My STR adventure in Buenos Aires

Quick update on the washing machine ordeal. Obviously, it didn't fit. Worst of all, the side wall was not straight, so even when the bottom was made wide enough, the top of the washer was touching the wall. That said, since we had guests coming in on that very day (thank God, at 9 pm!), my husband did an amazing job in hammering the wall to at least allow the washing machine to slide in and installed it. The detergent drawer can't open fully due to the door frame, but at last you can put the detergent in.

Of course, had we chosen the 6kg model instead of the 8kg model, it would have tucked further down the nook, letting the drawer open fully. However, we decided to go for the larger model to make it more appealing to long term guests and because technically it would fit.

Truth to be said, I am happier to have a pro work on the nook to make it larger, and larger for larger, at least make it for 8kg washer.

It is not a work of art and it will be finished once the current guests move out, around Feb 20.

Another thing I learned from this adventure, is that if your marriage can survive on certain days, it is a good sign. We were short from murdering each other the day the washing machine arrived...

It took me 10 days to recover from that day.

I had bought the cart wheels, but they were not enough to lift the machine enough and in the end the issue was not the bottom of the nook with the border, but also the upper part (no border). However, at least it made it easier to slip in and out the bloody washer every time he broke into the wall a bit.

My husband spent 8 hours working on the damn nook, I was sent to the hardware store to buy Poxi Mix (no idea how this is called in English, sorry) and the water intake pipe. Then I was sent back because "I was the idiot who lost" the seal gasket on one side of the pipe (I think they never gave it to me, tbh). Went back to hardware store, got a couple of gaskets for free as the lady took pity on me. I think my face was speaking for myself.

The minute my husband was done installing the washing machine, he opened the drum to check there was no adhesive tape or else inside before launching a washing cycle... only to find the supplied water pipe. At which he exploded and started swearing in all the languages he speaks.

I was tempted to say "who's the idiot now?" but I was wise enough to wait after the guests' check in to drop that line.

Removed the bought pipe, installed the supplied one (much better quality) and insisted on throwing away the one I had just bought. I recovered it from the trash and brought it to the car. When we arrived home, it was gone. He's more stubborn than a donkey!

Now, getting reading for round #2 in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned.

We have the builder on hold as the current guests are leaving on Friday 20th, but we don't know if they have an early flight or a late one. For longer stays, we don't make a fuss about the check-out time as it takes us at least 2 days to clean up the place, anyway.

Also, these guests have a cat - a lady cat - so we would like to be helpful in every way we can. I was so curious to find out about the cat when they arrived. She was in her carrier, I didn't see her inside personally, as I didn't want to stress her. But I asked whether it was a French cat or an Argentinian cat, and I was told it is an Argentinian expat cat and this was her 3rd Intercontinental trip.

We can't even put our rescue lady cat in the carrier for a vet visit, let alone a flight!

Anyway, we are learning new things as we go, even after two years in.

It seems we arrived late to the party (as usual). The STR market is now for professionals, and we feel like newbies. The apartment where we currently live was once an Airbnb; when we bought the place, we had to honor existing bookings for the first six months, which gave us a false sense of experience. The former owners received many reservations through VRBO, but I added the property to Airbnb, and it was quite successful there too (even as VRBO’s popularity was already declining). This was in 2017, almost a decade ago. Things have changed dramatically.

Guests expect more (welcome kits), running costs are higher, and rates have remained relatively stagnant. Competition isn't just around the corner anymore—it’s often in the unit next door or two floors down.

I don’t recall seeing "professionals" running Airbnbs in 2017, or at least not at this level. Back then, a property manager was the most you needed to handle cleaning, check-ins, and guest assistance. They might also market the property on a few platforms or their own website.

In 2026, you need an interior designer just to get started. There are specific "posh" aesthetics that attract guests, and if you don’t stand out, you won't be noticed. You have to keep up with current trends, hire professional photographers, master SEO, and make the property "smart" for self-check-in and remote monitoring. Some even hire architects to create 3D maps. This also means no more second-hand furniture; you aren't just selling a clean bed and a toilet anymore—you’re selling a lifestyle experience.

You also have to remember to update your listing regularly because the algorithm favors "fresh" content. No one is entirely sure how the algorithm works, though. So you are spoending your time listening to Airbnb gurus podcast on YouTube.

Guests have learned how to exploit policies to their advantage, often at the host's risk.

At the same time, our HOA fees jumped 30–50% during 2025, and we only began reflecting this in our rates in 2026. However, we are constantly asked for discounts, even when our monthly rate already includes a 30% markdown. I’m not sure if this is because long-term tourists come here expecting it to be cheap, or if we aren't marketing effectively.

Airbnb has so many customization settings that I often fail to see how they impact the final price for the guest. Furthermore, the cancellation policies are heavily skewed in favor of the guest, leaving owners exposed. Interestingly, some settings can only be accessed via external management software, which adds an extra cost. For example, you can no longer request a security deposit directly through Airbnb, but you can do so if you use certain external (paid) platforms.

