5 min. read
At a time when managing a vacation rental is becoming increasingly common for property owners, managing it remotely has become an option many are turning to. Self-managing a vacation rental property online is an efficient and cost-effective way to maximize your ROI with the right strategies and tips. However, remote property management can be difficult. This article will provide valuable insight into managing a vacation rental remotely and offer tips for achieving successful outcomes.
Start by creating a plan – what are your goals for the property?
Creating a remote management plan to manage your vacation rental property is essential for achieving successful outcomes. Start by determining the goals you want to achieve to manage rental property remotely and the strategies necessary to make them a reality. Consider things like setting a budget for managing the property, hiring professionals or services for managing and maintenance tasks, setting up procedures for managing and receiving rental payments, establishing a system for communicating with guests and responding to their needs, developing marketing strategies to attract potential renters, and creating policies and procedures for managing the property. All these pieces should be included in your plan to ensure a successful outcome when remotely managing your vacation rental.
1. Set up your listing on vacation rental websites
Creating a listing for your vacation rental property on websites such as Airbnb, and VRBO is critical for managing the property remotely. You can also create your own vacation rental website if you prefer to have your own direct booking website. By using multiple channels, and bookings sites, you can reach more potential guests and increase bookings for your vacation rental. Additionally, setting up listings on these websites makes it easier to manage rental properties from anywhere at any time since most of them have mobile apps that allow you to monitor activity in real time and respond quickly to requests from new guests.
2. Manage your calendar and bookings through online tools
Managing your calendar and bookings is essential for rental property management. Utilizing online tools such as booking software or mobile apps allows vacation rental business owners to have full visibility into their rental availability, bookings, pricing changes, and more. This is especially important when managing multiple properties. With the right tools and vacation rental management software, vacation rental owners can easily manage their properties direct bookings in an efficient and cost-effective way while getting insights on performance trends that can help them make informed decisions about the future of their businesses within the burgeoning vacation rental industry.
3. Set up your security systems
The right security systems are essential for vacation rental property management. Tenant screening, home security systems with cameras and noise monitors, as well as smart locks and other forms of smart technology, can provide an added layer of protection for your property. Additionally, a thorough screening process should be utilized to ensure that only reliable tenants have access to your rental. By implementing these measures, you can confidently manage your vacation rental remotely while knowing that your valuable asset is secure.
Tenant screening
Tenant screening is an important part of managing a vacation property remotely. By performing background checks and verifying references, you can ensure that your rental property is safe and secure. This extra security measure will ensure that the tenants who rent your property are reliable and responsible, which can help you avoid potential issues in managing your rental remotely. Additionally, knowing that trusted individuals are only occupying your rental can provide peace of mind. Taking the time to screen tenants for a vacation rental property properly can go a long way in managing your property remotely.
Recommended cameras
Installing security cameras is a great way to provide extra protection when remotely managing your vacation rental property. By having a security system and cameras in place, you can deter potential break-ins and monitor the property for any suspicious activity.
The Ring security cameras are an excellent choice for property managers. The cameras come in various shapes and sizes to fit your needs, and they offer a wide range of features, such as two-way audio, night vision, and motion detection.
Recommended automatic door locks
The Yale door locks are a great option for vacation rental property management companies. They provide keyless entry, allowing you to control access to your property remotely.
4. Stay organized and develop policies
Organization is key when managing vacation rentals. Developing comprehensive policies around managing bookings, payments, guest messages, maintenance issues, cleaning procedures, check-ins, and check out times will help you efficiently handle all aspects of managing a rental property.
5. Coordinate your circle of trust – cleaning and maintenance staff
Having a trustworthy team of cleaning and maintenance staff is essential for vacation rental managers. Also, having reliable contacts for emergencies can give you peace of mind when managing your property remotely. Investing time and effort into building a circle of trust for remote management will be highly beneficial in ensuring that your rental runs smoothly.
Maintenance staff
Utilizing local maintenance services can help you ensure that your property is kept in its best condition, which will make managing maintenance requests easier.
Cleaning staff
By having cleaning services that you trust to take care of issues quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality will be beneficial to manage a vacation rental from a distance.
6. Respond to guest inquiries and requests promptly
Another important factor to consider when managing a vacation rental business is staying connected with guests throughout every step of their experience. This includes making sure they are familiar with the property and its amenities, providing helpful tips and insights on the local area, responding promptly to any questions or concerns they may have before and during their stay, and following up after they leave. By staying connected with guests, you can ensure their stay is enjoyable and memorable – resulting in more positive reviews for your vacation rental property.
đź’ˇTip: Stay connected with guests before, during, and after their stay.
Promote online reviews of your property
When managing a rental property, one of the most important strategies is to promote positive guest reviews of your property or vacation rental business. Guest feedback can be incredibly valuable in helping you improve customer service, attract more guests, and increase bookings. Online reviews also give other potential renters an honest opinion about what it’s like to stay at your property, which gives them confidence in booking with you. Be sure to engage with guests after their stay by asking for feedback and responding promptly to any negative ones.
7. Hire a property manager
Finally, if managing a vacation home remotely feels overwhelming, you don’t have to go it alone. Hiring a property manager or a property rental management company that specializes in managing vacation rentals can be incredibly helpful. They will handle all the day-to-day responsibilities of managing your property and help ensure that your rental runs smoothly without putting too much strain on you. A local property manager or vacation rental management company often charges management fees in addition to any rental income generated from the property. However, it could still be worth it if they are able to bring in more bookings and optimize rental rates for your vacation rental property. By having a property manager manage the daily tasks associated with guest communication, online platforms, and potential tenants, you can focus on marketing and growing your business while reducing stress and freeing up more time for yourself.
Final Thoughts
In order to successfully manage a short-term rental business remotely, it is essential to have an organized and well-planned system in place. This includes having reliable contacts for managing bookings and payments, coordinating with a circle of trust for cleaning and maintenance services, staying connected with your guests before, during, and after their stay, promoting positive reviews of the property online, and considering hiring a property manager if managing the remote vacation rental software becomes overwhelming. With these strategies in place, managing a vacation rental from afar can be an incredibly rewarding experience that offers great potential for success.