Property Types Explained
The property type you select affects how your listing appears on OTA channels, how guests discover it in search results, and what features they expect. Choosing the right type improves search visibility and sets accurate guest expectations.
Available Property Types
| Type | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Villa | Standalone luxury property with private grounds and amenities | High-end vacation homes, estates with pools |
| Apartment | Unit within a multi-unit building | Urban rentals, apartment buildings |
| Cottage | Small, often rustic standalone dwelling | Garden cottages, beach and jungle bungalows |
| House | Standalone residential property | Family homes, beach houses |
| Condo | Individually owned unit in a managed complex | Resort condos, beachfront units |
| Cabin | Rustic or semi-rustic standalone dwelling | Mountain properties, eco-lodges |
These six types are the full list. A studio or townhouse is usually best listed as an Apartment or a Condo.
How Property Type Affects OTA Listings
Search and Discovery
OTA platforms use property type as a primary filter. When a guest searches Airbnb for "Villa" in Costa Rica, only properties typed as Villa appear. Choosing the wrong type can hide your listing from your target audience.
Guest Expectations
Each type carries assumptions:
- Villa implies private, luxurious, often with a pool and garden.
- Apartment implies shared building, elevator access, potentially city views.
- Cottage or Cabin implies intimate, close to nature, simple but charming.
If your property does not match these assumptions, guests may leave negative reviews even if the property itself is excellent.
Pricing Perception
Property type influences what guests consider a fair price. A "Villa" at $400/night feels reasonable. The same property listed as a "House" at $400/night may feel expensive.
Choosing the Right Type
Ask yourself:
- Is the property standalone or part of a larger building? Standalone → Villa, House, Cottage, or Cabin. Part of a building → Apartment or Condo.
- What is the quality level? Luxury → Villa. Standard → House or Apartment. Rustic or charming → Cottage or Cabin.
- How do comparable properties in your area list themselves? Match the convention to appear in the same search results.
- What do guests expect to find? If your property has a private pool and garden, Villa is appropriate. If it shares amenities with a complex, Condo fits better.
Other Details That Work With the Type
The property type is only one part of how guests find a listing. These details work alongside it:
- Bedrooms, bathrooms, and max guests: search filters on every OTA. Set them in the capacity row on the Property tab.
- Location and views: beachfront, ocean view, jungle view, and similar. These are amenities on the Location sub-tab of the Amenities tab.
- Amenity highlights: pool, hot tub, and the like, also on the Amenities tab.
Changing Property Type
- Open Properties and click the property.
- On the Property tab, in the Basic Information card, change Property Type.
- Click Update Property in the bar at the bottom of the page.
You can also set the type when you create the property, in the Create Property dialog.
The updated type syncs to connected OTA channels on the next content sync cycle.
Note: Changing the property type on an established listing may temporarily affect search ranking on some OTAs. Do this during low-demand periods when possible.
Common Questions
Does property type affect pricing calculations? No. Pricing comes from the base rate, seasons, and overrides. Property type is purely for categorization and search.
Can I use different types on different channels? No. The property type is the same on every channel. If you need a channel-specific adjustment, contact support.
Related
- Property Setup -- Full property configuration guide.
- Channel Certification -- Preparing your listing for OTA distribution.
- Amenity Mapping -- Configuring amenities for channel sync.