Manage of a short-term rental remotely

Manage of a short-term rental remotely

Member since 2023 · 1 post · 3 votes

Hello there! I've come across some posts here where folks are curious about tools and strategies for managing their short-term rental businesses remotely. I'd love to share what has worked well for me in automating my rentals over the past few years.

First and foremost, incorporating technology has been a game-changer in every aspect of property management for me. Using online platforms has helped me reach a broader audience when searching for potential renters. It's crucial to ensure that your property's online listing is detailed, highlighting amenities, location, and pricing. Additionally, you might want to explore the convenience of Smart Locks or apps that automate key pick-ups for your property.

Consider trying out property management systems and other apps specifically designed for the short-term rental industry. These tools, covering areas like cleaning, booking, payments, and delivery, can connect you with on-site contractors for maintenance needs and provide a variety of resources to uphold service quality.

Maintaining organization is key, especially when running a business remotely. I recommend setting up a digital filing system to track all expenses, income, and important documents.

Effective communication is fundamental. Experiment with different channels, such as online travel agencies' messaging features, text, email, or a unified inbox through a channel manager.

Lastly, my biggest piece of advice is to connect with a local agent for added support during emergencies. For those new to an area, a property management company can offer valuable insights and networking opportunities.

I'd love to hear about your experiences or any additional tips you might have, so feel free to share them in the comments below!

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

If you have one or 2 rentals, I don't think you need all the automation and tools. The apps provide pretty much all you need to be successful.

After you get a few units, then you can start to look at automations.

I think that learning the nitty gritty of management without the buffer of tools like these is a win. Makes you a better owner. Then you can start to see the weaknesses in your systems and make changes.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Member since 2023 · 78 posts · 37 votes
    2y

    I 100% agree with you. Those are very valuable points to have in mind when it comes to STR, especially if you're running your business remotely. I travel a lot, and sometimes I can be there personally to take care of my property, so I can also consider myself a remote manager/host hehe. I'm gonna give you some tips on pieces of software I already talked about on a previous post of mine (you can go there and see the replies if you want):

    Some tools I'm all about:
    • Guesty: for reservation management, communication, and payment processing.
    • Turno: for finding cleaners, organizing and automating cleanings and cleaners’ payments.
    • Personal Capital: for budgeting, investment tracking, and retirement planning features. It also provides insights into your overall financial picture.
    • KeyNest: simple and secure key exchange solution, it helps to improve the guest check-in experience.

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

    If you have one or 2 rentals, I don't think you need all the automation and tools. The apps provide pretty much all you need to be successful.

    After you get a few units, then you can start to look at automations.

    I think that learning the nitty gritty of management without the buffer of tools like these is a win. Makes you a better owner. Then you can start to see the weaknesses in your systems and make changes.

  • Member since 2023 · 16 posts · 6 votes
    2y

    I do believe automation is useful even for low property count hosts. Guesty seems fine from what I heard, I personally use Lodgify as a channel manager.

    The reps from Lodgify then advised me to get Turno for cleaning automation which works well.

    I'm in the process of getting smart locks to automate the check-ins.

  • Sean O'KeefePro Member
    CPA | Accepting new clients | 50 States · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 870 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Jason Kolinsky:

    Hello there! I've come across some posts here where folks are curious about tools and strategies for managing their short-term rental businesses remotely. I'd love to share what has worked well for me in automating my rentals over the past few years.

    First and foremost, incorporating technology has been a game-changer in every aspect of property management for me. Using online platforms has helped me reach a broader audience when searching for potential renters. It's crucial to ensure that your property's online listing is detailed, highlighting amenities, location, and pricing. Additionally, you might want to explore the convenience of Smart Locks or apps that automate key pick-ups for your property.

    Consider trying out property management systems and other apps specifically designed for the short-term rental industry. These tools, covering areas like cleaning, booking, payments, and delivery, can connect you with on-site contractors for maintenance needs and provide a variety of resources to uphold service quality.

    Maintaining organization is key, especially when running a business remotely. I recommend setting up a digital filing system to track all expenses, income, and important documents.

    Effective communication is fundamental. Experiment with different channels, such as online travel agencies' messaging features, text, email, or a unified inbox through a channel manager.

    Lastly, my biggest piece of advice is to connect with a local agent for added support during emergencies. For those new to an area, a property management company can offer valuable insights and networking opportunities.

    I'd love to hear about your experiences or any additional tips you might have, so feel free to share them in the comments below!

    This is great, thanks for sharing. 
  • Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 43 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Derick Daigneault:

    I do believe automation is useful even for low property count hosts. Guesty seems fine from what I heard, I personally use Lodgify as a channel manager.

    The reps from Lodgify then advised me to get Turno for cleaning automation which works well.

    I'm in the process of getting smart locks to automate the check-ins.

    +1. These tools save time when you have 1 or 10+ properties. Learning them early before you scale will also allow you to scale much more efficiently
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