Step-by-Step Guide Hiring Your First Virtual Assistant for Airbnb

When I first heard other hosts talking about hiring a Virtual Assistant for Airbnb, I thought, “Do I really need one? I can manage things on my own.” But as the bookings grew, I realized I was spending more time answering messages, updating calendars, and handling little tasks than actually focusing on guests or improving my property. That’s when I decided it was time to bring in some help.

If you’re at that point where hosting feels like a full-time job, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you hire your first Virtual Assistant for Airbnb without overcomplicating the process.

List the Tasks You Want Off Your Plate

Before you hire anyone, get clear on what you need help with. Do you want them to answer guest inquiries? Manage your calendar? Handle check-in instructions? Or maybe bookkeeping and reviews?

For me, the biggest time-suck was responding to guest questions at odd hours. Writing it all down made it easier to know exactly what I wanted a Virtual Assistant for Airbnb to handle.

Decide Your Budget

Virtual assistants don’t all cost the same. Some charge hourly, others prefer a flat monthly rate. I started small—just a few hours a week. Over time, as I saw the value, I increased the workload. Knowing your budget helps you avoid hiring too much too soon.

Choose Where to Find a VA

There are a lot of platforms to find virtual assistants—Upwork, Fiverr, even Facebook groups for Airbnb hosts. I personally found mine through a hosting forum. Look in communities where assistants already understand the short-term rental world. It saves a lot of training time.

Write a Simple Job Description

Don’t overcomplicate this. Just write down the tasks, expected hours, and your preferred way of communication. Mine looked something like:

• Respond to guest messages within 2 hours
• Keep calendar updated
• Send check-in instructions
• Handle reviews after checkout

Clear and simple is better than a long corporate-style description.

Test with a Trial Period

Instead of jumping into a long contract, start with a two-week or one-month trial. Give them real tasks and see how they handle communication. A good Virtual Assistant for Airbnb should make your life easier, not more stressful.

Set Up Communication

I use WhatsApp and Google Drive with my assistant. Others prefer Slack or Trello. Pick whatever you’re comfortable with. The main thing is that it should be easy for both of you to share updates quickly.

Give Feedback Early

Don’t wait weeks before correcting mistakes. If your assistant writes messages too formally or forgets details, let them know immediately. Most VAs want to improve and adjust to your style.

Build Trust Over Time

In the beginning, I gave my VA small, low-risk tasks. As trust grew, I added more responsibilities—like handling payments or guest disputes. This way, I never felt like I lost control.

Automate Where Possible

A Virtual Assistant for Airbnb can also help set up automation. For example, mine set up automated check-in instructions through a scheduling tool. This saves them time and saves me money because they don’t have to manually send every message.

Treat It Like a Partnership

Your VA isn’t just a hired hand—they’re part of your hosting business. When I started treating my assistant as a partner, they cared more about guest satisfaction, not just completing tasks. And that made a huge difference in my reviews.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a Virtual Assistant for Airbnb isn’t just about saving time. It’s about creating space to focus on what really matters—giving guests a great stay and growing your business.

Start small, be clear with expectations, and build trust step by step. Before long, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one.