Do I lose control with an Airbnb manager?

It’s your property, your income, and your reputation. For many homeowners, the idea of outsourcing short-term rental and Airbnb management raises a very real fear: losing control.

At Hometime, we understand why homeowners will feel this way. After all, most homeowners have invested time, energy, and personal pride into building their Airbnb listings. This blog will discuss how partnering with the right Airbnb manager isn’t about giving up control; it’s about getting better outcomes minus the daily grind.

Is Airbnb management a loss of control?

If you're worried about losing control, you're not alone, and you’re not overreacting.

Plenty of homeowners have heard horror stories, including: 

• hiring a property manager and not getting a straight answer about bookings,
• lost visibility on revenue,
• guests who cause damages, 
• a dip in reviews, and 
• earnings stalled.

Maybe you’ve had a bad experience yourself. Some property management companies overpromise and underdeliver. They might make pricing decisions without consulting you, fail to vet guests properly, or ignore your house rules.

Or maybe you’re simply proud of what you’ve built. You've designed your listing, selected your photos, dealt with last-minute lockouts, and watched those 5-star reviews come in. That effort is worth protecting.

So the worry isn’t irrational. But it’s worth asking yourself, is self-management a sustainable solution in the long run? Are you feeling stretched for time or overwhelmed? Or do you have aspirations to expand your property profile? If so, the question isn’t “Do I lose control with an Airbnb manager?” Rather, it’s “how do I find the right Airbnb manager?” 

What to expect from the onboarding process

The right property manager will set expectations and tailor their approach based on what matters most to you. Here’s what onboarding looks like at Hometime:

1. Consultation: Hometime takes the time to understand what matters most to you, whether it’s maximising revenue, preserving the property’s condition, reserving time for your personal use of the property, or all the above. The priority is to make sure you feel confident, informed and supported every step of the way.
2. Property visit and optimising your listing: Local hosts inspect your home and partner with property stylists and professional photographers to optimise your listing and boost guest appeal. The average nightly rate of a well-styled property can be up to 2x more than similar properties not styled well. 
3. Launch & monitoring: Once live, your listing is closely monitored, and performance data is shared regularly.

This process helps remove surprises and gives homeowners the confidence they need to relax, without losing touch.

How much control do I have with property management?

Hometime’s full-service management model is built to enhance your Airbnb performance while preserving your preferences. Hometime remains informed and involved in the ways that matter most and takes care of all the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. Here’s what you’ll still control when you work with them:

• Calendar and personal use

Want to stay in your property for a week in December? Hosting your family over Easter? No problem. You can access your booking calendar and block out dates anytime via the Homeowner Portal, with no emails or approvals needed. It’s fast, flexible, and always in your hands.

• Oversight on pricing 

Access your net revenue overview, invoices, contracts and statements at any time in the Homeowner Portal, so you’re never in the dark about property spending. At any time, you can log in and see how your property is performing, without needing to chase updates or sift through spreadsheets.

• Guest rules

You set the tone for your home. Whether it’s “no pets,” “no smoking,” “no parties,” or requiring guests to be over a certain age, Hometime applies your rules and enforces them.

• Communication style

Some hosts want to be updated regularly. Others prefer to step back and just see the numbers. During onboarding, you can choose your communication preferences, and Hometime will adjust accordingly.

What you gain from the right property manager 

Yes, you’re giving up the day-to-day tasks. But what you’re getting in return is far more valuable:

• Smarter bookings, higher income

Listings managed by Hometime’s expert team see up to 36% more bookings compared to self-managed properties. Why? Rather than relying on automated pricing methods yourself, Hometime’s revenue management specialists deeply analyse data to formulate your property’s pricing strategy, alongside neighbourhood occupancy, booking trends, and comparing property styling, furnishings and amenities with other listings in the area. 

• A real team behind the scenes 

Gain peace of mind knowing your property is cared for in the right hands. At Hometime, the focus is on trust, not control. When you partner with Hometime, you don’t get AI-automated messages or a virtual assistant in another time zone. You get a local, on-the-ground host who knows your property, your guests and your property goals inside and out. Hometime’s local hosts are backed by a team of:

• pricing experts,
• professional photographers and property stylists to optimise your listing,
• guest communication managers,
• operations leads,
• housekeeping partners, and
• on-call property maintenance staff.

It’s professional-grade management that feels personal.

• Less stress, more time

Instead of late-night guest messages or cleaning cancellations, you get time to focus on what matters to you, and peace of mind knowing it’s all under control.

Hear from Hometime’s Melbourne homeowner

Many homeowners considering Airbnb management worry about giving up control. Here's how one Melbourne homeowner describes her experience with Hometime:

“I could see that you were getting good reviews and the kind of properties that you had on your listings were better quality properties... There was more attention to detail on both sides, both for the guests and for the property owner... Properties were presented to a particular market and of a certain standard… Communication was far superior.”

Since partnering with Hometime:

“There’s consistency in its presentation, and people then provide positive reviews or feedback… I think [earnings] have actually exceeded [expectations].”

And on staying informed:

“I’m a bit of a dinosaur and I am really busy... but the way the portal is set up, it’s very user-friendly. So I can see predicted future earnings...”

She’s now recommended Hometime to neighbours, not just because of the returns, but because of how easy it made everything.

Don’t lose control, take charge with a smarter property set up

Outsourcing Airbnb management doesn’t mean giving up authority. It means choosing to step into a higher-level role, where you’re informed, supported, and more profitable.

With Hometime, you still make the big decisions. You just don’t have to worry about the little ones.

Ready to stop sweating the details and start seeing better results? Get in touch with Hometime today:

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose control with an Airbnb manager?

Not with the right property manager. Hometime’s management model is built around transparency, collaboration, and flexibility. You have direct access to your booking calendar, property earnings, and can communicate your guest rules and communication preferences. Hometime handles the day-to-day operations while keeping you informed through real-time reporting, so you can stay in charge without being hands-on.

How much control do I keep with property management?

You retain control where it matters most, like when your property is available, and who can stay. With Hometime, you also get access to a Homeowner Portal that shows bookings, earnings, and guest details. It’s about gaining high-level oversight while delegating the time-consuming parts to experts.