Challanges of renting on Airbnb

[Lisa Poulsen]

For those investors renting on airbnb, what are your challenges/pain points of STR? Do you have a management company that handles all your bookings, why or why not? Are you happy with them, why or why not?

[Joseph Bafia]

We self manage our STRs in western NC.  We do 95%+ through VRBO, so although Airbnb seems to be the term many use for vacation rentals, our success is has been on VRBO platform.  Early on challenge was making sure we charged the right rates, got the right housekeeper and found a good handy person.  Pain points now are nearly non-existent as we've implemented systems to take care of everything.  I learned most of the tips and systems from BP forums especially from the Short Term Rental forum (if you haven't found that one yet...all your questions are answered just reading through those)

No Property manager as we keep 100% of profits and don't want to pay the high PM fees. 

Be happy to help answer any other questions.