How to Manage Your Own Vacation Rental Property- 10 Effective Tips for Managing Vacation Rentals

Perhaps you’re a single homeowner who’s considering renting out a single room to cover some of the costs of housing. Or maybe you own a number of homes in different areas and would like to start making money off of them. Some people see property management as a career path, while others see it as a way to build wealth, provide for their families, or even just make ends meet. For whatever reason, you can confidently take the steps necessary to reach your objectives.

Managing a vacation rental property may be a rewarding experience. However, the tension and organisation required at times might leave you feeling completely crazy.

Yes, you get to provide guests with a wonderful experience and make good money. However, you also have to deal with visitors’ endless questions, find out how to let them in and out, maintain the property in good repair, ensure its safety and security, clean it in between rentals, and deal with taxes.

especially if you care about the satisfaction of your visitors.

Fortunately, with some work and the assistance of specialised tools, you can guarantee that the benefits exceed the drawbacks. Managing a short-term rental (or adding on more units) today may be done with less effort and maximum profit thanks to digital innovations and strategic automation.

In this piece, we’ll examine vacation rental management, starting with some questions to ask yourself before making a purchase. You will learn how to manage your vacation rental properties.

DIY Rental Property Management

Self-management is appealing to many property owners because it can save them money on management costs. However, it takes a lot of time and comes with a lot of responsibilities.

Self-managing a short-term rental involves a number of tasks, such as adding and updating listings on all channels, managing your booking calendar, communicating with guests and potential guests, and cleaning the property (or hiring someone to do it).

Since there is a lot to do when you’re the property manager, you should set aside at least 15–20 hours per week to handle all of your responsibilities.

Working with a professional short-term property manager can help you maximise your rental income. Even after accounting for administration costs, they can help you get the word out about your vacation rental property so you can start making money as soon as possible.

Do You Have What It Takes to Manage Vacation Rentals?

Managing vacation rental property may seem like a great business opportunity, but you should carefully consider your options before jumping in.

Indeed, those who own vacation rental enterprises are, by definition, entrepreneurs, and it takes a certain “can-do” attitude to see such ventures through to success.

A successful vacation rental business requires constant attention. As a vacation property host, you’ll need to market your listings, greet and accommodate guests, respond to guest feedback, clean up after your guests leave, and then start the process all over again. Fortunately, there is software designed specifically for managing holiday rentals that can make your life easier.

If you think you have what it takes to manage vacation rentals, keep reading to find out how to get started in the industry.

Short-Term Vacation Rental Companies vs Do-It-Yourself Operations

In some areas, short-term rentals can generate a lot of money, so if you’re looking to expand, you should consider hiring a property management firm to handle most of the administrative tasks. You’ll have more time to pursue other opportunities and develop passive streams of revenue.

But it can be expensive to outsource the management of short-term vacation rentals because of the extra care and attention to detail that are needed. For example, greeting communications, flower arrangements or gifts like chocolates and champagne, laundry facilities or services, a clean, quiet room to relax in, and helpful local recommendations are just some of the things that need to be taken care of. The time spent paying that much attention has to be compensated for.

It will save you money if you manage your own vacation rentals. Using software like Landlord Studio can make management easier, and once you’ve established routines and partnered with reliable service providers for tasks like maintenance and cleaning, you can save time and effort in the long run.

However, if you’re looking to expand your properties, you might find that managing your own short-term rentals is too time-consuming to be worthwhile.

Your decision about whether to manage your vacation rental unit yourself or hire someone else to do it should be based on how much time you have, how close you live to the property (it will be easier if you do), and how long you plan to keep the property.

How to Manage Your Own Vacation Rental Property- 10 Effective Tips for Managing Vacation Rentals

• Provide Virtual Guestbooks to The Visitors

You can cut down on regular calls and texts by as much as 70% if you create and distribute an online guestbook to your visitors in advance.

Before your guest arrives, they should study the digital guestbook, which should also be their primary resource while they are there. The following elements should be present:

Important property information, like door codes, entry times, and WiFi passwords, is included, as are your house rules, information on how to stay safe on the property and in the area, a packing list, and a list of nearby events and attractions.

