All Forum Posts by: Sofia Sharkey

@Nancy Bachety I can share the one I use as well. I’ll DM you the doc this weekend!

@Eric Canning turnover bnb or properly are great tools to share cals with cleaners. In the case of turnover bnb not only it keeps their calendars up to date but it also handles payment which makes it pretty passive. You can also add your cleaner on Airbnb as a so they can see the calendar but if you have bookings through VRBO then it will be manual.

Beautifully decorated, congrats! Nothing beats a great location, especially for STRs in Kansas City. I have a couple by the hospitals as well. 

Cheers! 

@Heather Collier I am glad to hear that you were able to smooth things over and get to a place where all parties are at peace.

Many people disregard the neighbors when purchasing a property that they intended to turn into a STR. And whether you are in compliance or not, the reality is that an unsatisfied neighbor can make things very difficult or get your place shut down (in some states), it's not worth the trouble.

The best course of action is to ensure that you are in an area where STRs are welcomed. I personally always like to invest in commercial areas where I know I’m surrounded by businesses or neighbors who are used to new people.

Then, make sure all the neighbors know what you are doing and how to reach out to you if they see something strange or that they are uncomfortable with. Open communication from day 1, responsiveness, and quick action to fix things are key. HOWEVER, you must come to terms that some neighborhoods and areas will not be friendly to STRs, especially very residential neighborhoods. Once the neighbors have decided they don’t want to welcome STRs, there is very little you can do and I personally like to respect that and look for another area to invest.

Cheers!

@Joey Garcia I manage STRs for others and AirBnB is the primary platform I use. I don’t see how the changes from last year would impact bookings or financials. March is when things start picking up for the summer season so calendars are filling up.

@Cody Kinser you will need STR insurance so you should call and find out about their policies for houses with pools. Travelers and Proper offer STR insurance.

@Dan Froilan get the duplex and Airbnb the unit you don’t live in. Once you move out, the duplex will make you twice the income and depending on the city regulations you can Airbnb both units.

Lake of the ozarks is a tough market to join right now from what I’ve read. The properties are going for very high dollar. I’ve been looking into other lakes nearby.

@Cliff H. I agree 100% with your response. If your cash flow is negative by hiring management then something went wrong with the purchase price or the location or the condition of the home. Self management will save you the management fee but is the profit that much higher from LTR? Considering you need to buy furnishings, STR insurance, and some software?

If the upside is only a small %, you’re better off keeping it as a LTR.

Cheers!

@Derek Miller you’re taking the right approach. The reality is that people want to save by having more people stay in the same place but if they are uncomfortable or don’t have enough plates, you will likely see that in your reviews.

I don’t allow additional people but in my case it’s also to stay compliant with my city’s regulations which caps us at 8 guests per house.

Happy hosting!

@Nathan G. There are too many illegal Airbnbs operating worldwide but here in the US it depends on the city and their restrictions / permits. Some cities have successfully implemented regulations and permits and have followed through shutting illegal listings. Some other cities are under staffed and don’t know where to begin.

I stayed in an Airbnb in Nashville about 2 years ago and was shocked to see the entire building (19 floors) was airbnbs. Needless to say, the building was dirty and needed consolidated management to handle that situation. Later I found out Nashville did not have regulations on buildings and the result was many long term tenants were leaving as they could no longer put up with poor management from hosts that allowed parties, loud music at all hours, etc.

With that being said, I’ve had wonderful experiences at airbnbs and as a host I’ve received many private notes from guests telling me how much they loved their stay. Its vital for me to stay with super hosts who know what they’re doing but I stay away from hosts who have 50+ listings as they likely have a “bare bones system” that won’t deliver the level of quality and customer service I’m looking for.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference and your traveling needs. I like to have a kitchen and a backyard for my dog when I travel, therefore I stick to Airbnbs (have never used VRBO as a guest).