What is full-service vacation rental property management?

Behind any beautiful and successful vacation rental are the countless hours of work it took to get (and stay) that way. Many vacation home owners have compared managing their short-term rental to a 24/7 job. They’re right. Between marketing, juggling reservations, providing customer service and taking care of guests, cleaning, and regular maintenance—the to-do list never ends.

There are many types of rental management companies, businesses, and tech solutions to help you maximize your second home. For instance, many companies offer a la carte services, solely focusing on your marketing, channel management, or cleaning. However, savvy homeowners turn to full-service vacation rental property managers to handle everything needed to profit and prosper.

What a full-service property management company does

Answering those late-night phone calls from guests? They’re on it. Thoroughly cleaning your home after every stay? Always. Continuously marketing your home via email, social media, SEO, and more? Yup, they do that, too. The work of a full-service vacation rental manager never stops. Here are the main ways they look out for your guests’ stays—and your sanity.

They’ll market your vacation home

Boosting visibility for your vacation home is one of the most vital (and time-consuming) tasks a full-service vacation rental manager will take care of for you. Not just in one or two places online, but everywhere, all the time. That means they’ll manage your calendars and listings on popular booking channels like Airbnb and Vrbo, regularly email past and potential guests, consistently post new social media content, and use SEO to boost visibility in search engine results.

Vacasa does all this and more. We create eye-catching listings with the help of complimentary 3D virtual home tours and expert vacation rental copywriters and photographers. Plus, our exclusive partnerships showcase some of our homes in places they would otherwise never be listed, such as Homes & Villas by Marriott International.

They’ll clean after every guest stay

The first step to winning a guest’s heart (and securing a rave review)? Welcome and wow them with a pristine home right on arrival. Full-service vacation rental management companies make that happen with professional cleaners. Even better, in most markets, Vacasa hires and trains our own housekeepers for a consistent clean. And, we treat every home with Vacasa Premium Clean, our expanded cleaning process, after every stay. We also keep your home stocked with starter essentials, including hand soap, trash bags, and paper towels.

They’ll coordinate repairs and conduct regular upkeep

Facing a broken washing machine or a burned-out light bulb? Full-service property managers promptly jump on your guests’ calls, so these hiccups don’t derail their stay.

Vacasa’s local teams are your eyes and ears on your vacation home. Not only will we step in whenever repairs are needed (either handling them ourselves or coordinating logistics with the right specialist), but we also make regular checks to inspect your home for any damage or missing items.

They’ll set nightly rates for maximum revenue

The more sophisticated vacation rental management companies use dynamic pricing technology to automatically set the optimal rate every day. Vacasa’s proprietary software delivers the best possible rates in real time based on demand, weather, competition, special events, and more.

They’ll screen guests

A full-service property manager should be your first (and toughest) line of defense against potentially disruptive guests. These can include guests looking to throw a party or make fraudulent reservations. Some safety measures you should expect from any full-service manager: minimum age requirements and a system to flag and follow up on suspicious behavior without alienating legitimate guests.

They’ll track your vacation rental performance

Full-service property managers will help keep your vacation-rental-related finances in order. They usually assist with collecting and paying state transient occupancy taxes, getting any local permits, and compiling end-of-year reporting and accounting.

At Vacasa, we put all of your performance insights, such as real-time revenue, at your fingertips with an easy-to-use online dashboard.

What vacation rental property management fees can you expect?

The costs for full-service vacation rental property management can vary. Many companies can charge flat rates or management fees that range from 20% to 50%—all depending on your location, your type of home, and other factors. No matter the percentage, prices are usually meant to be all-inclusive. One tell-tale sign a management company is not full service: they’ll charge homeowners extra for essential tasks, such as cleaning or responding to guests.

At Vacasa, homeowners pay a straightforward fee that covers all the essentials mentioned above and is tailored specifically for their vacation home, cabin, or beach rental.

Should you hire a full-service vacation rental manager?

As you can see, a lot of work and a lot of hours go into managing a successful vacation rental. So, the biggest advantage of a full-service vacation rental manager is clear—they’ll handle it all. That leads to even bigger benefits for you, including less stress and more free time.

When you pass off these responsibilities to a full-service management company, you can truly call your second home a hands-off investment. You’ll now have a partner who isn’t just looking out for you, but for your home and your guests, too.