Ever since 2008, when Airbnb was first launched, it has been changing the travel game for both travelers and homeowners. Suddenly renting out a room in your home, a vacation property that you aren’t using, or even a portfolio of investment properties became fast and simple, with or without help from a vacation rental management company. For travelers, the ability to stay like a local, enjoy unique properties, or save money compared to hotels and resorts has long been a big draw.
But in recent years, and particularly in the past several months, Airbnb has begun to face backlash. They’ve been blamed for worsening the nation’s housing crisis. Fake listings have led travelers to arrive at rentals, only to find that the actual homeowner had no intentions of listing it. There have even been stories of renters discovering hidden cameras or getting unwelcome visits from owners.
What does this mean for owners of vacation rentals? Keep reading to find out, and to learn how a vacation rental management company like Vibrant Management can help.
What This Backlash Means for Vacation Rental Owners
The backlash facing Airbnb doesn’t mean that vacation rental owners should close up shop and sell their properties. But it does mean that it’s time to pivot their rental strategy.
Creating professional, polished listings is a great start. Travelers are likely to become increasingly wary of listings that appear unprofessional or unedited. They’ll worry that the typos in your listing, blurry photos or lack of information about the property means that the rental itself will be less than professional.
But updating your listing may not be enough. It’s important that your vacation rental property comes across as professional from every angle.
Vacation rentals that offer the conveniences of home, but the amenities and cleanliness of a classy hotel, stand out from other listings and offer travelers more dependability and peace of mind. Additionally, a professional experience even before a stay is booked can go a long way towards helping your property shine. Whether a traveler reaches out with questions about a stay or has an issue that they need resolved after they’ve arrived, make sure that your interactions are professional as well.
Even if your property is already in excellent shape, managing it and interacting with travelers in a way that is professional and inspires confidence can be time-consuming and tricky. A vacation rental management company can help.
How a Vacation Rental Management Company Can Help
Airbnb management and VRBO management today can be tricky. Customers expect to be able to communicate with owners around the clock. They expect properties to be spotless from the moment that they arrive — even if another traveler has checked out earlier that day. And while they recognize the benefits of booking vacation rentals over hotels, they still expect a similar experience at both.
Whether you’re struggling to manage your rentals or aren’t getting the bookings you’re hoping for, a vacation rental management company like Vibrant Management can help. We know the backlash that sites like Airbnb are facing, as well as what customers expect when they stay in a vacation rental.
From managing reservations to scheduling cleaning and maintenance visits to ensuring every guest has a great experience, we do it all. We can even help you develop your own website or boost bookings through digital marketing strategies.
If you’re working a full-time job or juggling many different vacation rental properties, you may not be able to be available to give your guests the great experience that they’re looking for. Just a few negative experiences — and bad reviews — can cause your vacation rental to face its own backlash. But having a vacation rental management company on your side can help you avoid this.
Choosing the Best Vacation Rental Management Company
Owning a vacation rental property or a portfolio of properties can be a great source of passive income. But the recent Airbnb backlash means that owners need to pivot their strategies in order to remain competitive. The right vacation rental management company can help.
At Vibrant Management, we offer a variety of options for managing vacation rentals, including Airbnb management and VRBO management. Our Virtual GM service, for instance, acts as a remote general manager for your property or portfolio of properties, taking care of day-to-day operations, scheduling contractors, overseeing bookings, and more. Our Web Design & Development service can help you develop your own independent website for travelers to book through or to learn more about your property. Alongside digital marketing, a great website can help you increase bookings — and profits.
Competition among vacation rentals is only getting tougher. Now is a great time to invest in your property or portfolio. Contact us today to learn more about our vacation rental management services.