How Time Consuming Are Vacation Rentals?

[Luke Carl]

I get asked this question daily, and now with the help of ScreenTime on my iPhone I have an (almost) perfect answer.

In the past 7 days I’ve spent exactly 3 hours on my 5 properties via the apps on my phone. This was a blind analysis as it was done without knowing “screentime“ existed.

AirBnB: 2 hours 29 minutes

VRBO: 31 minutes

180 minutes divided by 5 properties = 36 Minutes Total Per Property

I am in the Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg Wears Valley Smoky Mountain market with 80-85% occupancy year round. Other markets may require less time or even much less time if your properties are not as occupied. 

Of course there are occasions when I open my computer and sit there for an hour or two changing prices and policies. I would say this happens once per week or every other week. 90%+ of my “work” is done via the apps on my phone. I also get the occasional texty guest thst cant seem to figure out how to message on the platform. I will entertain them until I start to feel like their therapist and then I ghost. This happens about twice per month.

I hope someone finds this information useful.

Luke.

[John Underwood]

I only have the one and it is the slow time of the year for new bookings. I still have people coming and going for my current reservations and it doesn't take up much time at all.

I am just checking witht he cleaners. I have a lot of repeat guests this time of the year for football games and my canadian family that comes down for most of December they are all low maintenance.

Sometime I go up for "happy hour" with my canadian friends.