As the owner of a short-term rental property, you know firsthand what’s involved in managing it. Hiring a company for the management of your vacation home should empower you to rent with ease and earn the highest profit possible. However, if you don’t have the right team in place, minor repairs become massive headaches and you’ll find yourself constantly writing checks for administrative fees, new linens, and toiletries for your guests.
Before you renew a long-term contract with your current property manager, take a minute to think through the pros and cons of your partnership. Are you guaranteed a certain rental income? Do they offer world-class marketing services and dynamic booking rates? Does one comprehensive fee cover all marketing, booking, guest services, maintenance, and housekeeping? Do they file your rental-related taxes for you? If not, it may be time to consider changing property managers.
Breaking up isn’t easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. The investment you’ve made in your short-term rental deserves top treatment, and when your current property manager isn’t pulling through, it’s likely time to try something new. But how do you know when to start researching new companies that can keep your home in pristine condition and make you more money? The following are telltale signs that should push you toward making a move:
With so many different types of companies (full-service and a la carte), it can be difficult to know what your property manager should be providing. Realtor.com suggests that the property management company you hire should be determining your rent, marketing your home, screening your guests, providing protection from lawsuits, taking care of emergency repairs, tracking expenses, giving you appropriate tax documents, and doing house visits. If your current property management situation is missing any of these key benefits, start looking for a company that can make your life as a vacation homeowner stress-free.
While making the phone call to part ways with your property management company may be intimidating, it’s worth the few minutes of sweaty palms. You, your home, and your guests deserve the best possible service, and it’s about time you experience just that.
Before you make your call, be sure you’ve written down the reasons the partnership is no longer working for you. Being able to cite examples of what’s gone wrong will help guide your conversation. Hopefully you’re not working with a company that requires a long-term contract, but if you are, thoroughly review the contract you signed. Note any part of it that the property manager hasn’t adhered to.
Ultimately, if you are in a spot to switch companies, do so as respectfully as possible. According to the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM), there is a code of ethics that must be followed. If you feel your property management company is breaking the code, you have the right to file an ethics complaint.
The whole purpose of hiring a company to manage your property is to save you time and ensure your investment is making you a healthy profit. After all, you didn’t buy a vacation home to take on a second job. Finding the right property manager is critical to a successful short-term rental experience. As you search, look for a company that takes care of every detail you can imagine and offers you the option to cancel at any time.
Vacasa, for example, is a full-service property management company that has a unique approach to managing short-term rentals. Our full-service management includes everything Realtor.com suggested above, plus a long list of other tasks to make renting easy and make you more money. We never ask you to sign a long-term contract, either.
As you do your research, be sure you completely understand each company’s fee structure. While the initial fee might seem reasonable, you don’t want to end up getting nickel and dimed for things like photography and virtual tours of your home, inspections, and credit card fees from rentals.
Ask about what housekeeping and maintenance services are actually included and what will cost you extra. For example, will the company do your yard work and fill your propane tanks, or will you be billed separately for these chores?
Know what you’re getting into before signing any agreement with a new property manager. All inclusions and exclusions should be easy to find. Work with a company that is upfront and honest about how they will serve you and your home. Ideally, you’ll want to find a company that is an experienced leader in the industry and also has a local presence in your area. Checking reviews from current and past customers is also a great way to help you choose the right property manager.
To be sure you’re going with the best property management company for your short-term rental, ask these questions during your screening process:
Yes—many vacation home owners choose to manage their rental on their own. To help, we’ve created guides to walk you through the central responsibilities of DIY vacation rental property management. This includes marketing (such as email marketing and SEO), rate setting, managing your home listing on several channels, interior design, cleaning after every stay, and so much more.
With this growing to-do list, it’s common for DIY vacation home owners to feel like they’ve taken on a second job. When you’re ready to free up more time on your schedule, turn to a full-service vacation rental management company, like Vacasa. We handle it all, so you don’t have to—from marketing to cleaning, filing taxes to obtaining permits.
The costs vary. Some vacation rental property management companies charge flat rates, while others collect management fees ranging from 10% to 50%. Rates can depend on the services they offer, your type of home, the location, and several other factors. Some managers also charge extra for cleaning, marketing, and repairs.
If you work with a full-service vacation rental property management company, like Vacasa, you’ll pay one straightforward fee tailored for your property. In return, they’ll handle it all—like 24/7 on-the-ground support, marketing, cleaning, and so much more.
Here are some signs that it may be time to pull the plug on your vacation rental property management company:
You can connect with a Vacasa property management team member by calling 888-711-0781 or providing your contact information via our Connect form.
Call 844-518-0967 to speak with a Homeowner Consultant, who can answer preliminary questions and see if we’d be a good fit for you.
If you'd like to move forward, we’ll put you in touch with our market expert in your neighborhood to explore the financial potential of your home, outline our management fee, and introduce your local team.
