Being the boss of your own short-term rental properties and vacation rentals can be quite a challenging enterprise. Both require diligence and concentration in order to succeed. Elizabethtown investors often believe that short-term rentals or vacation properties are equivalent to passive income. The truth, however, is that short-term and vacation rentals are often even more hands-on than long-term rental homes. Due to frequent changes in tenants, you will need to handle short-term or vacation rentals properly.
There are fundamental differences that separate the managing of short-term or vacation rental and other long-term rentals. But rather than being different tasks, managing short-term and vacation rentals simply requires more: more marketing (and more often), more tenant screening, and more cleaning and preparing the rental property for the next tenant.
If you want to make a business out of short-term rentals or your vacation property, you’re going to need excellent organizational skills and the patience to deal with multiple tenant inquiries. If so, you will need to fill a few key roles to keep your rental property alive and well.
Unless you are living in the immediate vicinity and are skilled enough to professionally clean your rental property yourself, consider hiring a house cleaning service. If you want to make certain that your property is always ready and available for every guest, a reliable housekeeper will help you achieve that goal. This person can help you identify potential problems early and address them before they become expensive repairs.
Repairs are inevitable as they are part of maintenance. Hence, it’s a good idea to get yourself a good handyman. This person will have to live in the same neighborhood as your property so that he or she can address any maintenance issues or guest complaints. If your short-term rental or vacation property has a pool or spa, you will need someone to keep it clean and to regulate the chemical levels.
It shouldn’t matter too much if you hire one person who is able to do the job or if you hire different individuals. What should matter more is the delivery of the service — effectivity and efficiency are key! Be advised, tenants will leave poor reviews if the property condition is not conducive for stay, which can make it harder to rent your property in the future.
Besides caring for the property itself, you need to have a good handle when it comes to communicating with tenants so that you are able to successfully market your property to them. A successful short-term or vacation rental begins with effective advertising. One of the ways to do so is by listing your property on websites or app platforms that specifically cater to the rental market. Make your rental properties more accessible to possible tenants by giving it its own website. Setting up a website for a vacation home, in particular, is inexpensive and very effective. In your website, include lots of photos and a fact sheet about your property — the more they know about your rental property, the sooner they can make a decision. You can also allow your guests to view availability, request reservations, and to pay their rent and deposits online. This not only makes it easier for your tenants, but it also tells them of the legitimacy of your business.
However, good communication is still the best way to win tenants over. As the property owner, you will need to respond quickly and effectively to inquiries, tenant complaints, and more. If it will be difficult for you to handle matters in person, a good option may be to hire a property management company to handle your tenant relations for you.
The right Elizabethtown property manager can offer a high level of professionalism and customer service that will lead to more free time for you so that you won’t have to worry too much about your property. Short-term and vacation rental tenants need their space and privacy, and giving them a pleasant stay at your property should be a priority. Anything you can do to help them feel satisfied with their stay in your rental house can help keep your properties fully leased month after month, year after year.
If you’re looking for professional property management, this is it right here. Real Property Management Five Star has a team of Elizabethtown property management experts prepared to assist you. From filling vacancies to handling maintenance, we’ve got you covered. Contact us online or call us at 682-831-1300 today.
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