key code.

Remote house maintenance

You will also need trustworthy household maintenance in case of any issues in your holiday rental.  For odd jobs it’s worth meeting a local handyman or two who you can call on to fix small repairs in the property. 

You’ll also want recommendations for local and reliable professionals in these services:

• Plumbing
• Electricians
• Landscaping
• Laundry

Provide a comprehensive welcome pack

To stop constant questions via calls, emails and texts from your guests, make sure they have everything they need easily accessible in the holiday let.  Provide a comprehensive and well thought out welcome pack that gives all the information they might need for their stay.

For example, the WiFi code is probably one of the first things they’ll look for, so ensure it’s obvious and have it on the first page of your welcome pack.  Also, include the address of the holiday rental as they may have visitors or they may want to order a takeaway.

List the nearest amenities and any important information about the property such as how to turn the heating on and off.

By providing all the answers they may need, it will stop them from contacting you and ensure they can use your property independently without wondering how on Earth to turn something on/off or hunting around the house for the router for a WiFi code!