All Forum Posts by: Dustin Taylor

What's up!

What softwares or integrations have other experienced (big portfolio) investors used to automate their STRs? I use Hospitable with 6 properties but I'd like to bring in a VA and systemize this company and get me out of the day to day. Monday.com has been a recommendation so far.

**"Hey fellow agents! I'm looking for a solid company or VA service to help with my social media content. I plan to create real estate and investment videos (including walkthroughs) and need a team to edit them into engaging content for multiple platforms, mainly Facebook instagram and YouTube. Ideally, they'd also handle scheduling, posting, and possibly monitoring ads.

Who have you used and would recommend? Looking for a company that truly understands the real estate space. If they don't understand the space then at the very least be very good at video editing and monitoring adds. Thanks in advance!"**

Quote from @Chris Cox:

Hi Everyone - I've been a long time learner on the sidelines of the BiggerPockets community. My wife and I have jumped in and invested in two separate STR properties in the Blue Ridge area.

We're in the process of getting our systems and team in place and really starting from scratch. We've been reading everything we can get our hands on, listening to podcasts, and spending time every morning reading and learning from the forums here at BP. 

We're self-managing our properties and working over the next few weeks to get them market-ready. One property is not furnished and has an unfinished basement that we'll eventually be converting. 

We've got an LLC set up and identified our PMS and the tools we're going to be using.

We really appreciate the shared wisdom and generous community!

 Awesome Chris! Id be happy to give you any advice. Im an investor and realtor in Blue Ridge market. I have multiple STRs across the southeast including in North GA and self manage those homes. Shoot me a message or give me a call! Sounds like you're already moving in all the right directions. 

This is more of a local technique. I would look at Facebook and instagram adds for your specific area. Make sure you come top with some awesome social media content that includes videos of your property and some of things to do around the school. The small daily fee you will pay for social posts of your airbnb (doesn't have to be direct booking site) will pay off in one booking. And it's fairly cheap so you could just try it for a couple weeks and cancel if it doesn't work for you. Id also throw in some photos of the school or mascot in your str listing. maybe even a flag of the mascot in your listing. 

This works well here in GA. We have marketed to University of North GA and University of Georgia. 

Quote from @Jon Luft:

Hi everyone! My fiancé and I are looking to buy our first short term rental property. What does everyone think is the most profitable area to purchase in? We are willing to spend up to 500,000. Any tips and information is greatly appreciated thank you! 

This going to highly depend on your finance position and what your definition is on the most profitable area. Are you specifically looking for COC, ROI, ROE, etc?? COC will make you money now and appreciation will make you wealthy! Im a realtor and investor in Georgia. I have a large network with other STR investors across the country. Id be happy to answer any questions you have about STR investing and certain markets. All this will depend on your goals. There is so much more to consider in the STR space than you may realize. Give me a call or send me a message! Happy to connect!

Quote from @Kwanza P.:

Hi,

I'm looking for recommendations for agents you've worked with who specialize in finding STR (or MTR) properties. So they're not just a realtor, but they have a track record in identifying markets (they know the regs) and properties.

I’m especially interested in connecting with anyone with experience in:

-California, Ohio, Alabama, Texas, Washington DC.

Thanks!
Kwanza 

I do know a contact in Ohio I'd be happy to share. I'm a STR specific agent located in Georgia. Happy to help answer any questions you have here. I have knowledge and contacts in other states STR specific because I invest in multiple different states with STRs. Definitely recommend working with investor specific agents that invest in the same space you are looking to grow your business in!

Quote from @Quan Dao:

Hello Everyone, I am new to Short term Rentals. Currently, I do have my property listed at a very competitive rate as I believe. Yet I still, do not see alot of exposure on my listing on the map in Airbnb. Please give me some advice on the best approach? Also can you share me the best software to manage pricing? Currently, I am using Airbnb smart pricing. Thank you so much! 

I would definitely try different routes as pricelabs. Very inexpensive cost for return. The next level up is hiring a revenue management company or VA to do this for you. This will have a higher expense buy may very well be worth it for your listings and companies health and growth. 
I have hired a revenue management and listing optimization company that tracks all of this for me on a daily basis. Message me if you'd like their contact. 

Quote from @Quan Dao:

Hello Everyone, I am new to Short term Rentals. Currently, I do have my property listed at a very competitive rate as I believe. Yet I still, do not see alot of exposure on my listing on the map in Airbnb. Please give me some advice on the best approach? Also can you share me the best software to manage pricing? Currently, I am using Airbnb smart pricing. Thank you so much! 

I recommend Pricelabs.com  at the very minimum especially with only a few properties. At some point you'll grow big enough to hire someone to run Revenue management for you whether that be a third party(BNBlbs) company or VA. 

I also recommend signing up and paying for a site called rank breeze. This will track your listing and let you know where you are within airbnbs algorithms. 

Im happy to answer and questions about STRs. I own and manage a portfolio of my own in 5 different markets across the southeast. If you're interested in any market in Georgia I can help there as well. 

Quote from @Chris Licavoli:

Hello Dustin

I was wondering if you know if Fannin county limits the number of STRs to 5% of total housing units similar to Union county? 

thank you

Fannin county does not have that regulation that Union county has. There are other counties in sub markets in north GA that have put max restrictions on how many STRs they are allowing.