2. Make Travel Guides for the Area Ahead of Time

As the host, you’ll be seen as an authority by guests who are curious about the neighbourhood; you might have even thought to include some suggestions for things to do in the region.

But instead of leaving it up to visitors to figure out what to do once they get there, why not give them a comprehensive travel guide to use while they plan their trip? Consider including the following in addition to the usual local sights, surrounding eateries, and shops:

• Locals-only secrets in the area
• The finest transportation options
• Family-friendly activities for youngsters and elders alike
• Affordable attractions
• Nearby LGBTQIA+-welcoming activities

The North Carolina Rumbling Bald Resort management team gave the following information about creating digital itineraries and giving visitors information about the area before they arrive: 

“By providing guests with digital resources to help them prepare for their trip, we can save both time and money.”

3. Enable Automatic SMS Sending

In order to prevent negative comments on your properties and get an immediate response from guests without having to constantly check a guest messaging platform, switching from email to message or live webchat is an excellent alternative.

But if your vacation rental depends a lot on text messages, you can expect to be busier than usual while they are there.

Automating your emails and texts with a guest communication solution like RueBaRue can save you time by allowing you to create templates to address frequently asked questions.

We suggest developing the following pre-written text samples:

• First, a sample booking confirmation that specifies the dates, the number of guests, how they should be checked in and out, and the policies for changing or cancelling their reservation.
• A form to fill out before visitors arrive that already has the address, driving directions, and parking information filled in.
• A letter to be delivered after their arrival, in case they need a reminder of anything.
• A sample template for a repair request that says sorry for the trouble, assures the customer that the problem is being taken care of, and gives the customer another way to get in touch.
• Before they go, give them a departure checklist to go over your policies and directions.

4. Plan Your Cleaning Routine Ahead of Time

A recent survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) found that guests place a high value on a hotel’s cleanliness. What kind of cleaning schedule can you come up with for before, during, and after a stay?

To kick things off, create a digital cleaning checklist that covers all the bases and can be readily shared with a maintenance crew. Additionally, ensure that your cleaning staff has access to an inventory supply checklist via the private chat service.

A message system for rental properties can be used to check the availability of cleaning employees and set up cleaning appointments once regular cleaning procedures have been established.

5. Create a Strategy for Property Management and Upkeep

Preventative maintenance for vacation rental property management is as important as regular cleaning. You shouldn’t wait until anything fails before scheduling maintenance.  

Setting up regular maintenance checks on your vacation rental and having pre-made checklists for monthly and annual tasks can help you manage your properties and keep them in top shape.

In addition to ensuring that there is always a member of staff “online” to respond to guests’ needs, the guest communication system should be accessible by the maintenance department. Then, if a visitor has an issue, such as a burned-out lightbulb or a clogged toilet, someone will be on the scene to fix it right away.

6. Create stand-out listings for Vacation Rental

You’ll be competing with a lot of other similar listings wherever you choose to promote your short-term rental. Several methods can be used to distinguish your listing, including:

• Add personality to your copy

Inject some of your property’s personality into the copy; after all, the people staying at your establishment are on vacation, so they’re more likely to be drawn to a place that comes across as laid-back and enjoyable than impersonal and formal.

• Highlight Local Attractions

Advertise the best of what the area has to offer, including restaurants, landmarks, and recreational opportunities. First-time visitors to a location are often grateful for recommendations on what to see and do.

• Keep your listing up to date

To be successful, your vacation rental listing must always be current. By making regular updates to your listings, you can attract customers who are travelling at different times of the year. In the warmer months, you might emphasise beachgoing, while in the colder months, you might highlight the many indoor options available.

7. Photography is Significant for Vacation Rental Business

Investing in high-quality vacation rental photos may help you reduce vacancies significantly. It’s worth utilising a nice camera or perhaps employing a professional photographer. By providing this information, guests will have an idea of what to bring with them.

When it comes to online real estate listings, stunning photographs are crucial, as evidenced by the following three statistics.

1. Local search results accompanied by images receive 60% more clicks than those without.
2. Site visitors are 94% more likely to stay on a page that has an image.
3. Third, property photos account for 60% of renters’ time spent browsing for a rental.

