Understanding the difference between Airbnb co-hosting and traditional property management to choose the best model for your rental property
The Key Difference
Co-hosting splits digital and physical responsibilities. Full management handles everything but takes complete control of your property.
| Feature | Co-Hosting (Hosti Property) | Traditional Full Management |
|---|---|---|
| Commission Rate | 9% + GST | 15-25% + fees |
| Setup Fees | $0 | $500-2,000 |
| Contract Length | Month-to-month | 6-12 months minimum |
| Property Control | You maintain control | Manager controls everything |
| Cleaning Management | You choose & manage cleaners | Manager's cleaning team |
| Maintenance | You handle with your contractors | Manager's maintenance team |
| Guest Communication | We handle 24/7 | Manager handles |
| Dynamic Pricing | We optimise daily | Manager sets pricing |
| Listing Management | We handle all platforms | Manager handles |
| Account Access | Listed under Hosti accounts | Limited or no direct access |
| Vendor Relationships | You keep your trusted vendors | Must use manager's vendors |
See how the costs add up over a year for a property earning $50,000 in annual revenue
Hosti Property
90.1% of gross revenue
Plus you save ~$9,125/year: Choose your own cleaners at competitive rates you negotiate (average $100 savings per clean)
Traditional Model
76% of gross revenue
Plus markup costs: Cleaning and maintenance often marked up 20-30% by management companies
You Keep $16,175+ More Per Year with Co-Hosting
$7,050 in lower fees + ~$9,125 in cleaning cost savings
The fundamental difference between these models is how much control you want versus how much convenience you need
Best for: Hands-on owners who want professional digital management but prefer managing their own operations and vendors
Best for: Completely passive investors who live far away, have no interest in property operations, and want zero involvement
Your ideal management model depends on your goals, involvement preference, and property situation
Want to maximise your profit margins by keeping fees low (9% vs 15-25%)
Have reliable cleaners you trust or want to choose your own cleaning service
Prefer using your own maintenance contractors who know your property
Want full transparency with professional management under our verified accounts
Live nearby or have a system for coordinating property operations
Are comfortable managing physical operations but need help with the digital complexity
Don't want to be locked into a long-term contract
Own multiple properties and want a scalable, cost-effective solution
Want absolutely zero involvement in any aspect of property operations
Live in another country or too far away to coordinate any local services
Have no existing relationships with cleaners or contractors
Don't have time to respond to any messages about property maintenance
Prefer one entity handling everything even at a higher cost
Don't care about maintaining direct control or vendor relationships
View your property as a completely passive investment
24/7 professional guest messaging, inquiry responses, booking support, check-in coordination, and issue resolution. Instant response times to maximise bookings and maintain high ratings.
Same 24/7 guest communication and support, typically handled by a dedicated property manager or team.
Advanced dynamic pricing algorithms adjusted daily based on demand, seasonality, events, and competition. Data-driven approach to maximise revenue per booking.
Pricing strategy varies widely. Some use dynamic tools, others set seasonal rates manually. Quality depends heavily on the specific management company.
You arrange and manage your own cleaning service. Choose your cleaners, set your standards, negotiate your rates. We coordinate timing based on bookings. Average savings: $100 per clean.
Manager provides in-house or contracted cleaning team. Costs typically marked up 20-30% above market rates. You have no choice in cleaners or standards.
You handle maintenance with your own contractors. We notify you immediately when guests report issues. You control costs and quality by using your trusted vendors.
Manager coordinates all maintenance through their network. Convenience of hands-off approach but typically includes 20-30% markup on all work. Limited input on vendor selection.
Professional listing creation, SEO optimisation, multi-platform distribution under our established Hosti Property accounts. Continuous performance improvements based on data.
Manager creates and manages listings, often under their master account. Limited direct access for owners. Quality varies significantly by company.
Complete transparency with detailed monthly performance reports and twice-monthly payment statements. Full visibility into your property's performance and earnings.
Monthly financial statements and periodic reports. Limited or no direct platform access. Information filtered through the management company's reporting system.
See which model makes sense for different property owner situations
Owns 2 investment properties, works full-time, has reliable cleaners
Challenge:
No time for guest messages and pricing optimisation, but paying 20% management fees on 2 properties is $20,000+ per year. Prefers using existing cleaners who know the properties.
