Hometime vs Airbnb virtual assistant and cleaner

The DIY trap that feels smart, until it isn’t

You’ve built your short-term rental (STR) system from scratch. A dynamic pricing tool here, a cleaner off Airtasker there, and maybe a virtual Airbnb co-host to handle guest messages. It feels smart, efficient, and cost-effective in the short term.

But is it working?

What starts lean can become a burden. You’re not just hosting, you’re running HR, customer service, pricing, and logistics. One late reply, one Airbnb cleaning fee misjudged, or one no-show cleaner can trigger a string of bad reviews.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) hosting works until it doesn’t. And by then, your revenue and peace of mind might already be under pressure.

What DIY STR management looks like

Many hosts new to starting an Airbnb business in Australia rely on:

• a virtual assistant for Airbnb messaging,
• a dynamic pricing tool like PriceLabs or AirDNA,
• a cleaner with no backup,
• Google Sheets for calendar blocks and Airbnb cleaning costs, and
• you, managing all the moving parts.

Of course, there’s pride in managing your property yourself. But it comes with many responsibilities, a time cost, an emotional toll, and a higher risk of gaps in guest experience or pricing errors.

What is a virtual assistant on Airbnb?

An Airbnb virtual assistant (VA) is a remote support person helping hosts manage tasks, including guest messaging, calendar updates, booking repairs, and sometimes basic pricing adjustments. You can hire an assistant through freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr and are often paid hourly or per task. 

Why hire an Airbnb virtual assistant?

Hiring Airbnb and Vrbo virtual assistants reduces the burden of repetitive tasks, like: 

• responding to guest enquiries, 
• sending check-in instructions, 
• coordinating cleaners, and 
• updating calendars. 

For hosts managing multiple properties or working full-time, a virtual assistant offers time-saving benefits and can respond to guests promptly across different time zones. 

The downside of virtual assistants on Airbnb

While hiring Airbnb and Vrbo virtual assistants might seem like a low-cost way to manage your property, they often:

• live in another time zone, causing communication delays,
• require training, 
• heavy oversight, 
• lack local context, and 
• may struggle to respond to emergencies or provide a consistent guest experience.

For time-poor hosts, delegating and overseeing tasks can be time-consuming. Not all VAs have extensive industry knowledge and may require close supervision. This means you’ll be spending more time coordinating with your VA instead of scaling up your property portfolio.

How to find cleaning services for Airbnb

Finding a reliable Airbnb cleaning service is a must to provide guests with a five-star guest experience. You can ask for referrals from local hosting groups or online directories and review platforms. Look for cleaners who can operate with a fast turnaround without compromising on attention to detail. Airbnb cleaners should offer:

• flexible scheduling for back-to-back bookings,
• linen service or coordination,
• the ability to handle last-minute changes or emergencies,
• a checklist or inspection process to maintain consistency, and
• experience with Airbnb guest expectations and standards.

You should also clarify costs upfront to set your Airbnb cleaning fee. 

What is an Airbnb cleaning fee?

An Airbnb cleaning fee is the fee that hosts charge their guests to cover cleaning costs after a guest checks out. If you’re wondering, “Is the cleaning fee included in the Airbnb price?” the Airbnb additional cleaning fee is added to the total booking fee and will often remain the same for each booking, regardless of the number of guests. This fee helps hosts cover the expenses of cleaning the property between each guest's stay.

How much to charge for an Airbnb cleaning fee

Setting the right Airbnb cleaning fee can be challenging. The ideal cleaning fee depends on your property size, location, guest capacity, and the service level included. 

You should also account for Airbnb cleaning and linen service, restocking essentials, and deep cleans between longer stays. The cleaning fee should feel fair for guests and reflect the fees of similar properties in the area.

Platforms like Airbnb allow hosts to adjust this fee as needed, but you’ll want to monitor guest feedback and market trends. If you’re unsure how to set your fee or want to avoid adjusting it manually, Hometime handles this process. That way, you’re covered without the guesswork.

Pros of hiring a professional Airbnb cleaner

• Consistency: Cleaners with short-term rental experience know the importance of diligent and detailed cleans between check-out and check-in windows.
• Guest satisfaction: A sparkling clean space leads to positive reviews and rebookings.
• Saves you time: You no longer need to clean, restock, or rush to restock toilet paper or linens.
• Availability for emergencies: Some cleaners are available for same-day turnarounds or alert you to property issues.

Cons of hiring a cleaner independently

• Reliability issues: Cleaners may arrive late or cancel last minute, causing unwanted stress.
• No backup: If your cleaner is unavailable, you’re often left scrambling or cleaning it yourself.
• Inconsistent standards: Without a checklist or quality control process, the level of cleanliness can vary from one cleaning to the next.
• Manual coordination: You’re still managing schedules, key exchanges, payments, and communication.

Hometime’s all-inclusive service model

Airbnb cleaning and linen service

Hometime’s Airbnb cleaning and linen service isn’t just about cleanliness — it’s about reliability, consistency, and better reviews.

As part of our Airbnb management in Australia, Hometime makes sure:

• Professional cleaners meet strict cleanliness standards across all regions.
• Linen replacement is handled without delay, so guests check in to crisp, fresh sheets.
• All cleaning costs are covered by the Airbnb cleaning fee. That means no stress for you to estimate cleaning fees or pay out of pocket.

This isn’t a basic clean. It’s a fully-managed system supporting great guest experiences and higher Airbnb ratings.

From Sydney to Perth and Adelaide to the Sunshine Coast, Hometime coordinates cleaning and linen logistics across Australia. That means no scrambling and searching Google for "how to find a cleaning service for Airbnb" or worrying about cleaning quality when you're remote.

And because Hometime handles everything in-house, the fee is built into the listing, based on location, property size, and local standards, and managed professionally.

Pricing and profit, not just clean sheets

Every cleaning service is paired with a revenue strategy. Your pricing isn’t static; it’s dynamic and reviewed weekly by local experts.

So instead of worrying about the cost of your Airbnb cleaning fee for longer stays or calculating Airbnb cleaning charges manually, your focus shifts to growth.

Seamless communication

Instead of managing an Airbnb virtual assistant, Hometime’s local hosts handle:

• guest communications from enquiry to checkout,
• late-night arrivals and last-minute changes, and
• in-stay issues like cleaner questions or maintenance hiccups.

You don’t need to hire Airbnb virtual assistant support to monitor things — it’s already covered by trained locals who know your property and your guests.

DIY property management vs. Hometime

Discover the professional difference at Hometime

With Hometime, there’s:

• no need to hire a virtual Airbnb co-host,
• no scrambling for cleaners or supplies,
• no estimating Airbnb cleaning fee costs, and
• no missed reviews from slow replies or dirty sheets.

It’s all built in. Contact our friendly team below and discover what’s possible when cleaning, communication, and consistency are fully managed for you. If you’re still on the fence, read our blog on Hometime vs a self-managed rental property to help guide your decision.