Recently, we received an inquiry for a six-month stay with no discount requested. Six months is the maximum we allow (even though Airbnb lets you open the calendar two years in advance). Stays are classified as "long-term" if they are 28 days or longer, and specific rules apply.

That said, regardless of the stay's length, Airbnb provides zero field support if you need to evict a guest. Consequently, it has become customary to require a local temporary rental contract. This contract explicitly states the move-out date and the house rules (no drugs, no noise violations, no subletting). Basically, with a local contract you can "prove" your right to enter the property if occupied longer than stipulated.

A standard short-term contract usually includes also a provision for early termination, typically a 30-day penalty. This applies whether the tenant breaks a rule or simply chooses to leave early. Airbnb has a similar policy, but they use different terms: cancellation and date modification. If a guest leaves early and calls it a "cancellation," they incur the 30-day penalty. However, if they call it a "modification," it is up to the owner to accept or decline. In theory, if the owner accepts the modification, the guest might avoid the penalty; if the owner declines, the guest is technically bound to the 30-day penalty.

Our current guest mentioned they have no issue signing our contract, but since Airbnb handles the disbursement, they hinted they would use the "date change" route instead of "cancellation" to avoid penalties. It felt like a subtle warning. My husband and I discussed at length whether we should contact Airbnb support to cancel the booking, but for now, we are leaning toward keeping it. I’ve read that many Airbnbs are currently vacant and tourism is down. Perhaps they will stay for a few months, and if they cancel early, we’ll just have to accept it.

Renting through these platforms really makes you feel like you've lost control over your property. We had considered renting through a local agency, but the terms were most or less the same: you can't cancel unless incurring in a hefty penalty, you have to do the check-in and check-out anyway, the agency does nothing beyond finding you a guest and collecting the money. The only advantage would be that you can get paid cash, but you don't screen the guests yourself. For now, we have chosen to keep going via Airbnb, but we want to drop booking.com as there is no insurance and we can't collect a deposit for the booking or electronic payments. Also, there is no cancellation fee for guests. We have a 4-night stay between March and April that is preventing us from long-term bookings, and this stay can be cancelled the day before with no further explanation.

Quote from Rice

serafina , it sounds as if Airbnb is tilted much more towards guests than owners. With all these changes since 2017, have the rental fees increased, or have they stayed the same while your costs have increased?

It is definitely in favor of the guests, as there are more guests than hosts.

I am in a few FB groups for Airbnb/STR hosts, and in the United States having a STR is a professional endeavor.

You need insurance (not just any house insurance, but one for STR) as the Airbnb Cover doesn't cover much and it is not always applied (it depends on Airbnb), you need safety cameras to prove if there are too many guests and/or pets staying at your property vs. allowed/paid for, if there are parties (a big no for Airbnb, your reservation will be terminated effective immediately), you need a pest control service to come in regularly so that you can protect yourself from false claims of bugs in the house from guests seeking for a refund. You need receipt for replacement stuff that the guests broke... some damages are hard to quantify. For example, someone smoking weeds: you can't prove it with pictures, you have to hire a professional cleaner who comes in with an ozone machine to remove the smell and use their receipt for the refund.

Also, it seems that in the US there are many people with psychiatric issues as I am reading reports of poo smothered all around the bed, blood stains worth of Quentin Tarantino, guns and drug paraphernalia "forgotten" in the bedroom, bottles of alcohol all over the house, guests coming in with 6 "emotional support animals" that jumps all over the property etc.

Rice , utilities have gone up considerably in the last year, in dollar prices. I would say 30-40%. HOA fees have risen, as well, and they can vary quite a bit depending on the expenses of a given month (some expenses are out of ordinary, like the lift breaking down or having to replace the water pump).

aficionado I didn't investigate the issue too much as I have always considered external softwares something for those managing multiple properties - we just had/have one for rent.

The only one I tried in 20217 was Wheelhouse for price management, but I soon dropped it because the blue/official exchange rate made it too skewed and I felt it didn't have enough data points to make it meaningful for Buenos Aires. It had roaring reviews from the US, though.

Right now, I am reading that using certain external softwares, you can tweak some settings, but I think that also Airbnb fees are charged differently. All in all, a further layer of complexity and I haven't had enough interest to learn about it in depth.

I believe that the market in Buenos Aires is saturated and I don't fully get how modern apartments (as in with AC, brand new appliances, no mold, all clean and fresh paint) are valued so little in comparison to "granny's flats". The difference in price is maybe 30% but the cost to purchase and put up and running a modern flat is 2x.

Some buildings are made from scratch entirely for Airbnb/STRs. The one next to hour is very technological, with an electronic keypad for self check-in, a video "encargado" for security and the design is very sleek. I think it also has amenities (gym and pool), so the expenses must be quite high. As a reference, our STR building has no amenities and an encargado that comes 6 mornings a week and we pay 100-120 USD a month.