Streamline the setup process for STR

Streamline the setup process for STR

Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 286 posts · 67 votes

Hey STR fellow investors,

I've been setting up quite a few short-term rentals now, and I think it's time I got smarter about it.

Since I don't know how I can do better about the renovation part, so let's skip to the part about furnishing. Here's what I'm thinking about:

1. **Streamlining Design**: design is key to me and not something you can just offload to any old contractor or cleaner. Hiring a designer has not bee on my list yet, as it is usually quite expensive and takes a while. How do you guys handle this? Any tricks to make it smoother?

2. **Dealing with Furniture**: After buying the furniture, what's your plan for getting it all put together? Also, curious about what you're paying the contractors. I do have a price table for all furniture assembling. The price is discounted compared to what handyman will charge you for occasional jobs, but still, it can be quite some if you consider all the work that needs to be done (hanging curtain rods, all furniture in a 3be house, hanging TVs)

3. **The Finishing Touches**: Once the furniture is in place, there's still a bunch of stuff to sort out, like kitchen bits, drawer liners, and hanging pictures. What's your go-to method for outsourcing these fiddly tasks, and how much does it usually set you back?

Overall, I feel like I'm doing okay, usually getting a renovated place ready from the closing in about 30 days (keeping in mind furniture delivery can be a 15-day wait). I always focus on the bits that are harder to delegate, like choosing designs and decor, but I was exhausted every time. Wondering if there's a smoother way to do this.

Would love to hear your thoughts and tips!

Lee

0Reply
22 views

Most Popular Reply

Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
2y

Hey @Leon Lee, so design will depend on the locale. Frankly I found it to be pretty easy and fun to do.

So we buy used USA made furniture so I don't deal with any kind of assembly for the most part. There are several services that can help with assembly. You just need to coordinate with them and the arrival of the stuff at the property. Taskrabbit is one place you can find assembly folks.

There is a ton of things to buy to complete the kitchen and other areas. We do this ourselves. We just have a list of things we want in the kitchen. Everything else we just find locally and do.

I guess I am not much of an automation guy. I don't relegate these tasks to others as they are pretty much the soul of the STR. The heart is our service. I want the place to look it's best and no one cares about setup of your place like you do.

See this reply in the discussion

7 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    2y

    Hey Lee

    This post is probably best answered by a single investor who is self managing, but perhaps I can give you some tips as a PM company owner and how we do/how I do it for my person investment properties.

    1 - Designer is very important nowadays with a lot of competition unless you are personally very good at it, which I am not.  It is especially important in areas with increased competition and those segments with the most competition and scrutiny such as luxury.  I also think hiring a designer for 2-5$ per foot is worth it in time saved.

    2 - Set up we use our maintenance team to do, however we have used labor ready type places before.  Maybe check with them if that helps.

    3 - Again with maintenance department, but finding a local handyman who you can call (will need one on your team anyways) can give you a day rate for punch list.

    Hope this helps!

  • Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 286 posts · 67 votes
    2y

    Don't know where "old contractor or cleaner" in my original post came from, it must be a typo by chatGPT lol. 

  • Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 286 posts · 67 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Andrew Steffens:

    Hey Lee

    This post is probably best answered by a single investor who is self managing, but perhaps I can give you some tips as a PM company owner and how we do/how I do it for my person investment properties.

    1 - Designer is very important nowadays with a lot of competition unless you are personally very good at it, which I am not.  It is especially important in areas with increased competition and those segments with the most competition and scrutiny such as luxury.  I also think hiring a designer for 2-5$ per foot is worth it in time saved.

    2 - Set up we use our maintenance team to do, however we have used labor ready type places before.  Maybe check with them if that helps.

    3 - Again with maintenance department, but finding a local handyman who you can call (will need one on your team anyways) can give you a day rate for punch list.

    Hope this helps!


     Andrew

    Thank you for the helpful information! For a 2000 sq ft house, how much do you usually spend on labor (design, furniture assembling and household items organized) to have everything set up and ready for guests to check in? If you have a client who wants you to set up a 2000 sq ft house for airbnb, how much would you charge him/her?

    Thanks

    Lee

  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    2y

    Hey Lee - We do not yet offer that service.  We refer them designers and labor and then utilize our maintenance to finish set up if necessary.

    For a 2,000 sqft house I, at least here in Tampa, would be $2.50 per foot ($4,500) and 2 guys 2 days at a day rate of $250 ($5000).  So about $5,000 I would estimate.

    We utilize the cleaners to set up the house as its their job to maintain that afterward.

  • Real Estate Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 286 posts · 67 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Andrew Steffens:

    Hey Lee - We do not yet offer that service.  We refer them designers and labor and then utilize our maintenance to finish set up if necessary.

    For a 2,000 sqft house I, at least here in Tampa, would be $2.50 per foot ($4,500) and 2 guys 2 days at a day rate of $250 ($5000).  So about $5,000 I would estimate.

    We utilize the cleaners to set up the house as its their job to maintain that afterward.


     Andrew 

    This information is helpful! And the idea of having the cleaners to set up the house is great!

    Thank you again!

    Lee

  • Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    Furniture: Optimize for ease of assembly, as in preferably none as much as possible. Especially anything with drawers. Cheap nightstands will cost you more with labor figured in than one that is already assembled, and will also last longer. Metal bed frames that fold down and a headboard you drill into the wall is much easier than putting a bed frame together and looks the same in the photos. If you have time and the ability to pick stuff up, buy high quality used furniture so long as it fits the look. 

    Design: Hire a designer to consult on the overall look and keep you from doing something ugly or outdated. If you tell them "design my place" then it will cost you a lot because they will bill you for everything. Instead, have an idea going into it and ask for their input on what direction to go ad then you find the decor from there. After one design job you should get it and can apply the concepts elsewhere. Look for unique elements and touches of color that make photos pop. Make sure your decor fits the theme of the property and area. 

    Finishing Touches: You should have a handyman and a cleaner already. They should be able to help with this. Make a punch list and let them bang it out. 

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    2y

    Hey @Leon Lee, so design will depend on the locale. Frankly I found it to be pretty easy and fun to do.

    So we buy used USA made furniture so I don't deal with any kind of assembly for the most part. There are several services that can help with assembly. You just need to coordinate with them and the arrival of the stuff at the property. Taskrabbit is one place you can find assembly folks.

    There is a ton of things to buy to complete the kitchen and other areas. We do this ourselves. We just have a list of things we want in the kitchen. Everything else we just find locally and do.

    I guess I am not much of an automation guy. I don't relegate these tasks to others as they are pretty much the soul of the STR. The heart is our service. I want the place to look it's best and no one cares about setup of your place like you do.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.