All Forum Posts by: Sameul Ahsan

Remove it. It's a hazard and not necessary. 

Yes a VA not a PM for what your looking for. If you need someone to do more than guest communication and I can guarantee things will come up, at the end you will need a PM. Spending a healthy % for a reliable company can make your life easier and lead to more growth as you free up your time. Always have experts do what they do best.

Hot tubs can be a major revenue booster for STRs, especially in colder climates or vacation destinations. Guests love them, and listings with hot tubs often command higher nightly rates and occupancy. However, they require consistent maintenance to avoid becoming a liability. I have hot tubs in the majority of my STR that I manage and always request my clients to get them. We used to hire a company to balance the chemicals and my costs were almost 2K per month. We cut that cost in half by training and certifying people on our team and it created a better experience overall.

Is It Worth It?

✅ Yes, IF:

• You have a system in place for cleaning and chemical balancing.
• You have a reliable team that can check this
• You market it properly (highlight it in photos and listing descriptions).
  🚫 Not Worth It IF:
• You don’t have a dedicated team or someone to balance for every turn.
• Your climate or guest demographic wouldn’t use it often enough to justify the cost.

Make sure to have waivers, I ran into issues with people saying they got bacteria from it etc. So it's important to ensure you have records and the issue is that sometimes guests go in with lotions etc. which cause irritation. 

When identifying and working with a property manager long distance, quality and local presence matter most. As a short-term rental property manager in Massachusetts, I charge a 20% co-hosting fee, which includes full-service management—guest communication, vendor coordination, cleaner oversight, and overall property operations.

I've seen competitors charge anywhere from 10% to 30%, but lower-cost managers often cut corners, while higher-end services may not always justify the price. We position ourselves in the middle, offering a high-touch, small-business experience with Superhost status. In fact, every client we onboarded in 2024 achieved Superhost status.

1. A Strong Local Team is Key – Ensure they have dedicated local cleaners and handymen. A weak team leads to guest complaints, maintenance issues, and poor reviews. I personally will not expand into a market without securing a reliable team first.
2. Service Quality Over Price – While 10-15% may seem attractive, be cautious—cheaper often means less attention to detail. A fair rate for solid management typically falls between 20-25%.
3. Superhost or High Review Ratings Matter – Ask if the properties they manage consistently earn Superhost status or maintain high guest ratings.
4. Communication & Accountability – A good property manager should be responsive and proactive. Test their communication by reaching out as a potential guest to see how they handle inquiries.
5. Ask for References – Speak to their existing clients to get a true sense of their service quality.

Finding the right property manager long-distance is all about ensuring they have boots on the ground and a track record of high performance. If you get this part right, your STR business will thrive.

I am a STR PM in Mass. I charge 20% straight to co host which includes vendor/guest /cleaner communication and managing the property. I have noticed competitors charge as low as 10 to 15% but their quality isn't the best and then I have seen others charge 25 to 30% We remain in the middle and provide a small business experience with super host status. Fun Fact: All the clients we picked up in 2024 became a super host.

If your looking- look for quality, make sure that the company has it's own local cleaners and handyman. If they do not have a good team, it's bad. A Good team really matters. I will not expand my business to areas without having a good team first. 20 to 25% is reasonable if you come across a good PM near you, there is a lot of work that goes into STRs 

I download reports to present to my clients during property walkthroughs, which is why I opt for the paid version. It provides valuable market data that offers insights, unlike the free version that offers none. Having this information allows me to give my clients a solid understanding of current market conditions, enhancing our discussions and decision-making.

Thank You!

Hey everyone, excited to be here!

I’ve been a real estate investor since 2015, owning and managing multiple multifamily properties and running a short-term rental business in Cape Cod, the Lakes Region of NH, and the Berkshires. Recently, I became a licensed agent specializing in short-term rentals and multifamilies, particularly in vacation markets and Worcester County.

I joined BiggerPockets to share insights, learn from others, and connect with investors who want to scale their portfolios.

For those who are active on this platform:

• -What’s the best way to introduce myself and provide value here?
• -As an agent and investor, how have you used BiggerPockets to build relationships and generate leads?
• -What’s one piece of advice you wish you had when you started here?

Looking forward to engaging with the community and learning from all of you!

Yes adds value! Leverage the history of the property 

Scam - I get these every week