Vacation rentals and Short Term rentals : The new property management company
New management companies are emerging to assist the more than 1,000,000 new Airbnb hosts looking to improve the performance of their short-term rentals. Traditional vacation property managers have struggled to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry. Property managers once supported their high cost, often 30%-50% of total revenue, by flouting their marketing capabilities. But the rise of sites such as Airbnb have created a one-stop shopping platform that streamlines the entire search and booking process. Filling in the gaps in service that Airbnb has not addressed, new specialized Airbnb property management companies have emerged to help hosts successful outsource all or small portions of the day to day operations.
As Airbnb matures, so have its hosts, many of whom have seen 100+ guests come and go. These full-time hosts are continually looking for ways to improve their guest experience while at the same time preserving their sanity. The drudgery of making beds and responding to the same “is your place available?” email for the thousandth time can drive anyone mad. At some point, Airbnb hosts can feel a bit burnt out and have a reality check moment, “Is this something I’m able to manage full-time, oversee part-time, or do I need to completely outsource it?”
When to Outsource Your Airbnb Property Management
The decision to outsource your vacation rental property management is driven by the desire for more freedom. But, with more freedom comes less control. Will a professional firm be able to maintain the same meticulous level maintenance and quality?
Every host understands that it only takes one miserable review to sink their fledgling Airbnb enterprise. The control freak in us can make us hold onto managing the day to day operation of vacation rental long after the excitement of hosting fellow travelers subsides. Although the majority of Airbnb hosts have never worked in hospitality, they know what good service looks like. Trusting that a third party service provider won’t drop the ball on their 5-star reputation isn’t easy.
There is no doubt that the service quality expectations of Airbnb guests are on the rise too. The days of supplying a blowup mattress and a bowl of Cheerios and calling that hospitality is long gone. Most guests are now expecting a pleasant smile to meet them at the door, impeccably clean bathrooms, pressed linens, and something fresh to nibble on in the fridge. Achieving a consistent level of service around the year can be a difficult task for even the most dedicated host.
New tech-enabled property managers have arrived to help Airbnb hosts.
Full-Service Vacation Rental Property Managers
Property management companies have had to evolve quickly over the past few years to keep up with the pace of change. It is no longer acceptable to simply place an ad on HomeAway, create a simple website and man the phones. Here is a list of the top Airbnb property management companies we have encountered over the past few years :