Airbnb host tools vs property management

Airbnb smart pricing vs a property manager is a comparison many hosts are starting to make. If you’ve set up automated messages, turned on Smart Pricing, and your calendar is blocked out for the holidays, it’s fair to ask: “Do I need help?”

You’re doing the right things. You’ve taken advantage of Airbnb's professional tools. You’ve built a tech-savvy DIY setup. But having the tools doesn’t mean you’re running at full potential. And that’s where Hometime steps in.

Let’s explore what Airbnb host tools offer, and why they’re only half the story when it comes to earning more, managing less, and scaling your success.

What to expect from Airbnb host tools

Airbnb simplifies short-term rental (STR) hosting with its built-in hosting tools. Whether you're new to the STR space or have hosting experience under your belt, the platform provides the following capabilities:

• Manage your listing

The Listings tab lets you showcase your property with descriptions, high-quality photos to capture potential guests’ attention and amenity tags. You can tweak availability in your calendar and set custom prices or minimum stays.

• Manage availability 

Have complete control over your availability in the calendar. Unlock dates for guests to book or block dates you can’t host. Adjust pricing per night directly in your calendar. You can also view current and upcoming books so you know who you’re hosting and when. 

• Smart Pricing

Airbnb’s Smart Pricing automatically adjusts your rates based on demand, seasonality and events, without you needing to monitor pricing yourself. It’s fast, low effort, and built to fill your calendar. You have the flexibility to override Airbnb pricing tools at any given time and set custom pricing for selected nights. For more information, read our blog on how to determine Airbnb prices.

• Automated messaging

Airbnb automation software has a quick replies editor, automating messages like check-in details, reminders and thank-you notes at key times, reducing your need to respond manually to every guest. Explore bookings and connect with guests at any point before, after or during their stay.

• View your custom reporting 

Access your earnings, average guests' ratings and other insights in your main menu. You can even create custom reports and locate additional hosting resources.

• AirCover for Hosts

AirCover for Hosts is a free inclusion when hosting on Airbnb and offers guest identity verification to confirm details such as the guest’s name, address and government ID. Through reservation screening, certain ‘high-risk’ bookings are blocked that indicate a high risk of disruptive activity or the potential for property damage. AirCover provides $3M in damage protection and 24/7 safety support. 

For many hosts, these features might feel like enough. But that sense of security can be misleading. Behind the slick dashboard and automated responses, some gaps impact your revenue, guest satisfaction and long-term performance.

Do I need a property manager for Airbnb? Yes, and here’s why

In short, yes. If Airbnb is the toolkit, then you’re the tradesperson. And without expert insight or time to deep-dive into the data, those tools can quickly become a ceiling, not a springboard. Let’s take a closer look at how an all-inclusive property manager like Hometime can help you streamline your processes:

Property management provides a long-term revenue strategy

When comparing Airbnb Smart Pricing vs a property manager, while Smart Pricing is a useful tool to help automate your rates, it lacks the nuance, strategy, and local knowledge needed to maximise revenue. 

Partnering with a professional property manager allows for:

• A focus on long-term revenue over short-term bookings: Airbnb’s Smart Pricing is incentivised to get you bookings and may drop rates to secure these bookings. While this is a solid start, a property manager will focus on a long-term revenue management strategy. 
• More localised knowledge: The Smart Pricing tool is a solid introduction to dynamic pricing, but it lacks the context of the local market, such as school holidays, public holidays, and sporting events. Hometime’s expert revenue management team emphasises these events with rate protections and regular monitoring, which leads to data-backed decisions. 
• More pricing opportunities: Specific property-level amenities may not be considered with Airbnb Smart Pricing. For example, scenic harbour bridge views in Sydney will need a higher protection rate, preserving the value of these amenities and avoiding revenue loss. Hometime’s specialised revenue management team has the necessary local market expertise and insight to build on pricing opportunities that can otherwise easily be missed. 
• Increased booking channel distribution: With Hometime, you’re not just getting an Airbnb channel manager. In addition to Airbnb, properties are also listed on Hometime’s direct booking platform, Booking.com, VRBO, and their expanded distribution network, including Stayz, Trivago and Expedia.

Hometime applies human insight, market context, and a tailored approach to pricing that’s built around your property’s unique earning potential. The result? On average, properties saw an 11% rise in occupancy and a 9% revenue increase during peak season after applying Hometime’s dynamic pricing strategies.

Human responses from a team that cares 

Automated messages are great for routine communication. But when something goes wrong, like a late check-in, lost keys, or a guest concern, a templated reply doesn’t always cut it.

Guests want a human response, fast. Unlike other property managers, Hometime’s on-the-ground, local hosts are vetted professionals who live in your property’s area and manage it as though it were their property. They enforce House Rules, ask purpose-of-stay questions, and can cancel risky bookings. They also manage every communication, from pre-stay questions to check-out queries, giving guests a seamless, professional experience and giving you peace of mind.

That way, you can earn income from your property without the stress of dealing with bookings, late-night messages, or turnover logistics, knowing it’s managed by someone who lives locally.

Holistic oversight of your property

Hosting on Airbnb means there’s no one analysing your booking trends, watching for mid-stay issues, or fine-tuning listing performance week-to-week.

By contrast, Hometime has a trusted network of professional photographers and property stylists to showcase and optimise your listing in the best possible light. Properties with high-quality photos lead to, on average, 20% more bookings than listings with non-professional photos.

Hometime’s portfolio optimisation specialists monitor every property’s performance during a 90-day “incubation” period and beyond. With proprietary guest behaviour data collected from thousands of bookings, Hometime standards are difficult to replicate. From calendar gaps to underperforming descriptions, they adjust to keep your listing on track, not just live. 

All-inclusive services

As an Airbnb host, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of housekeeping services yourself or by hiring a co-host for additional support. That means hiring tradespeople when something breaks and making sure fresh linens are on the bed before every guest's stay.

With Hometime, you’ll never need to manage or find your cleaners again. Hometime’s local hosts have a reliable network of Airbnb cleaners they use to deliver a high-quality clean every time, minimising complaints and maximising your property’s ratings. 

Always-on performance monitoring

The Homeowner Portal provides visibility into your booking calendar, so you can block out dates with no emails or approvals required. But you also get something Airbnb doesn’t offer: a dedicated local host. This is your go-to person for property updates, guest issues or revenue questions. No ticket queues. No AI replies. Just real, local support.

You’ve set it up. Now, allow Hometime to take it further

You might be starting from scratch. Or, you’ve done the hard part: setting up your listing, managing bookings, and learning the ins and outs of Airbnb host tools. But if you’re ready to move from managing to maximising, it might be time to bring in a partner who lives and breathes short-term rentals.

With Hometime, you’ll get a team of experts dedicated to boosting your revenue, taking care of the day-to-day, and helping your property reach its full potential. Whether you're seeking stronger returns, better guest reviews, or less time in your inbox, we’re here to help.

Book a call today and discover how Hometime helps short-term rentals thrive, without adding to your workload:

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