Best AirBnB tools / apps?

Question

What's everyone's favorite tool or app to use as an AirBnB Host? This is for a 600ft 1 bedroom in the South Bay of Los Angeles so defnitely dont need anything too commercial.

Thinking of using hospitable for auto-communications and maybe Beyond Pricing for automated-pricing but would love to hear feedback on these two and if there are other / additional tools i should be looking into. Goal is to be as hands off as possible without hiring a propery manager.

Thanks in advance!

Karen Chenaille · Answer

@Marcus Tam

Hi Marcus!

I have tried several tools and many configurations over the years.  Here is what works for me:

Locks: Remote lock.  They are a wifi lock that does not require a separate bridge.  If you have multiple properties in one area (say Gatlinburg) you can group your locks by area and give access by area. They change codes for each guest and they integrate with some of the major PMS systems.

PMS: Best out there is OwnerRez for flexibility and customization.  There is definitely a learning curve in the beginning, but since I started with them 4 years ago, they have added a concierge setup service where they will do much of the heavy lifting for you.  OwnerRez will sync your calendars across all the booking platforms and provide a unified inbox.They integrate with all the major cleaner scheduling tools and wifi lock companies.  They have a robust messaging platform that lets you send emails or text messages.  Their reporting module is pretty robust.  You can easily host your own website. There are a ton of other features too.  For one property is overkill, but if you are planning to scale, might as well start using them with your first property. It will save you time in the long run.

Pricing tools: Best out there for functionality and price is Price Labs.  Their functionality with Beyond Pricing for basic pricing support is the same, but they have a better pricing model. Beyond pricing takes a percentage of your bookings.  At some points last year during the high booking periods I was shelling out hundreds of dollars a month.  If a booking cancels, you don't get a refund from beyond pricing.  Price Labs UI is not as sexy as Beyond Pricing, but the functionality is similar for a lot less.

Backoffice-Relay FI and Quickbooks... but if I was doing it over, I would go Relay FI and Stessa.  Stessa is free and just fine for managing STR's as long as you set it up correctly. Quickbooks is overkill.

Welcome to the jungle! :-)

Karen

Marshall Leipprandt · Answer

@Marcus Tam Through Airbnb, are you referring to adding your cleaner as a co-host to have access to your schedule? That is definitely an option you could use but then they would have full insight into everything to include your messages to your guests, property descriptions, etc. I honestly haven't tinkered too much with the co-host feature since my wife is my only co-host but maybe you can strip down a cleaner's access to what you're comfortable with having them see.

Carson McGee · Answer

Hi Marcus!

My team is managing 11 Airbnbs and we have found Pricelabs to be a great tool. We also prefer the flat monthly subscription model of Pricelabs over Beyond Pricing which takes a percentage of revenue.

We are using a software called OwnerRez for all auto guest messaging & channel management.

Another good tool to manage cleaners is ResortCleaning. This gives your cleaners auto-updates of new bookings, allows them to upload pictures, and gives inspectors a checklist.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, my team spent a good bit of time initially comparing the pros and cons of all the different softwares.

Claire Rosenberg · Answer

Hey @Marcus Tam!!

Congrats on the Airbnb and super excited for you!

Hospitable - This is a great tool to use for automated messages, reviews, texts your cleaners when you get a new booking and reminders for cleaning. Super easy to use and they have really great support too, which is always a plus!

Priceslabs - Great dynamic pricing software and there are tons of customizations to maximize pricing.

Hostfully - Online guidebook and on the paid version you can collect email addresses to try to get repeat guests or off-platform bookings

Minut - Noise sensor to monitor the noise level in the home - This helps to get in front of parties before it gets too out of control!

Schlage Encode lock - Keyless entry lock for guests to easily enter the home and you can set a unique code for guests to only enter the house for the times of their reservation

Ring Doorbell - Security camera to make sure the guests who booked the reservation are actually the ones coming to the property and that no unregistered guests are there. You can also talk through the ring doorbell through the app for any vendors that come through or guests.

Hope that helps and feel free to join our free FB group all about Airbnb!

Marshall Leipprandt · Answer

@Marcus Tam Hey Marcus, I'm also here in the South Bay (but only have a long-term rental here). I do have two Airbnb properties in FL that I manage remotely here from SoCal, and here are some of my favorite tools and apps that have helped me out:

1) IGMS - Helps control pricing, schedule availability, and messages. It allows me to automate messages for just about any circumstance. Guests love getting messages confirming their bookings, reminding them of their check-in and check-out procedures, and I also use it to ask for reviews after check-out. If you ever get more than one property, IGMS also allows you to sync multiple properties but still lets you customize and control options for each all in the same spot.

2) PriceLabs - This tool has tons of options to control pricing dynamics. There are all sorts of features (too many for me even use to be honest). For example, you can drop your price a percentage each day once you get within 10-14 days out to help entice bookings.

3) Hostfully - Hostfully allows you to create customized guidebooks that you can send via URL to your guests before their arrival. You can also include any/all instructions, house rules, etc. so that your guests always have a place to reference if they have questions.

4) Operto Teams - If you have a cleaner, Operto Teams allows you to sync your calendar with them. My cleaner has used this the last 14 months and it is great. They automatically know when they need to clean, I am not having to coordinate with them in advance as we both have access to the live-feed iCal link.

Those are the four most useful that I use in my Airbnbs. DM me if you want me to hear more about any one of them and good luck!

John Underwood · Answer

My favorite one is Vrbo.

Quinn Olivarez · Answer

Pricelabs is really good. Easy to use and good price for what it does. I’m also on hospitable and it works fine, the price is fine. Good luck!

Bryan Balducki · Answer

@Marcus Tam pricing apps are huge and I’d use either price labs or beyond pricing. I use the scheduled messages from airbnb but I have heard great things about hospitable and guestly for more automation and platform synchronization. Hope that helps and I wish you the best on your STR journey.

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