How to Manage Airbnb: Multiple Accounts

How to Manage Airbnb: Multiple Accounts

Managing multiple Airbnb accounts sounds smart, but it can quickly get you banned or overwhelmed. Learn what Airbnb actually allows, when multiple accounts make sense, and how to manage listings the right way.

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How to Manage Airbnb Multiple Accounts
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Key Takeaways:

  • Airbnb bans duplicate accounts used to boost visibility for the same property. 
  • Having one Airbnb account with multiple listings is usually the best approach.
  • Managing multiple vacation rental accounts creates issues like calendar synchronization and pricing updates, which software tools can simplify.

With Airbnb clamping down on duplicate accounts, a common concern among hosts is how to merge Airbnb accounts existing under the same name, and whether managing Airbnb multiple accounts is actually allowed on the site. The truth is that managing multiple Airbnb accounts can be challenging. Under most circumstances, it’s better to stick to a single account.

Find out if you should manage one or many accounts, and discover some of the best ways to make this process less overwhelming.

Can I Have Multiple Airbnb Accounts?

The short answer is no. While it seems like a good idea, it is actually banned.

The primary reason for hosts opening more than one Airbnb account for the same property is to achieve greater visibility on the site. The more listings you have of your property, the more it will show up in Airbnb’s search results, increasing the chance of it being booked. 

As a company, Airbnb works to identify and ban users who go against its rules and regulations. They’re able to do this by tracking the single IP address or the same contact information that hosts use across multiple accounts they manage.

Yet, you are still able to create more than one active Airbnb account. However, this is not recommended if you only have one or two properties and are marketing to the same target guest.

If you’re looking to improve your property’s exposure by creating multiple Airbnb accounts, it would be better to list it on multiple platforms. Other top-rated Airbnb alternatives you can market on include: 

You can also market your listings on social media channels, such as Facebook, to expand your reach further.

Instances When Managing Multiple Airbnb Accounts Can Be Beneficial

Although managing duplicated accounts and listings is indeed banned, there are instances where it can be beneficial to make different accounts if:

  • Your properties are in different cities or locations, having separate accounts that showcase each unique address, which would clarify that your rentals are in different locations. This could prevent potential confusion among guests. 
  • Your business has properties with distinctive features (for example, several lakeside cabins as well as a few city-center apartments). It would also be helpful to create different Airbnb accounts to better categorize them.
  • If you own a property management company, it would also be in your interest to set up several Airbnb accounts to make it easier for your team to oversee numerous properties.

You can also use two separate accounts — one as a guest for booking other properties, the other one as an Airbnb hosting account for your hosting services.

On other occasions, you might need to make multiple listings under one account. For example, if you have a house but you want to rent out its individual rooms separately, you would need to make an individual listing for each room. Each room will have its own booking calendar and listing page, where you can add information relating to the room.

Having several Airbnb accounts might help Airbnb hosts with management time

How Can I List Multiple Properties on My Airbnb Account?

If you have a company with several properties that you want to list and they are located in the same destination, you should create individual listings for each of your rentals under one account.

To do this, simply follow the steps for creating a listing on the Airbnb website, and make one for each property.

How Many Listings Can One Host Have on Airbnb?

Many hosts wonder how many listings they are allowed to have under one Airbnb account. Airbnb’s Terms of Service don’t impose a limit on the number a host can have. 

Having numerous Airbnb accounts is often a logistical nightmare. How many Airbnb accounts do you think you could manage before things started to slip? 

Having your properties managed under the same account means you can make use of a property management company and a dynamic pricing service. This way, you’ll only pay for one subscription, versus more if they’re managed under multiple Airbnb accounts.

How Do I Merge Two Airbnb Accounts?

Unfortunately, there is no way to merge two accounts. You will need to decide which account you want to save and which account you’d like to deactivate. Take a look at your Airbnb host rating and the quality of guests’ reviews on each of the Airbnb accounts.

You’ll want to keep the active account that has the best overall rating. If you have reservations on one of your profiles, log in to access the second account and snooze it. This will prevent any incoming bookings, provided that all the previous reservations have been completed already. By doing so, you will avoid double-bookings and save yourself headaches.

You’ll then need to add the listing from the other account to the more successful account. Choosing between two Airbnb accounts can be tricky, but keep in mind that it’s easier to manage Airbnb listings in one account rather than two.

What Challenges Do Airbnb Hosts with Multiple Accounts and Listings Usually Face?

Managing multiple Airbnb accounts presents unique challenges, such as:

Keeping track of guest communication

For hosts, keeping track of your communication with guests can be a challenging chore, even more so if they manage many accounts. However, you should do your best to send answers to guests’ messages and inquiries within 24 hours. If you can do it faster, good for you!

Airbnb keeps an eye on your response time and rate. Being slow in your answers can hurt your ranking position on Airbnb and affect your listing visibility. This means that your listing will get fewer views from travelers, resulting in a lower occupancy rate and revenue.

Keeping your calendar up to date to prevent double-bookings

Regardless of whether you manage multiple accounts on Airbnb or other vacation rental sites, keeping your calendars in sync won’t be an easy task. Any time an Airbnb user books your vacation rental listed on several platforms, you will need to log into all your other accounts to block out the corresponding dates to prevent double-booking.

