Best Tools to Self-Manage STRs Remotely

Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions
4yFollow

Best Tools to Self-Manage STRs Remotely

Alexa Ferguson
Real Estate Agent 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2021 路 40 posts 路 101 votes

My husband and I own a few STRs in the Denver area that we self-manage. While we live in the area, our goal is to make these STRs as self-sufficient as possible so that 1) the cash flow they generate becomes increasingly passive, and 2) we feel confident investing in STRs out of state, which we鈥檇 like to do in the near future. For us, the following softwares have proven useful in making our STRs more hands-off:

- Pricing Tool: PriceLabs - dynamic, data-driven pricing tool that auto-updates your listings, optimizing income and occupancy by adjusting prices based on market data and trends.

- Cleaner Scheduling Manager: TurnoverBnb - automates scheduling and paying cleaners at its core, but can also systematize guest check-out and reviews.

- Channel Manager: Guesty - allows you to list your STR on multiple platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) and manage it all from one place.

Hopefully this info is helpful to you, and I鈥檓 happy to answer any questions you may have on self-managing STRs.

I'm also curious - have you all had success with any other STR management tools/softwares?

10Reply
54 views

Most Popular Reply

Luke CarlPro Member
Rental Property Investor 路 Tennessee Florida 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 5k+ votes
4y

Old hat at this point sister. @Paul Sandhu manages with nothing but a calendar and a phone and he鈥檚 got 3 yachts 

Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
2Reply
See this reply in the discussion

14 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Kevin Pillow
    Realtor 路 OK 路 Member since 2020 路 139 posts 路 165 votes
    4y

    Great post! I love seeing what people are using to help get the word out on self management. 

    1Reply
  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Tennessee Florida 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 5k+ votes
    4y

    Old hat at this point sister. @Paul Sandhu manages with nothing but a calendar and a phone and he鈥檚 got 3 yachts 

    Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
    2Reply
  • Alexa Ferguson
    OP
    Real Estate Agent 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2021 路 40 posts 路 101 votes
    4y

    @Luke Carl are you able to expand a bit? I actually learned of these tools from Avery's book and manage them all from my phone - if there's a better way I'm always down to learn!

    4Reply
  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Tennessee Florida 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 5k+ votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Alexa Ferguson:

    @Luke Carl are you able to expand a bit? I actually learned of these tools from Avery's book and manage them all from my phone - if there's a better way I'm always down to learn!

    I was just trying to be funny and as usual I failed miserably.  You are doing everything right! 

    Podcast Guest on Show From Surviving on $30/Day to 30+ Properties Thanks to Blue-Collar Skills
    2Reply
  • Alexa Ferguson
    OP
    Real Estate Agent 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2021 路 40 posts 路 101 votes
    4y

    @Luke Carl oh haha! No worries at all 馃憤馃徑

    0Reply
  • Kayla Givens
    Lender 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2021 路 244 posts 路 253 votes
    4y

    Another great post about STRs, Alexa! I love learning from you and your husbands' experience and can't wait to utilize what I've learned from you to get my own STR going!

    2Reply
  • Account Closed
    Rental Property Investor 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2019 路 78 posts 路 66 votes
    4y

    @Alexa Ferguson Seems like all the right tools. I guess you could go deeper within each one to see if you鈥檙e making full use of the software. E.g., using PriceLabs for dynamic minimum night stays, Guesty to offer discounts for extended stays, etc.

    0Reply
  • Lucas MartinezBusiness Member
    Developer 路 Santa Barbara, CA 路 Member since 2021 路 81 posts 路 48 votes
    4y

    @Alexa Ferguson

    I use Hospitable for channel management as well as cleaner scheduling/communication etc. They are also rolling out a direct booking platform soon which will be helpful.

    I manage mine with only pricelabs and Hospitable, and I don鈥檛 feel the need for a 3rd platform.

    2Reply
  • Todd Mason
    Rental Property Investor 路 Boise, ID 路 Member since 2019 路 46 posts 路 14 votes
    4y

    Thank you @Alexa Ferguson ! Such a great post! I鈥檓 starting to jump into self managing( trying to break away from the PM ) I鈥檝e looked into Hospitable formerly Smartbnb but now I鈥檒l check out Guesty! Hope it all goes smoothly for you:)

    1Reply
  • Scott K.
    Member since 2020 路 223 posts 路 233 votes
    4y

    I use pricelabs, hospitable, and get properly. Properly does cleaning scheduling and checklists. The checklists are absolutely fundamental to ensuring cleaners don't forget things, and saves me from customers who make up problems. 

    2Reply
  • Alexa Ferguson
    OP
    Real Estate Agent 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2021 路 40 posts 路 101 votes
    4y

    Thanks all!

    @Scott K. Awesome! TurnoverBnb also has a checklist feature which has been really helpful to our cleaners and given us more peace of mind knowing that our cleaners know exactly what is expected of them. Nice to learn of other tools that do the same thing!

    0Reply
  • Paul Sandhu
    Investor 路 The worst town to live in, KS 路 Member since 2016 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    4y

    I manage 23 STRs with a piece of posterboard and post-it notes; from one of my 2 yachts @Luke Carl

    0Reply
  • Dan Thomas
    Rental Property Investor 路 Bow, NH 路 Member since 2016 路 216 posts 路 185 votes
    4y

    @Paul Sandhu

    2? I only see one.

    0Reply
  • Jake CohenPro Member
    Rental Property Investor 路 Denver, CO 路 Member since 2017 路 201 posts 路 126 votes
    4y

    @Alexa Ferguson I love pricelabs. I use hospitable for my communications. I鈥檒l have to look at turnoverbnb and properly for cleaning. I use good old fashion lists and feedback from my guests for my cleaners. Another software I love is StayFi. Helps you to collect emails from your guests to be able to market to them later.

    I鈥檇 love to connect. I鈥檓 also based in Colorado. Always looking for hosts in the area.

    Cheers!

    1Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free