All Forum Posts by: Nick S.

If you search on Airbnb in that area you are not finding any PMs at all?

Hey Nick, welcome and congrats on taking the steps forward in your STR journey. Some great advice here and I will also highly recommend self managing especially for your first one. You will be able to learn the ins and outs and really understand how to provide the best guest experience. If you eventually do hand it off, then you will know what makes a good property manager or not. Your cleaner (have a back up one you use as well I suggest) from Turno or local Facebook groups and then handyman, electrician, HVAC, plumber, landscaper, etc from local facebook groups, thumbtack, or google.
The very basics would be getting your furniture and shopping list together, keyless entry like Schlage (with backup lockbox with physical key very close as well), looking into insurance, local taxes for STRs, and more
Alot of ways to save time and make it easier to self manage with a property management software like Hospitable and data research like AirDNA. There is alot to take in at first but once you get a handle on it, it can be smooth sailing mostly. 

Turno is another great app for finding cleaners. What I like about it is that multiple cleaners bid for the job. This allows you to compare prices quickly. You can select the best price, most experienced, or somewhere in between.

Hey @Nick S., it doesn't matter how far away your STR is. You can self manage from anywhere. Ours is about 400 miles away and we have been doing it for 7 years.

Like @Lisa Graesser said, the cleaner is the lynch pin. Once you have a solid cleaner in place, everything else should go just fine.

AirBNB is a platform, a STR is the rental. Make sure you list on VRBO as well.

Hi Nick - If you’re looking for a property manager or cleaner, start by asking around in local Facebook groups or on Nextdoor—you’d be surprised how many recommendations you can get. Apps like TaskRabbit or Handy are also great for finding help. Local cleaning companies might already handle Airbnb turnovers, so it’s worth calling a few. You could even post an ad on Craigslist or ask a real estate agent for leads. And don’t forget to check out Airbnb host groups—hosts love to share tips and contacts.

For setting up your place, a smart lock is a must—it makes check-ins so much easier. Add outdoor security cameras (just let guests know they’re there) and maybe some motion-sensor lights for extra safety. Inside, make sure the Wi-Fi is solid, the furniture is comfy, and the kitchen has all the basics. Throw in a few nice touches, like coffee or board games, to wow your guests.

Keep extra linens, cleaning supplies, and essentials like toilet paper handy so turnovers are quick and easy. Don’t skip safety stuff either—make sure you’ve got working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and a first aid kit. Oh, and check your local rules about short-term rentals so you’re good to go.

Ready to dig deeper anytime!

@Nick S. it sounds like this property isn't close enough for you to self-manage. If that's the case I would strongly suggest building your team before pulling the trigger on an Airbnb. STR even more than LTR are management intensive and the host can make or break the ROI.

Although the cleaner is probably the most important piece to the puzzle for your STR success, there is alot more involved with managing it. You can go to a local facebook or nextdoor groups and find recommended cleaners, handymen and repairmen. And as John said, have as many remote/wifi controls like locks, thermostats, garage door openers, sprinkler controllers (I don't have cameras, but many do). You can definitley do this yourself remotely. It still amazes me that I can sucessfully take care of everything with my phone wherever I am. The bookkeeping is the only part that is homework for me.