First time getting into STR

[Priyo Lahiri]

Greetings everyone,

Relatively new reader of this forum. We have been doing LTR for a while some 2000 miles away with a property manager. That is not working out very well (primarily due to the PM) and moving our assets to GA. We are closing on a property in Blue Ridge area this friday and did some research on STR PM's and honestly kinda astonished by the amount they charge. The lowest we found is 25% and some are at 35% !!

Reading this forum it looks like this can be done all remotely if you have a good cleaning company and a handyman who can be your boots on the ground. We have managed to get a few contacts that we are meeting this weekend. We are 2 hours away from the cabin and we will be there at least once a month. Upon speaking with the cleaning company and the handyman, everything sounds unicorn and rainbows... they wont do the guest management, but everything else they are already doing for 15-20 cabins and seems confident.

We have never done this so its giving us some jitters. While I scour through this forum, can anyone point us to the right direction for automation software they use? I have come across some like Lodgify, OwnerRez, iGMS, but unsure what the main differences are. also need something that would integrate with the Nest thermostat and the door locks. while I can do those remotely, it would be nice if the thermostat can be set to certain temp and the door codes changed when the guests check out automatically via some workflow.

any inputs is highly appreciated. 

[Trent Reeve]

Quote from @Priyo Lahiri:

Greetings everyone,

Relatively new reader of this forum. We have been doing LTR for a while some 2000 miles away with a property manager. That is not working out very well (primarily due to the PM) and moving our assets to GA. We are closing on a property in Blue Ridge area this friday and did some research on STR PM's and honestly kinda astonished by the amount they charge. The lowest we found is 25% and some are at 35% !!

Reading this forum it looks like this can be done all remotely if you have a good cleaning company and a handyman who can be your boots on the ground. We have managed to get a few contacts that we are meeting this weekend. We are 2 hours away from the cabin and we will be there at least once a month. Upon speaking with the cleaning company and the handyman, everything sounds unicorn and rainbows... they wont do the guest management, but everything else they are already doing for 15-20 cabins and seems confident.

We have never done this so its giving us some jitters. While I scour through this forum, can anyone point us to the right direction for automation software they use? I have come across some like Lodgify, OwnerRez, iGMS, but unsure what the main differences are. also need something that would integrate with the Nest thermostat and the door locks. while I can do those remotely, it would be nice if the thermostat can be set to certain temp and the door codes changed when the guests check out automatically via some workflow.

any inputs is highly appreciated. 

 so i will say, im very new myself. purchased property in PCB in October, did remodel and officially went live about 10 days ago. We live in Kennesaw (5 hours away) and manage remotely. We did a nest thermostat to put a top and bottom limit on temps (didnt want a $600 power bill with someone running AC at 60 degrees) and i can even turn it in ECO mode when not rented. Our PMS (OwnerRez) connects to smart lock which codes it to the guests last 7 of their phone number (easy for them to remember). I have a Ring camera at the front door. I like the messaging and triggers with OR and it also is super easy to set up a direct billing website. They also enable guest digitally signing rental agreements and collecting ID. As you mentioned, i just have cleaners and a handyman on call.

As i said, only 10 days truly live, but everything is going good so far. as someone new to this whole business, i dont feel overwhelmed and a lot of great information on this site.