I usually block the dates when I’m out of town, but on occasion have asked my neighbor to take care of any repeat guests who might message me while I’m away. It really helps having a fellow host right across the street.
I am doing my first stint as a co-host ever. E is going out of town for a week to an area with sketchy cellular service & no wi-if where she is staying.
When she made me a co-host I was surprised at the access given and the primary host cannot pick & choose what access is given.
As a co-host I can change anything in her Listing & house rules, pricing minimum stay and add/delete/change pre-set messages.
It is a leap of faith to give anyone that kind of access.
I naively thought she would give me access to accept/decline/correspond with guests.
About a Facebook group-Airbnb has Airbnb representative moderated Facebook groups. There may be one in your area.
Thanks everyone!
What I did today was post a message on NextDoor.com which is very active in my city. And I already heard from a host!
Thanks PitonView for the WhatsApp idea. I am new to WhatsApp but it definitely seems the best solution to group messages.
And thanks Anne for the co-host heads up.
What I have done in the past, when we went overseas, is to hire a local house sitter to be available if needed by a guest. I did not like this arrangement very much because the person had no ABB experience.
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I belong to two local host groups on FB. I can see the advantage of having a local co-host who you know, who knows your area and whose values you share to help co-host when you can’t -
I can’t see the value in having a stranger who doesn’t know your area house sitting a listing .
I always shed a tear when a new host in my village shuts down 12 months later. Best not to get to know them as that would just increase the pain of their departure.
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Host burn out really is a thing!
Also some are just not nice people.
I contacted the host of new listing in my neighborhood. I explained there is a group of 6 STR owners in the neighborhood who share information about cleaners & repair people & other helpful tips. And 4 of those owners were local. I told her I would be there in May & hoped we could meet. The others in the group would probably be at the annual HOA meeting in May so it would be a good time to meet neighbors.
The conversation went downhill quickly. I guess she thought I was going to try to damage her in someway. Oh well, her loss. When she runs into a problem & needs local help, I hope she can figure it out.
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The damaged are usually fearful of more damage. One can feel badly for her and still see that odds are she won’t be a successful host.
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There are many, many STRs in this area (some advertising with Airbnb, others not) and a few drop out every month or so. It’s weird that there are so many people who see STR as easy money.
I know quite a few local hosts but I’ve got to know them by simply knocking on their doors. 
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As an update, I can report I’ve had almost no luck at all.
I found 3 hosts on NextDoor but they have not sent contact info despite repeated requests.
I think people are just too busy, or they don’t see the potential. I’m a newbie STR (since November)
And some hosts see others as unwanted competition rather than someone they could have a mutually beneficial relationship with.
Kinda like the difference between those who post here and accept advice graciously, even if they don’t feel it’s the best advice, realizing others are just trying to help, and those who get stroppy and stomp off, never to be heard from again, if they don’t like the advice or the “tone”.
Is there no local host group in your area. If not why not set one up?
haha, same thing happened to me, except zero complaining, the few who posted were all doe eyed sweeties who woo-yayed everything, the moderator just kept on posting fluff pieces from Airbnb and asking us how we supported it (like the mods do on the CC). 100 members, maybe 10 were active. they also had meet-ups at 10am on Saturdays, because the mod works ft I guess, but weekends are just a big NO from me, I don’t need to brave the crowds and also, i’m usually busy with a turnover. the meet-ups include free food/drink so are they sponsored by ABB?
Anyway, I did meet another local host via the CC and we met for coffee and he told me he has a group of 5 local hosts who meet once a month, so i’ll join in with them. Not sure i’d ever want another host to manage my property but being able to share cleaners or trades in times of need is certainly a handy back up to have.
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I have friends that I don’t even see once a month. I can’t imagine having the time to meet hosts in person that often. My Airbnb is such that if I can’t manage my rental I don’t need a back up, I’d just close it. But that concept seems far superior to being in a group on facebook.
It’s the same here. Lots of lurkers.
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haha, SAME. I’m good friends with my neighbour and we haven’t seen each other in a month!
I’m actually going to rock the boat a little. they used to always meet at the same cafe (and not a good one at that, it’s thankfully now changed hands) and i’m going to suggest it’s smart to try new places, so they can honestly recommend places to their guests. I know, crazy idea! At least if the meetings turn out to be fruitless, I’ll have expanded my local restaurant knowledge. And I can be a bit of an introvert so it gets me out of the house and in a social situation each month.
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I am a Co-Host for three listings in Galveston, Texas. The listing admin has always made it known that everything is my job (as he “doesn’t want to lift a finger” LOL).
So initially I thought it best to be the Primary Host on his listings since he doesn’t interact with guests. However, as soon as I found out that we were no longer displayed as SuperHost since I am not credited with any of the 160+ reviews, I told him to switch back to Primary Host. Now guests must think of me as this nosy, upstart Co-Host who has usurped the ‘real’ Host’s messages, even signing them as his own!
Anyway, regarding my suggestion to this post – I have friends who have occasionally helped me clean, so I thought, “Why can’t I go on trips too?” I never considered blocking the dates!
So I said fuggit, went on a 7-day cruise in March and a 5-day cruise in April and now have a round-trip flight for 7 days in PV June 30 to July 6.
During the first cruise I worried up a storm, constantly texting my friend to make certain he was doing everything I asked of him. Slowly I became comfortable that I can trust my friend, depend on my scheduled messages to be sent, and create new lock codes from anywhere, after all! Yeah!
The end result in my absence, thankfully, has been uneventful… The same seemless reservation integration, high-level guest satisfaction, and a mundane, business-as-usual stress level.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Get a routine, trust a maid, go somewhere fun, LET IT GO, the world won’t end with one less host!
My listings are not shared rooms BTW
This isn’t the necessary interpretation. I am also a co-Host, and I do ‘everything.’ I often sign simply as co-Host when the messages are solely my own, not reviewed by the Host. For scheduled messages that the Host and I have reviewed or together crafted we sign together.
As for your discovery/achievement in having created a routine and developed a reliable worker/team so that you can manage remotely, congratulations!
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Good heavens no!
I just want to update my own original post----
I found a group! Or more precisely somehow the group found me! I
It’s about 4 board members plus maybe 50 interested email addresses. The group formed in a bit of a panic as our city was adopting regulations for STRs.
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The member you’re addressing hasn’t been seen here for over a year, so you might not get a response.
Because this is an international forum, with members from all around the world, you might find that posting in a local Facebook group would get better results. Good luck.
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