The US short-term rental industry continues to see steady growth despite the broader volatile market, with supply and demand seeing positive year-over-year increases. Whether you’re just starting out in the STR industry or a seasoned vacation rental investor, consistent demand for short-term rentals is your sign to consider working with a property manager.
Managing short-term rentals requires a lot of time and effort, so many homeowners choose to outsource operations to a vacation rental management company, like AvantStay. Keep reading to discover how AvantStay’s management services can help you earn more revenue from your vacation home.
What is a property manager and what do they do?
A property manager, or a vacation rental manager, is responsible for all operational aspects of running your short-term rental. This can include marketing, pricing and listing your home, managing reservations, home maintenance, and housekeeping. While these are all standard responsibilities of a property manager, AvantStay goes the extra mile by offering all of these services and more, including interior design, photography, and in-app upgrades and experiences. So, what exactly should you expect from a premium vacation rental manager like AvantStay? Let’s dive in.
Responsibilities of a vacation rental manager:
Revenue management
A good vacation rental property manager will be able to strategically price your short-term rental to increase your profit. AvantStay’s pricing strategy is designed to optimize for total revenue. We balance capturing the maximum amount a guest is willing to pay per night with maximizing total nights booked.
Our dynamic pricing model segments each year into 75+ pricing seasons that capture optimal revenue based on occupancy, day of the week, fluctuations in weather, travel patterns, holidays, and market events. We combine our technology with the power of our in-house Revenue Management team that consistently reviews pricing for every home to adjust for real-time changes in demand.
Marketing and distribution
Even the most extravagant estate needs to be promoted to reach potential guests. A property manager will create a listing for your short-term rental and distribute it across relevant online travel agencies (OTAs).
With AvantStay, our powerful distribution capabilities are included in your management agreement. 40% of bookings come directly through the AvantStay website, but we also optimize each listing across more than 65 distribution channels including Airbnb, Vrbo, La Cure, LVH, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking.com, and Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
Before we create your listing, our award-winning interior designers provide you with extensive design recommendations to enhance your home’s overall appeal based on your budget. We then help procure high-quality and durable furnishings and experiential items like games, pool tables, outdoor fire pits, and more. Next, our Design and Photography teams develop a marketing and photography plan that best highlights the experiences and amenities to our guests. We stage, style, and photograph your home to showcase the property’s best characteristics across listings.
Guest screening and security
You should never have to worry about who is staying in your home and how it’s being treated. Property managers implement and enforce house rules and policies to keep your home protected and your neighbors undisturbed.
With a vacation rental manager like AvantStay, peace of mind comes first. All incoming guests are fully vetted during their booking process and every home is equipped with cutting-edge smart technology that monitors entry surveillance, noise levels, and occupancy.
To complement our in-home monitoring technology, we have a team of full-time employees in each market available 24/7 for dispatch to your home.
Guest care
A property manager should go above and beyond to make sure guests have the best experience at your home. Our guests have access to 24/7 live support via SMS, email, or phone and we troubleshoot every issue to ensure they are well-cared for so homeowners can sit back and relax without any interruptions. By resolving 90% of guest issues on the first call, we receive higher ratings and better guest satisfaction, driving more five-star reviews.
We also take care of stocking the home with guest-ready supplies and provide personalized, thoughtful welcome packages ahead of every stay. Guests can also take advantage of our in-app upgrades and experiences to book a private chef or in-home massages, request fridge stocking, schedule mid-stay cleans, and more. By going the extra mile, our happy guests leave positive reviews and turn into repeat visitors.
Cleaning and maintenance
The condition of your home will make or break a great first impression. Property managers are responsible for overseeing the housekeeping and maintenance of your short-term rental, keeping it in excellent shape for the next group of guests. AvantStay has teams dedicated to field operations that manage utilities, services, maintenance, and housekeeping on our owners’ behalf. Our number one priority is ensuring that homes are cared for in a timely manner and that there are no interruptions to our guests.
We also provide CDC-compliant supplies to our housekeeping staff at no additional charge to homeowners. These cleaning supplies are also available to guests, so they can choose to keep the home tidy throughout their stay.
Compliance
From permits and zoning restrictions to taxes and insurance, a vacation rental property manager will help keep you safe from hefty fines and legal repercussions. Unlike other property managers, AvantStay has fully dedicated and experienced accounting, permitting, and tax professionals to provide peace of mind and cover all of your compliance needs. Our Policy and Risk team handles all administrative duties related to initial permitting and renewals of short-term rental permits, home inspections, occupancy taxes, and HOA and government relations.
Is a vacation rental property manager right for you?
Hiring a vacation rental manager will not only create a stress-free experience for you, but give you more time and money to reinvest in your property portfolio or spend with friends and family. Owning a vacation home can be expensive and time-consuming, so we offer the first hands-off approach for short-term rental owners. We use a proprietary tech suite to power bookings, operationalize in-field management, and activate an elevated guest experience. If you have questions, our team of experts is here to help. Why not partner with an expert to unlock your vacation rental’s full value? Get started with our team today!