Hometime vs. a self-managed rental property

Does self-managing a rental property save money? Discover the hidden costs of DIY hosting vs partnering with Hometime.

by Jacqueline Chami

June 25, 2025

Considering self-managing your rental property in NSW or other parts of Australia? Managing your short-term rental yourself may feel like the obvious choice. It can certainly have its perks! No fees, full control, and the comfort of doing things your way. But is it cheaper — or better — in the long run compared to working with an Airbnb management company?

For many Australian hosts, the answer is surprising. What feels like saving money can cost you more — in lost income, guest issues, 5am emergencies, and hours of unpaid labour.

At Hometime, we work with hosts who’ve been there. They’ve navigated the late-night messages, the broken aircons, and the guesswork of setting nightly rates. And they’ve realised self-management might look free, but it’s far from costless.

Let’s take a closer look at what DIY hosting demands — and what you can gain from partnering with a short-term rental property manager.

What to expect when you self-manage a rental property

You might be wondering how to manage a rental property by yourself. Self-managing your Airbnb means you're doing it all, or hiring people to do it on your behalf and hoping they deliver.

Your day-to-day tasks an Airbnb host might include:

coordinating cleaners between check-ins and arrivals,
responding to guest questions at all hours of the day,
helping a guest who’s locked out of the property,
handling maintenance issues and last-minute fixes,
manually adjusting prices based on demand,
keeping tabs on reviews, occupancy, and local competition, and
managing your calendar to avoid double bookings.

This level of hands-on effort often amounts to 20-40 hours per week, without guaranteed results. And that’s before you factor in the emotional load. Burnout is common, particularly if your earnings plateau despite your hard work.

If you’re asking yourself, “Can I self-manage a rental property?” here are some common challenges self-managed property owners face:

missed revenue from outdated pricing or calendar gaps,
lower guest ratings from inconsistent experiences,
operational breakdowns when cleaners or trades fall through, and
lost time which could’ve been spent elsewhere — with family, at work, or on holiday.

The truth? Many homeowners become reactive, stuck in a cycle of constant problem-solving instead of growing their property’s potential.

Hometime’s full-service property management model

This is where Hometime comes in. We don’t just take work off your plate — we help your property outperform what’s possible with self-management.

By partnering with a short-term rental property manager like Hometime, you will benefit from:

Local hosting experts who manage guest experience, quality control, and operations.
An in-house, expert revenue management team combines internal research with external tools like AirDNA to calculate Airbnb prices for your property to maximise earnings.
Access to the Hometime Portal for real-time insights and full visibility.
Cleaning and maintenance coordination, covered by guest-paid fees.
Marketing support, including Airbnb SEO, photography, and property styling advice.

We’re not generic property managers. We’re short-term rental specialists — built to maximise your property’s earning potential and reduce your day-to-day involvement so you can focus on the bigger picture.

And yes, professional short-term rental management comes with a management fee, giving you complete peace of mind while we take care of the rest.

Compare the pair — Hometime vs self-managed rental property

Hometime vs Self Managed.csv
Feature	Self-management	Hometime property management
Effort	It will be your responsibility to get your property ready for rentals. That includes everything from property styling to professional photography and listing creation.	Hometime handles all operations, saving homeowners time and effort.
Guest experience	You need to be readily available to answer all guest queries at any time of the day to provide a seamless experience.	Our local hosts handle the entire process, from guest screening, check-ins and check-outs to guest support queries.
Pricing	You need to use third-party dynamic pricing tools for Airbnb, such as AirDNA, which can be limiting in capturing the distinctive features of your property.	Our in-house team of pricing experts combines real-time market insights, deep pricing experience and hands-on optimisation to earn you as much as possible.
Cleaning and maintenance	You organise cleaners yourself between each guest’s stay, ensuring it’s at a high standard of cleanliness.	Our local hosts coordinate with vetted Airbnb cleaners and suppliers to keep your property in perfect condition between guest stays.
Visibility	Manage reservations and monitor income yourself with tools such as the Airbnb dashboard.	You will have access to the Hometime Portal, where our team works hard to promote your property across multiple booking channels and provide net revenue overviews from our in-house revenue management team.
Control	You have full control using a self-managed rental property software in Australia of your choice, which can be time-consuming.	The all-in-one Hometime Portal provides shared control with the expert oversight of our team.
Earnings	While self-management may save you property management fees in the short term, it requires more work and time. It’s not until after the costs of booking platform fees, cleaning and item restocking that you will receive income.	We outperform the short-term rental market, thanks to our optimised listings, pricing experts and multiple booking channels to get you more bookings and earn you more.
Stress level	Self-management can be stressful, particularly if you have other job-related or familial commitments to manage.	Outsourcing to a professional property manager is completely hands-off and stress-free. We take care of every aspect of managing your short-term rental property.

