How to Switch Airbnb Property Managers in Medellín

Thinking about changing your Airbnb property manager in Medellín? Before you give notice, check who owns the listing and who will look after the guests already booked. Those two answers shape the entire handover.

A change of manager involves more than handing over keys. Your agreement, Airbnb permissions, upcoming reservations, payouts, and building access all need a clear plan. Use this guide to decide what to confirm before the next team takes over.

When is it time to change managers?

One quiet month does not tell the whole story. Compare results with seasonality, the condition of your property, availability, and any owner stays. Look for repeated operational problems: unanswered guest messages, cleaning complaints, unexplained expenses, missing statements, or unresolved maintenance.

Ask your current manager for the evidence behind the results and a written plan to address the problems. If you still cannot see where the money goes or who is accountable, compare other options. Our guide to choosing an Airbnb manager covers the questions to ask before signing with a new team.

What happens to your Airbnb listing and reviews?

Owning the apartment does not necessarily mean you own the Airbnb listing. First identify the listing owner in Airbnb. Being shown as the primary host is not proof of ownership: Airbnb allows a full-access co-host to appear as the primary host. See Airbnb’s primary-host explanation.

Your setup	What to confirm before switching
You own the listing; your manager is a co-host.	Plan a change of co-host access on the existing listing. Review permissions, payout arrangements, connected software, and who will become the primary host.
Your manager owns the listing.	Do not assume the account, listing history, reviews, or reservations can move to your account. Ask Airbnb about your specific situation before agreeing to a handover.
You are unsure who owns it.	Confirm the account and listing roles first. A listing URL, payout statement, or property deed alone does not establish your Airbnb permissions.

If the same owner-controlled listing stays in place, changing the co-host does not require a new listing. That is a different situation from starting again in another account. Do not accept a promise that reviews will transfer to a new listing; Airbnb does not allow information to be moved between accounts. Check the account policy.

Use Airbnb’s invitation and permission tools for the incoming manager. Review the access they need instead of sharing your account password. Only the listing owner can set up or edit co-host payouts. Review Airbnb’s co-host permissions.

Review your contract and the full cost of leaving

Find the notice period, the required way to give notice, any early termination charge, and the terms for reservations booked before the agreement ends. Ask for a written explanation of any unclear clause before choosing a changeover date.

1. Fees after termination: confirm whether commissions apply to future stays already booked.
2. Open balances: reconcile unpaid owner payouts, expenses, maintenance invoices, refunds, and claims.
3. Property and content: establish ownership and permitted use of photography, listing copy, linens, supplies, and equipment.
4. Replacement services: confirm which software, cleaning, maintenance, or other arrangements end with the old agreement.

Compare the new proposal on the same basis, including the commission base, applicable taxes, cleaning, maintenance charges, and any setup costs. Use our Medellín Airbnb management fees guide alongside the written proposal. A lower percentage alone does not show what you will take home.

Make a plan for every existing booking

Choose a handover date only after both teams agree who will handle current guests, arrivals, departures, and support overnight. A reservation that starts before the switch and ends afterward needs a named person responsible throughout.

1. List the stays: record the booking reference, dates, channel, payment status, and responsible manager in an agreed, access-controlled handover record.
2. Assign guest communication: decide who answers messages, sends entry instructions, handles problems, and follows up after checkout.
3. Check every calendar: reconcile Airbnb, other channels, and direct bookings before changing software connections or availability.
4. Confirm the money: agree who receives and reconciles payouts, refunds, and outstanding claims, subject to the platform’s rules and the contracts.

Do not assume existing bookings can be transferred between Airbnb accounts. If your current manager owns the account, resolve the reservation plan with them and Airbnb before ending access or making promises to guests. A smooth handover depends on the actual setup; it is not a reason to cancel and recreate reservations as a routine step.

Your Medellín property handover checklist

Use a written record with an owner, a due date, and a confirmation for each item. A property in El Poblado, Laureles, or Envigado may have building-specific access and operating arrangements; verify the ones that apply to your unit.

1. Keys and entry: count keys, fobs, remotes, lock codes, and backup access. Confirm the new team’s access before removing the old team’s permissions.
2. Building coordination: notify the administration and front desk of the authorized contacts and verify guest entry procedures.
3. Inventory and condition: record furniture, appliances, linens, supplies, existing damage, and pending repairs with dated photos.
4. Cleaning and maintenance: assign the next turnover, inspect readiness, and confirm emergency contacts and spending approval limits.
5. Operating documents: review the property’s applicable registration, guest reporting, tax, and building requirements with the responsible professionals. Identify what needs updating when the operator changes.
6. Technology: review channel connections, smart locks, scheduled messages, pricing tools, and team access. Test the new setup before retiring the old one.
7. Final reconciliation: agree a statement covering completed stays, reservations still to settle, fees, expenses, refunds, and claims. Keep a contact for issues that arise after the handover.

How long does changing managers take?

There is no reliable one-size-fits-all timeline. The notice period, listing ownership, upcoming stays, pending balances, and readiness of the new team determine the schedule. A simple co-host change may be technically quick, while the complete operational handover takes more coordination.

Work through three stages: review the setup, agree the booking and property handover, then verify the first arrivals and financial reporting. After the switch, check the next guest’s entry instructions, the calendar, a completed cleaning inspection, and the first owner statement.

Questions owners ask before switching

Can I change managers if I have future bookings?
Potentially, but those bookings need an explicit plan. The answer depends on who owns the account, who remains responsible for the stays, and what the platform and your contract allow.

Will I keep my reviews?
Keeping the same owner-controlled listing is different from creating a new one. Do not plan on transferring reviews between accounts or accepting a guarantee before the account setup has been checked.

Should I remove my current manager immediately?
Coordinate access changes with guest support, upcoming arrivals, and your agreement. Removing access without a coverage plan can leave important tasks unattended.

Will switching increase my income?
A new manager cannot guarantee a result. Ask how they will address the problems you identified and compare owner income after commissions, expenses, and applicable taxes over a meaningful period.

Airbnb policy sources checked September 14, 2026. Review the linked Help Center pages for the current rules that apply to your account.