It’s no secret that short-term rentals (STR) are a great way for an investor to earn high returns on their investment either as a side-gig or full-time business.

In today’s market, short term rentals are getting a lot of negative feedback online - more and more renters are seeing the value in staying in hotels again instead of a STR like Airbnb or VRBO - so how do you stand out as a host?

I have experience both as a short-term rental guest and as a host and seeing both side of the coin, here are 3 easy tips that any host can implement that have helped us stand out as a host and earn more on our properties.

1. Self-Manage

My number one tip is to self-manage your rental. Sure, you could hire a property management company to handle everything but in my opinion, this is not going to set you a part and keep your rental bringing in cash. Short-term rentals are not passive income, and should’t be treated as so. When you farm out your property to a management company, you lose a lot of control over the experience your guests have.

There are too many unknowns with a management company and you don’t get the personalize experience that it takes today to keep guests happy and writing positive reviews.

Yes, it takes more time to manage yourself, but it’s still a highly paid job and almost 99% remote. More on how to manage yourself for another day, but this is my #1 tip in staying relevant on Airbnb or VRBO.

If you are currently using a property management company, I would suggest reading your own reviews (both public and private) and reaching out to a handful of guests every few months to get their direct feedback - a lot of guests won’t write reviews but have a lot to say. If you’re hearing negative feedback it’s time to consider if your property management company is worth the fate of your rental.

2. Don’t try to make money on the cleaning fee

If you’ve ever rented an Airbnb or VRBO, you know the frustration. You’re browsing and see a great property at an affordable price for your travels, you move through the process only to get slapped with a $400 cleaning fee before check out!

In my review of online complaints regarding STRs, the cleaning fee is a major issue for renters. Keep your cleaning fee to a minimum, and don’t try to make money on it.

Additionally, don’t leave a laundry list (literally) of things for your renters to clean or take care of before check out. Three to five item maximum and they should be easy enough to complete within 15 minutes. Some items that would be acceptable:

Removing trash so it doesn’t smell up the unit
Placing all dirty linens on the floor
Starting the dishwasher
Setting the temperature to a specific temp
Turning off all lights
Securing locked doors / windows

Requiring renters to do much more than this list defeats the purpose of a cleaning fee. Make it make sense!

3. One word - hospitality!

The art of hospitality has somewhat died with short-term rentals. Self check in, no communication with the host, no timely response when questions or concerns arise, and mostly, being stingy with pricing. Don’t be that guy!

One of the best ways to stand out today as a short-term host is to step up the hospitality game. Consider how you want your experience when staying somewhere new. Offer suggestions for where to eat or things to do, be extremely timely with replies, and stop being so stingy and charging extra for every little thing. The beauty of hosting a short term rental is that you’re a small business owner and can provide better and more personalized service than a big box hotel - take advantage of it and be the best host.

Sending a simple thank you message after check out goes a long way. Ask if there is anything you could’ve done to improve their stay.

At the end of each season we look back at the feedback from our guests and write down each piece of advice received. We consider the costs and ability for us to implement it. If we do implement it, we let the guest know we took their advice and invite them to come stay with us again! Guests love when they are heard.

Final thoughts

It’s not complicated to stand out today, a little goes a long way. In my opinion these tips are bare minimum for hosts. If you are failing on these items, your STR days may be limited. Don’t forget you are offering a service and an experience. Show up for your guests and it will pay you ten-fold!

If you need help with getting your short-term rental earning you mad $$ or interested in getting started with a short-term rental investment, fill out the form below and we’ll connect on a free call!