Best Choice: Co-Hosting
Saves $11,000+ annually in fees plus ~$18,250 in cleaning costs while keeping trusted cleaners and contractors. Digital management handled 24/7, physical operations on his schedule.
Owns property in Sydney, lives in UK, no local connections
Challenge:
Time zone makes communication difficult. No local cleaners or contractors. Wants completely passive investment with zero coordination required.
Best Choice: Full Management
Despite higher fees, full management makes sense for the completely hands-off approach needed for overseas ownership with no local presence.
Rent their beach house when not using it, want quality control
Challenge:
Care deeply about how property is maintained. Use it monthly for personal trips. Want specific cleaning standards and premium presentation. Don't want to deal with guest messages.
Best Choice: Co-Hosting
Maintains complete control over cleaning quality and property standards while we handle all guest management. Easy personal blocking and oversight of operations.
5 properties across Queensland, wants to scale efficiently
Challenge:
Traditional management at 20% on 5 properties costs $60,000+ annually. Has systems for coordinating cleaners and maintenance but guest management is overwhelming.
Best Choice: Co-Hosting
Saves $33,000+ per year in fees plus ~$45,625 in cleaning costs across the portfolio. Existing operational systems stay in place. Professional digital management scales across all properties at 9% instead of 20%.
Understanding the key differences to make the right choice
Co-hosting requires you to coordinate cleaning and maintenance, which takes 3-5 hours per month typically. Full management is completely hands-off. The question is whether that convenience is worth paying an extra 10-15% in fees plus $9,000+ annually in marked-up cleaning costs.
Yes, many of our clients switch from traditional management to save on fees. You'll need to end your management contract (check terms), and set up your own cleaning and maintenance arrangements. We'll help you through the transition and create new optimised listings.
Net revenue is typically 15-20% higher with co-hosting due to lower fees and cleaning cost savings. Gross booking revenue depends more on property quality, market, and management effectiveness than the model itself. Our dynamic pricing often generates strong results.
Our month-to-month terms make this easy. Start with co-hosting and if you decide it's too much involvement after a few months, you can switch to full management. There's no risk with no long-term commitment.
With co-hosting, you pay your cleaners directly (typically $100-150 per turnover for a 4-day average stay). With full management, cleaning is billed through the manager with a 20-30% markup, so $130-195 for the same job. With average stays of 4 days, that's approximately $9,125 in extra costs annually.
Absolutely. Some owners use co-hosting for local properties they can easily oversee, and full management for properties in other cities. Choose the model that makes sense for each property's location and your involvement capacity.
We handle guest-side emergencies 24/7 (locked out, questions, etc). For property emergencies (burst pipe, broken AC), we notify you immediately and you coordinate your emergency contractors. Most owners have plumbers/electricians on call just as they would for any investment property.
Answer these questions to identify which model suits your situation
Do you have reliable cleaners or can you arrange cleaning easily?
Yes: Co-hosting lets you keep them and save ~$9,125/year → +1 for Co-Hosting
No: Full management provides cleaning team → +1 for Full Management
Can you respond to messages about maintenance within a few hours?
Yes: Co-hosting works well with responsive coordination → +1 for Co-Hosting
No: Full management handles everything → +1 for Full Management
Is keeping costs low a priority?
Yes: Co-hosting saves $16,000+ annually in fees and cleaning → +1 for Co-Hosting
No: Full management worth the premium for convenience → +1 for Full Management
Do you want transparency over your listings and earnings?
Yes: Co-hosting provides full transparency with regular reporting → +1 for Co-Hosting
No: Happy with monthly reports from manager → +1 for Full Management
Are you within a few hours of your property?
Yes: Co-hosting works great for accessible properties → +1 for Co-Hosting
No: Full management better for distant properties → +1 for Full Management
See if our 9% + GST co-hosting model is right for your property. No long-term commitment, complete transparency, and significant cost savings.
Why Property Owners Choose Hosti Property Co-Hosting
✓ Keep 90%+ of revenue
✓ Save ~$9,125/year on cleaning
✓ Full property control
✓ Month-to-month terms
