Your automation metrics will depend on your scale.It's one thing trying to automate for around 10 doors vs 700 doors.

Vrbo has free price automation software.I use Excel for book keeping.I don't pay for any third party software, not really needed on 1 or 2 properties.I charge a little extra for cleaning fee than actual cleaning costs.

I can have them just setup an ACH for the monthly payments, etc...but I feel like this would be easier with some automation, and there just must be something that's already setup for this.

Demographic trends, economy, jobs, automation, robot cars..

I personally chat with each and every guest before, during and after their stay.I can see having automated bot responses, but every one I have seen still looks like an automated response from a bot.

All you get is what you can export/import via CSV file:(We use Propertyware, have experience with Buildium, and have played with Appfolio and RentManager.Buildium is for smaller companies.The other three are tied, the differences being how much automation & customization you want to do.If you don't see yourself growing beyond 150 units, go with Buildium.If you're not very techy and plan to grow over 150 units, we'd recommend Appfolio.If you're techy and plan to grow over 150 units, we'd recommend Propertyware or RentManager.Of course, schedule some demos, take GREAT notes and them make your decision.FYI - there are MANY new options on the market, RentRedi, TenantCloud, Apartments.com, Hemlane, Rentec.

I have great properties that sell themselves.I love the analytical tools and free price automation Vrbo provides. 

They won't be as automated though. 

We built into our automated messages to ask for feedback and do so prior to a review.

@Ryan Leake thanks for sharing helpful tips.Steps 4 and 5 for "boosting ratings" is why I've designed an auto-mated post-stay review intercept survey.