10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Airbnb Hosting Nine Years Ago
Almost a decade ago, I decided to take the plunge into Airbnb hosting. I’ve always been a natural host—someone who loves welcoming friends and family, planning trips, and throwing the occasional legendary dinner party. Hosting felt like a natural extension of who I was, and it didn’t hurt that it could be a smart investment, too.
I started out proud of what I was building. I managed my properties while balancing a full-time job and family life, all while maintaining a 4.89 rating and earning the coveted Superhost badge year after year. But as I look back, there are so many things I wish I’d known when I started. They would’ve saved me time, stress, and—let’s be honest—a whole lot of money.
Here are the biggest lessons I’ve learned:
1. Multi-Platform Listing and Dynamic Pricing Are Non-Negotiable
It physically pains me to think of how many bookings and how much revenue I left on the table by sticking to just one platform. Listing your property on multiple platforms—combined with dynamic pricing to adjust rates for demand—can dramatically increase your revenue. I wish I’d known this from day one.
2. Direct Bookings Save You a Fortune
There’s nothing more satisfying than skipping the hefty service fees charged by big platforms. Building a direct booking system not only saves money but also gives you more control over your business. If I’d started this earlier, I’d have been popping even more champagne to celebrate my wins.
3. Reliable Cleaning and Laundry Systems Are a Game-Changer
I’ll admit, I tried doing it all myself in the beginning—cleaning, laundry, the works. But here’s the thing: cleaning is not flexible. If you’re tied up with other commitments, it adds stress to your day. Investing in a reliable cleaner and an efficient laundry system is a sanity-saver.
4. Build Your Maintenance Crew Before You Need Them
Nothing’s worse than scrambling to find a plumber on a Saturday night. I learned the hard way that having a go-to team of professionals for maintenance saves you from stress and guest complaints when emergencies strike.
5. Personal Touches Make All the Difference
Beyond just communicating through apps, going the extra mile—like sharing personal recommendations or even meeting guests in person—can turn a good stay into a memorable one. It’s also a surefire way to lock in glowing reviews.
6. It’s Easy to Let Standards Slip Over Time
The excitement of hosting is strongest in the beginning, but once the novelty wears off, it’s easy to get complacent. Maintaining high standards isn’t just important—it’s essential to your success.
7. Repetition Will Wear You Down
Answering guest messages, coordinating cleanings, troubleshooting small issues—it all becomes tedious. And as the work gets repetitive, the temptation to cut corners grows.
8. Your Time Is Worth More Than You Realize
Have you ever counted the hours spent managing your property? Cleaning, maintenance, guest communication—it all adds up. Now imagine all the things you could have done with that time.
9. Systems Are Everything (But They Take Work)
Efficient systems—whether for bookings, maintenance, or guest comms and experiences—are the key to successful hosting. But creating and refining those systems takes time, energy, and trial and error.
10. Economies of Scale Will Beat You
From cleaning and laundry to boutique services for guests, doing these things for one property is inherently less cost-effective than managing multiple properties. Hosting at scale allows for better prices, smoother logistics, and higher profits—something I wish I’d understood earlier.
Why Magnify Exists
The truth is, yes, you can manage everything yourself. And at first, you might even love it. But over time, the effort and energy it takes to maintain high standards will increase. Economies of scale will start to work against you, and you’ll realize your property isn’t performing as well as it could.
That’s why we created Magnify Rentals. Because we believe your time is worth more. Your property deserves to shine. And hosting can be so much more than a side hustle—it can be a source of joy, connection, and incredible stories for the people visiting our beautiful house.
Thank you for helping us create ripples of good, one stay at a time. 🧡
