The rise of Airbnb vacation rental program doubles as a gift and a curse. This is especially true for Airbnb co-hosts who accommodate several guests at a go. Airbnb’s streamlined user interface is designed initially to help ease the vacation rental management, but it can only do so much for rental owners on the platform.
Airbnb property managers with heavily-trafficked vacation rentals can easily become disenchanted by the sheer repetitiveness of the management process. They may feel stuck in a ceaseless activity loop that entails preparing a property, arranging decors, testing and tweaking listings, arranging professional photo shoots, analyzing competitor rates, interacting with guests, soliciting reviews, and building a reputation.
Airbnb property management can be a huge hassle for vacation rental owners in general. And with the rise in popularity of Airbnb also comes increasing competition and increasing demand for better customer experience. Some rental owners most time wonder if they’re being over-committed to rental management, with question bugging their minds, like: “how can I minimize my direct engagement in property management without hurting my profits? ” and “how do I go about outsourcing management tasks the right way?”
As such, many rental owners would appreciate efficient, cost-effective resources to help relieve them from the rigors of property management. In this piece, we examine some critical resources that can help minimize the workload for vacation rental owners while also helping maximize profits.
Methods for Minimizing the Rigors of Vacation Rental Business
- Using a Handy Property Management Contact List
You can’t always afford to run around looking for servicemen whenever the need arises. Property management for Airbnb demands a handy, comprehensive (not necessarily gargantuan) contact list of technicians and service people which should include house cleaners, electricians, technicians, plumbers, gardeners/landscapers. Also, it’s advisable for Airbnb co-hosts to book only agencies or professionals that offer same-day services in order to get things up and done exactly when they need to.
- Automate Using Airbnb Rental Management Software
Majority of tasks involved in Airbnb rental management business can be automated, and there are several top-notch rental management software that can help you automate effectively. You can automate tasks that require constant attention, rapid responses, and even copious research. You can automate responses to guest inquiries, the arrangement of rental agreements, follow-up emails, and lots more.
Automation is a highly expedient way to go if you’re planning on scaling up your business. Without automation, you may find it challenging to juggle an increasing number of tasks while attempting to streamline and expand your business.
Automation is also an expedient way to manage your pricing. You can deploy Airbnb management software that facilitates easy adjustment of prices on listings. This will help you ensure that your prices remain competitive during peak and off-peak seasons.
- Opt for Key Services
Managing keys is another major hassle that rental owners often grapple with. In fact, the key exchange can be as much a hassle for guests as it is for rental managers. Many guests may find it exasperating to go about locking every door in the rental before dropping off the keys at a designated location.
With a secure key exchange service, you can make easier arrangements for key exchanges. Some allow you to monitor when keys are picked up and dropped off remotely. Others provide you with keyless locks.
- Know When to Outsource
Outsourcing provides you with greater freedom. However, it also reduces your control, so you need to outsource intelligibly. When you outsource aspects of your Airbnb management processes, you stake your reputation and ratings on the performance of the agency you’re outsourcing to.
You need to ensure that the Airbnb property management service you outsource to is capable of handling tasks effectively and consistently. An excellent Airbnb management service can help ensure your guests are always welcomed at the door with warm smiles, hosted in a sparkling surrounding, provided with refreshments in the refrigerator, etc. But the purview of full-service Airbnb property management goes beyond just the indoor experience. It can also entail helping your business find a firm footing in the vacation rental market, generating a steady influx of guests to your rental property.
Property management sites like Rented.com give you access to a rich pool of property management professionals who can help handle various aspects of your property management business efficiently. Unlike traditional property management companies, these firms offer streamlined services that address specific pain points of vacation rental owners on Airbnb. Rented.com boasts over 700 registered property management professionals and agencies.
Cohostmarket.com is another excellent platform that helps relieve the burden of Airbnb management by easing access to local co-host services with Co-Host market Place.
Which Methods Work Best?
That depends on the unique needs of your vacation rental business. You can use one or a combination of any of these businesses to address specific problems of your business. You can choose to automate mundane tasks like answering customer queries, giving booking directions, etc., and then outsource certain tasks that require a human touch, such as decor, competitive analysis of pricing, etc. You can easily find a good local co-hosts service on sites like cohostmarket.com. However, it’s advisable to closely monitor any aspect of the management process that might have a significant impact on your reputation and ratings.
