How do you hand over the keys to your Airbnb accommodation to visiting travellers? Is it better to use a key delivery service or a key safe?
One of the biggest problems when renting out accommodation on Airbnb is greeting travelers and providing them with the keys to the property. There are a number of solutions to help you with this, including Airbnb concierge services, check-in agencies, key delivery services and key safes. We’ll be looking at the latter two, which we believe are the most affordable options available today for giving your tenant possession of the keys to the property they’re renting.
Key delivery service
As the name suggests, a key delivery service is responsible for handing over the keys to your property to your tenant. Their operation is simple: they only manage the keys to your accommodation. You provide the keys, and they take care of handing them over to the traveler on arrival, and collecting them on departure.
Many concierge services charge between 18 and 20 euros for this service, which is very expensive if you let them do the check-in and check-out.
The key safe or secure key box
This second option is simply a wall-mounted device in which the keys are stored. Once on site, the tenant can retrieve the keys without having to meet you. Only those with the right combination of numbers can open the safe, which is protected by a digital password.
The key safe can hold up to two keys. Initially used to enable cleaning staff to come and carry out their tasks even when the owner or someone else is away, the advent of Airbnb has just diverted the use of the key box. It is now used to allow tenants to move in or out of an Airbnb even in the absence of their host.
Most often placed next to the door at man’s height, the key safe requires no electrical power supply. The average price varies between 25 and 90 euros in stores or on the Internet. What’s more, you can change the number combination of the password manually in just a few moments.
The only problem with the key safe is legal. In fact, most insurance companies only pay compensation in the event of a break-in with supporting evidence. However, if a key safe is broken or tampered with, it gives access to the keys to your home. As a result, a thief can easily enter your home without leaving the slightest trace of a break-in. The insurance company can use this leverage to decide either not to compensate you, or to unilaterally legislate the amount of compensation you will receive in the event of theft from your Airbnb accommodation.
That said, if your residence or building is secure and you trust your neighbors, a key safe can be the ideal solution for saving on check-in/check-out costs. A key safe is also a good way of helping you out when you’re away. Indeed, without a « human » welcome, travelers may rate their stay on Airbnb less highly…
Finally, a key delivery service or key safe?
In the end, it’s up to you. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the two options have been outlined above. If you live in a safe city or neighborhood, a key safe would be the most affordable way to hand over the keys to your Airbnb tenants. And for the long term.
However, if you wish to use a key delivery agency for added security, this will cost you a few extra euros.