This can become tiresome to keep up with, especially if you manage all your business accounts by yourself. Likewise, if a person contacts you to cancel their reservation, make sure you double back and unblock those dates across all your other calendars to make them available for other travelers. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on bookings.

Keep track of your calendar, no matter how many Airbnb listings make up your Airbnb business

Allocating time to check multiple accounts

Another difficulty that comes with handling multiple Airbnb accounts is losing time logging in and out of each of them. If you want to check new messages or other reservation details, you will have to remember which account you used.

Besides trying to remember where you left off with each conversation, you’ll also have to remember passwords for each account. The whole process will take a lot of your time, and you may overlook some details and forget important matters.

Making updates to your profile/listings

Things like photos, property descriptions, prices, and special offers need to be updated across your multiple accounts. If you fail to do this, you could lose out on potential reservations. Your photos feature everything your property offers to the hosting community, so it’s important to keep them updated.

If you do any renovations to your rental or provide a new amenity, it’s essential to feature these changes in your photos across all your platforms. It’s also necessary to keep all your special offers consistent across your platforms to prevent confusion.

Price your listing competitively

As adjusting your pricing regularly in accordance with the changes in demand, supply, seasonality, and other factors is crucial for increasing your profits, you will also need to access multiple listings to apply new rates. Luckily, this task can become much easier if you introduce a dynamic pricing service to your revenue management strategy.   

Best Practices for Hosts with Multiple Listings

Successfully managing multiple Airbnb accounts and listings requires a well-organized and strategic approach. For hosts juggling several Airbnb accounts or multiple listings, staying on top of every detail is essential to avoid costly mistakes and maximize your rental income.

One of the most effective best practices is to implement a centralized calendar system. Whether you use vacation rental software or a shared digital calendar, having all your bookings and availability in one place helps prevent double bookings and ensures you always have up-to-date information at your fingertips. This is especially important when managing multiple Airbnb accounts or accounts and listings across different platforms.

Consistency is another key factor. Make sure your property descriptions, pricing, and house rules are standardized across all your Airbnb accounts and listings. This not only streamlines your management process but also sets clear expectations for guests, reducing the risk of misunderstandings or negative reviews.

Clear and prompt communication is vital when managing multiple listings. Consider using a shared inbox or property management software that integrates with Airbnb to keep all guest messages organized. This allows you to respond quickly and professionally, no matter how many accounts you’re managing.

Finally, regular reviews and updates of your listings are crucial. Keep your property descriptions accurate, update photos as needed, and adjust pricing to reflect market trends. By following these best practices, you can efficiently manage multiple airbnb accounts, minimize stress, and deliver a seamless experience for your guests.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to managing multiple Airbnb accounts and listings, even experienced hosts can fall into common traps that can impact their business. One of the most frequent mistakes is losing track of bookings and reservations, which can easily result in double bookings—a situation that frustrates guests and can damage your reputation.

Another pitfall is slow or inconsistent communication with guests. Managing multiple accounts and listings can make it challenging to keep up with inquiries, but delayed responses can hurt your Airbnb host rating and reduce your visibility in Airbnb’s search results.

Technical missteps are also a risk. Using the same IP address or contact information for several Airbnb accounts can trigger Airbnb’s security systems, potentially leading to account suspension or loss of access to your listings. It’s important to keep each account’s details distinct and to follow Airbnb’s terms of service closely.

Hosts should also be careful not to confuse accounts and listings, which can lead to updating the wrong property or sending the wrong message to a guest. This is where vacation rental software can be a lifesaver, helping you manage dynamic pricing, synchronize calendars, and streamline guest communication across all your accounts.

By being aware of these common mistakes and taking proactive steps, such as using vacation rental software, maintaining clear organization, and keeping account details separate, you can avoid costly errors and ensure your vacation rental business runs smoothly, no matter how many Airbnb accounts or listings you manage.

Simplify Your Short-Term Rental Property Management with Vacation Rental Software

As seen above, managing numerous accounts and listings can be a challenge for hosts. This is because there are many aspects of your business that you need to keep under control. 

The silver lining is that there are smart tools and software solutions that can help you to streamline your daily property management operations. For example, by using vacation rental management software, you can take an automated approach to manage your Airbnb multiple accounts as well as properties listed on other platforms.

Vacation rental software, such as iGMS, allows you to automate various aspects of your business.

Although vacation rental software is an additional cost, it is an investment for the future. In the long run, by automating your tasks, you can significantly reduce your expenses and run your business without a big team in place. 

On top of that, vacation rental software solutions have proven to be effective in streamlining management operations. At the end of the day, the better command you have of your multiple accounts, the more bookings you will get.

Final Thoughts

Managing several profiles is a logistical headache. Some hosts have six or more listings in the same location (city, state, or country), but spread out over several accounts. Even with the most advanced revenue management plan, the time involved in managing just one Airbnb profile can be overwhelming.

Instead, ascertain which profile is the strongest and move your listings onto that one profile. It'll simplify pretty much every aspect of your management process. Just be sure to update your contact details on your chosen profile to ensure that your stipulated number and your actual number are the same phone number.

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