Is Airbnb Enough, or Should You Build Your Own Holiday Rental Website for Your Property?
If you’re already listing your property on Airbnb, you might be wondering if that’s enough to maximise your bookings or whether building your own website could offer additional benefits. With a range of website options available, setting up your own online presence could give you more control and visibility. Here’s a look at two primary website-building options to help you decide.
Option 1: The Self-Build
Platforms like Wix.com or Logify.com offer user-friendly, template-based websites that you can customise without needing technical expertise. These platforms often include integrated booking systems, making it easy to manage everything in one place. While these sites are simple to use, building a website on your own can still take time, and an understanding of user experience design can be beneficial.
Pros:
- Easy and inexpensive to set up
- Quick to build
- No hosting fees
Cons:
- Ongoing monthly fees
- Limited SEO (search engine optimisation) options
An owner says:
“We built our website using a Wix template, linked it to our URL, and set up the integrated booking system. It took about three days, but the lack of SEO options meant we couldn’t influence our ranking in Google search results.”
Option 2: WordPress
For more flexibility, WordPress is a popular choice, offering advanced features, including better SEO capabilities. While it’s more complex than platforms like Wix, many templates are specifically designed for holiday rentals and often come with integrated booking systems. However, the learning curve can be steep, and you may need to hire a professional if you’re not comfortable with technical details.
Hiring someone to build your website can cost between $500–$2000, depending on the complexity. Be mindful when hiring freelancers, as communication issues and varying quality can make the process challenging.
Pros:
- Fully customisable with advanced features
- Great for SEO
Cons:
- More complex and time-consuming
- May require technical skills or professional help
An owner says:
“We hired a freelancer to build our WordPress site, and while the result was great, the back-and-forth communication made it time-consuming. The flexibility and SEO advantages were worth it, though.”
Online Booking Systems
A key feature for any holiday rental website is an online booking system. Guests expect to be able to check availability, book dates, pay, and receive confirmation instantly. If your website lacks this, it may frustrate potential guests, causing them to look elsewhere.
Many website builders offer integrated booking systems, but they’re often designed with hotels in mind. Make sure the system suits your needs, especially if you manage multiple properties or require additional functionality like handling security deposits.
An owner says:
“We found the booking system on our website was designed for hotels, which made it difficult to manage our two properties at different locations. The system couldn’t send separate emails for each property, which confused our guests.”
Property Management Systems
If you list your property on multiple websites or manage several properties, a property management system (PMS) may be useful. These systems sync your availability and pricing across all platforms, reducing manual updates and preventing double bookings. They can also integrate with your website to provide seamless online booking functionality. However, a property management system can be complex to learn and may be costly.
Pros:
- Synchronises listings across platforms
- Increases booking opportunities
Cons:
- Expensive, more suitable for larger operators
Major Drawback:
One key downside to using your own website for bookings is that the more bookings you secure there, the fewer you’ll receive from platforms like Airbnb. This can impact your property’s ranking, as booking websites prioritise properties that receive more bookings through their platforms. Additionally, having a busier calendar means there’s less availability for guests browsing on booking sites, further lowering your ranking. Balancing website and platform bookings is essential to maintaining visibility.
Payment Gateways
If your booking system doesn’t have a built-in payment solution, you’ll need a payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe to process payments. These systems typically charge 2–3% of each transaction, plus a small fee. Ensure the payment gateway integrates with your website before committing.
An owner says:
“Between the fees for our property management system and payment gateway, we ended up paying more than some booking platforms charge per booking. It’s important to factor these fees in when deciding.”
While Airbnb is a powerful platform for driving bookings, building your own holiday rental website can offer greater control over your branding, guest communication, and booking process. Weigh the benefits of having a dedicated site with the time and cost involved, and decide what’s best for your holiday rental business.