What’s the return on investment (ROI) difference?

Let’s talk numbers.

When hosts switch to Hometime, we often see:

A 15% average increase in Hometime properties’ occupancy rates compared with the regular short-term rental market in the past two financial years (based on FY24 performance data).
A 36% improvement in booking conversion thanks to better pricing and guest experience.
Improved ratings, which lead to more visibility on Airbnb.
Fewer cancellations and complaints from proactive guest support.
More positive guest reviews, building trust, and sustained long-term performance.

When does it make sense to switch?

Some hosts enjoy the process of managing their property — and that’s okay. If at any stage you start to experience the following, it might be time to consider a professional partner:

1. You’re feeling burnt out

Late nights, guest issues, no real days off? If hosting feels more like a second job than passive income, it’s time to consider taking a step back.

2. Your property isn’t performing

Struggling to fill your calendar? Getting inconsistent reviews? Your property listing might not be fully optimised to perform in the short-term rental market.

3. You’re managing remotely

Owning a property in another city or state makes reliable, high-quality hosting difficult. A local Hometime host can help fill the gap and be your go-to person to discuss your property at any time, or handle any guest emergencies that may arise.

4. You’re growing your portfolio

More properties = more complexity. At a certain point, self-management can be challenging when dealing with multiple properties.

5. You want peace of mind

Hosting should feel rewarding, not risky. With Hometime, you’ve got a team on your side.

You’re not giving up control — you’re gaining results

The biggest myth we hear from self-managing hosts? That professional management means losing control. But it’s not about stepping back. It’s about stepping up to a better outcome.

With Hometime, you still:

set your availability and booking preferences,
view your calendar and earnings at any time, and
decide when and how to use your property

What you lose is the stress, inefficiency, and demands of doing it all yourself. What you gain is a high-performing, hands-free short-term rental which supports your goals — whether it’s maximising income or freeing up your weekends.

Make Airbnb hosting easier with Hometime

If the question of how to self-manage a rental property sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. Many Airbnb hosts find that working with an experienced Airbnb manager helps them maintain high standards without the unwanted stress.

If you’re overwhelmed trying to figure out how to manage your own short-term rental, Hometime can help handle everything, so you can enjoy the perks of hosting without the demands on your schedule.

Book a chat with our helpful team at Hometime and discover how much more your property could be earning:

If you’re still on the fence, read our blog to help guide your decision on whether or not you need an Airbnb manager.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth hiring an Airbnb property manager?

You may be asking yourself, “Should I self-manage my rental property and save some money?” While hiring an Airbnb property manager may seem like an added cost, it’s a worthwhile investment in the long term. They handle everything from guest communication to cleaning, pricing, and maintenance, saving you time and reducing stress. With expert support, your property can earn more, get better reviews, and run more smoothly, making it a smart investment for many hosts.

How much does professional Airbnb management cost?

Professional Airbnb management fees in Australia can range from 15% to 25% of booking revenue. At Hometime, our management fees are designed to maximise your earnings while offering full-service support across pricing, operations, and guest experience. Read our blog on the best short-term rental sites in Australia to learn more about your options.

Share this post

Featured

Discover More Articles

Table of Contents