We have a vacation rental on a lake outside of San Antonio. It is about 45 minutes from where we live and we self manage and often clean it ourselves as well. One of my main reasons for investing in a vacation rental is to give my kids a job, so it's a family affair. The guests typically check out at 11 on Sunday so Sunday is a mix of cleaning and playing/skiing. We have a back up cleaner if we don't feel like doing it ourselves. (PS my husband and I both work full time also)
Homeaway makes it so easy to self-manage. I have instant booking so most of the time I get a text telling me someone wants to book, I go on the app to approve them and the deal is done in a matter of seconds. I get about 3 emails a week with questions (I tried to make my listing as thorough as possible with lots of pictures to minimize questions).
I think the key for a successful rental is to be sure it is spotless with lots of amenities. We provide toiletries, have a Keurig with Kcups, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, provide soap for the washer and dryer, etc.
I think allowing pets has helped us as well. About half of our renters have brought pets (we charge a $100 pet fee) and we haven't had any issues.
We only have to rent it 10 nights a month to be profitable. Jan and Feb have been slow, but we are still profitable since we started renting this past summer. The upcoming summer is going to be even better.