8. Property Management Software for Home Automation

The current market for vacation rentals provides a plethora of options for owners to control their businesses remotely. Like automated check-ins, home automation solutions allow you to easily monitor and adjust things like heating and cooling, lighting controls, and smart thermostats.

Applications like NoiseAware and Party Squasher can keep you abreast of any parties happening on your property, allowing you to take appropriate action if necessary. If there’s too much noise, your phone will send you a notification so you can deal with it right away and prevent upsetting the neighbours.

Your new guests will be warmly welcomed into a well-lit, comfortable vacation rental that has already been heated or cooled. In addition to saving money on utilities, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that everything is turned off when guests leave.

These home automation options are great for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint or set the mood for welcoming guests.

9. Upgrade Your Home to Perfection to Increase Rentals

It’s not easy to stand out from the crowd when it comes to property management.

This is something you’ll hear repeatedly: competition is high in the vacation rental industry. Some suggestions for improving your home’s curb appeal:

Amenities

In order to gain an edge over rival landlords, it is a good idea to scope out comparable rental properties in the neighbourhood and manage to write detailed notes. Investigate the standard features, costs, and conveniences of the area. Use this information to gain an advantage over them in any situation. They own a washing machine, right? You possess a washer and dryer set. Do they have fresh towels? You have towels, blankets, shampoo, conditioner, and mouthwash. If you can meet or exceed the normal set of facilities and amenities set by the rental homes in your neighbourhood, you’re going to be successful.

Facilities

Every possible guest who comes across your listing is in search of a unique collection of facilities and experiences. Guests will remember your establishment for more than its features if you make an effort to accommodate their needs. One approach to accomplishing this is to be as open and flexible as possible.

There is a difference here, even if that sounds similar to what we just did with the amenities. Distinct from the comforts provided by the amenities, the facilities consist of things like equipment and rooms that serve a purpose but aren’t necessarily considered luxurious.

Facilities like private pools, detached garages, handicapped access, private access, sports facilities, playgrounds, parks, etc. are all great examples of superb property management. Some of this material sounds pricey, but a lot is possible simply by repurposing spare areas and spaces. Most of it has the potential to raise the selling price of your home.

Attractions

Check out the nearby tourist hotspots after you’ve familiarised yourself with the local amenities. The proximity of a number of museums and galleries to your property is very likely if it is located in a major city. Tell potential tenants that the town’s only point of interest—an ancient coal mine—is a short walk from the visitor centre if your rental property is situated in an isolated Alpine community. Things like this are probably taken for granted by locals, but they are likely to be high on a tourist’s wish list.

Décor

However, before you put any furniture in your house, I would strongly suggest that you check around for some ideas on how to decorate it first. Websites like Good Housekeeping and Pinterest make excellent jumping-off points.

Do a search on Google for “house décor ideas” whenever you’re at a loss for what to do with your abode. Most sites will try to sell you their products, but that doesn’t mean you can’t select and choose.

You should probably just aim for broad appeal if all this sounds too complicated. Aiming for a bright and airy aesthetic is a safe bet that will please the majority of people. Don’t bring your old, worn leather couch from the basement into the living room. Your methods may be ideal to manage your properties, but they won’t be for everyone.

Conclusions

Operating a successful vacation rental business by yourself is no easy feat, but it is doable.

In making your choice, consider how much you value your guests and how open you are to implementing new technological solutions that can assist busy homeowners in improving their guest interactions and manage their properties.

Start with a guest messaging solution like RueBaRue to:

• Improve guest ratings, repeat bookings, and revenue by keeping in touch with them throughout their stay
• Make their trip more enjoyable by providing them with customised itineraries, local recommendations, and upsells.
• Streamline your activities behind the scenes to ensure that your property is kept in pristine condition and is well-maintained at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of vacation rental management?

The hardest part of being a property manager is finding new clients and getting them to stay at the rental property for a long time. In order to manage the properties, one must master marketing techniques.

What personality traits characterise a successful property manager?

Two of the most important skills a property manager should have are the ability to work well with other people and manage to communicate well. Managers need to use their negotiation abilities when faced with difficult situations, such as resolving tenant complaints or convincing building owners to make improvements.