Creating a new Airbnb Listing for a currently listed Property

Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
1yFollow

Creating a new Airbnb Listing for a currently listed Property

Marc Shin
Member since 2024 · 179 posts · 76 votes

Hello,

I have a property manager that is currently managing my Airbnb property, but I am not very happy with their services.  I'm thinking about taking over the management of the property myself.  If I were to take over the management of the property, i would need to essentially create a brand new listing for my property.  If I were to use the same verbiage in the current ABB listing and the same exact photos, would ABB flag that as as a duplicate listing or would ABB have an issue with this?  

0Reply
41 views

Most Popular Reply

John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
1y

I would think you would want to cancel the PMs site before listing yours for the same property. That would eliminate the duplication issue and be the cleanest transition.

2Reply
See this reply in the discussion

13 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Joe Stark
    Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 2 votes
    1y

    Hey Marc, totally get where you’re coming from—so many hosts feel stuck between poor management and the complexity of taking over themselves.

    If you’re thinking about creating a new listing, Airbnb technically doesn’t prohibit duplicate listings, but they do discourage content that’s identical or extremely similar—especially if the original listing is still active under another host or manager. Reusing the exact same photos and copy can trigger their review process or flag your listing as spammy in search results.

    Instead, consider:

    • Tweaking the copy to reflect your new hosting style or added amenities
    • Reordering or updating images slightly
    • Highlighting the change in management as a positive for future guests (fresher experience, better communication, etc.)

    If you’re leaning toward managing it yourself but want to keep things streamlined, I help a lot of first-time or overwhelmed hosts set up systems so they’re not trading one headache for another.

    Would it help if I shared my free STR Essentials Checklist? It walks through the exact steps I use to get hosts re-launched quickly and smoothly.

    Happy to send it your way or chat through next steps if you’re exploring options.

    0Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    1y

    I would think you would want to cancel the PMs site before listing yours for the same property. That would eliminate the duplication issue and be the cleanest transition.

    2Reply
  • Jeremy Jareckyj
    Real Estate Agent · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2020 · 490 posts · 205 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Marc Shin:

    Hello,

    I have a property manager that is currently managing my Airbnb property, but I am not very happy with their services.  I'm thinking about taking over the management of the property myself.  If I were to take over the management of the property, i would need to essentially create a brand new listing for my property.  If I were to use the same verbiage in the current ABB listing and the same exact photos, would ABB flag that as as a duplicate listing or would ABB have an issue with this?  


     If you do this, maybe ask the PM to unlist there property once yours is live and calendars are synced

    0Reply
  • Mark Driskell
    Property Manager · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2024 · 28 posts · 13 votes
    1y

    Definitely have the property management company unlist the existing listing before you publish a new one — this helps avoid duplicate listing issues and confusion for guests.

    Pro tip:     Before they take it down, grab screenshots of the best guest reviews. You can upload those as images on your new listing to help build instant trust and social proof. It's a great way to leverage the credibility you’ve already earned while making a fresh start!

    0Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    we have a lot of people that switch to us from other PMs.  Set a date in the future I.E. 7/1.  From 7/1 on the current PM blocks the calendar and you open another listing with a blocked calendar til 7/1 then open.  You can copy it, but I would likely tweak it a little.





    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Collin HaysBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1y

    Like others have said, get it delisted first, then put it back on. 

    Question:  Who owns the photos?  You will want to be careful on this, as if the PM owns the photos, they aren't legally yours to use. 

    [email protected]806-672-7102
    SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Tevan Holder
    Real Estate Agent · Member since 2022 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    1y

    We just went through a similar situation. 

    Make sure their listing is taken down before you relist yours. We did this (And had proof thankfully via a screenshot), that we could show Airbnb later because we did eventually get flagged about a month after we listed it again... They cleared the situation quickly!

    Others have mentioned, but screenshot reviews prior so you can have those on your listing. If you own the photos, make sure you get those as well! 

    0Reply
  • Josh SedivyBusiness Member
    St. Louis, MO · Member since 2024 · 134 posts · 55 votes
    1y

    Using the same photos and description in a new listing can cause Airbnb to flag it as a duplicate, especially if the original listing is still active. To prevent that, pause or remove the current listing before publishing the new one.

    If your property manager provided the photos, make sure you have the right to use them. If you're unsure, it's best to take a few new ones.

    Managing it yourself means handling guest messages, cleanings, and any problems that come up. It can be a bit much in the beginning, but it gets easier once you're set up.

    [email protected]833-345-5224
    ABODEbucks4.6147 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • James CarlsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Colorado | stan.store/JamesCarlson · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    I've had STR clients here relist and use the same language. Just have the PM delist right before you list and be sure to grab screenshots of the reviews as others said.

    [email protected]720-460-1770
    James Carlson Real Estate
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    1y

    Hey @Marc Shin, so everyone else had good ways to handle things.

    I would have the PM delist it first then move forward.

    Remember not only the photos but the text used in the listing will also be covered by the agreement so you should just create new copy for that as well as the listing title.

    0Reply
  • Sarah Churchill
    Member since 2025 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    1y

    Hi Marc,

    Sorry to hear you’re not seeing the returns you expected with your current manager—you’re definitely not alone.

    As others mentioned, making sure your old listing is fully deactivated is key before relaunching. Airbnb’s algorithm treats new listings favorably, so this is a great chance to optimize. Even if you keep the same photos or description, tweaking your copy and enhancing photos (even just with tasteful edits) can improve click-through and conversion rates.

    Out of curiosity—was your property only listed on Airbnb? If so, that could explain underperformance. In my experience managing STRs across multiple markets, visibility on VRBO, Booking.com, and Google, along with a direct booking site, significantly increases occupancy and ROI.

    The challenge is that managing multiple channels without software quickly becomes chaotic. Most owners hire a PM for that reason alone. That said, if you’re considering self-management, I occasionally offer a hybrid setup: access to my Hostaway platform via a monthly subscription. You’d get a unified inbox, dynamic calendar, and an owner portal to manage everything yourself—without the overhead of a full software license or full-service manager.

    Whether you’re exploring a new manager or going the DIY route, I’m happy to offer insights to help you maximize your returns. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to bounce around ideas.

    Wishing you better results ahead,

    Sarah

    0Reply
  • Myka Artis
    Rental Property Investor · Arlington, TX · Member since 2016 · 706 posts · 611 votes
    1y

    If you're taking over the management, you would probably want to start your listing anyway. You'd also want to make sure you let them know first, so you don't have multiple guests showing up at your property due to being double-booked. You can use the same photos. I have multiple listings with the exact verbiage and pictures for different timeshares I list, and Airbnb has no problem with it. 

    0Reply
  • Andrew Street
    Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 292 votes
    1y

    Hey there Marc - If you take over the management and create a new listing using the same photos and wording, Airbnb likely won’t flag it as a duplicate, especially if the old listing is paused or removed. That said, it’s best to tweak the copy slightly and rename the photo files just to be safe. Also, consider updating some parts to reflect your personal hosting style—it can help with visibility and guest trust.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free