As temporary employment (STR) hosts, we juggle a million things at once—guest communication, reservations, cleaning, and, occasionally, reminding guests that “no, your pet llama can’t stay.”
Fortunately, you no longer need to do everything by hand and you can rely on the great innovation of modern times. No, I’m not referring to DoorDash. I’m talking about STR’s secret sauce.
From automating guest feedback to keeping your property booked and clean beyond belief, these five tools will transform your rental game from “I’m ready to sell” to “I’m a STR genius.”
1. Property Management Software (PMS)
Have you ever had nightmares about your place being double booked and both guests showing up at the same time? What about your cleaner who never noticed that you needed to clean your place, and the next guests came to the garbage disposal by the way of the house? That’s when asset management software (PMS) as He is very hospitable is coming in the middle hold on. You can also consider the brain for your STR success.
Hospitality is like the concierge you never knew you needed. It automates your guest communications (yes, even those last-minute questions like, “Is the blender working?” at 3 in the morning). This beauty syncs with Airbnb, Vrbo, your direct booking site, Booking.com, and more, ensuring that no message is missed. You can set up automatic responses, thank you messages, and scheduled instructions so you you look like the most organized host in the world—even when you’re watching Netflix over dinner.
Hosting frees up your time, makes you look professional, and prevents you from needing to throw your phone across the room in frustration. Ideal for hosts with less than 10 however the structures and should be equal stopped when you are right starting with one. Plus, no more 2 am scripts using its artificial intelligence (AI) power!
2. Dynamic Pricing Software
If you’re still setting prices manually, you’re living in the dark ages of short-term rentals. Powerful pricing tools help you set competitive rates based on real-time market demand that will pay for themselves in the first month you use them. You wouldn’t charge high prices on a random Tuesday, would you?
Powerful pricing software ensures that you are always preparation those are sweet, sweet profit. Other top companies include PriceLabs and Beyond Pricing, and many more which come out every day.
It’s like owning a Wall Street stockbroker, but at your rental price—minus the pinstripe suits and 4 a.m. coffee-fueled trading. This tool takes into account factors like local events, holidays, and market trends to keep your prices competitive without you having to lift a finger.
Do you think Hilton or Marriott set their rates once a year and just hope they’re accurate? Powerful pricing software insures your property it always has value booking-again at the best price.
3. STR Data Analytics Companies
Think of these STR data companies as your secret weapon for market research. Companies like AirDNA, Rabbu, Mashvisor, and others analyze millions of Airbnb and Vrbo listings to provide you with information on prices, occupancy rates, and market conditions. Want to know how far that beach house is from the swimming pool? They’ve got you covered.
Use this tool to compare your site’s performance to others in the area, determine if you are under or overpriced, and find new opportunities. You may find that adding a hot tub or pet-friendly amenities can increase your booking by 30%.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure—you need actionable data so you can make decisions based on numbers, not gut feelings. (which islet’s tell the truth, may or may not always be reliable).
4. Smart Noise/Smoke Detectors
It’s eleven o’clock at night, and your guests are having a “little meeting,” but you start getting complaints from the neighbors about the rampage. This this is where tools like NoiseAware, Minut, Wynd, and more can be your personal party bouncer.
These magical devices monitor noise levels without compromising privacy (so you don’t have to be that owner). If noise levels exceed a certain threshold, you get a notification before things get out of control. They can also experience different types of smoking inform you if your guest closes the place or just “cooks” (a Christmas grilling might be better). Also, you can program it to send polite but firm automatic messages to your guests, reminding them that the whole place doesn’t want to hear their impromptu concert.
Noise complaints can lead to negative reviews and even fines in some cities. Smoking can result in canceled guests and high cleaning costs. This technology helps you prevent party disasters before they happen—and your neighbors will love you for it.
5. Cleaning and Operations Management (COM) Programs.
Once your guests have left (hopefully without burning the place down), it’s time to get your property back in tip-top shape. These cleaning and maintenance (COM) programs can be automated planning and management of cleaning, inspection, and maintenance. Tidy, Breezeway, Turno, and others are some of my favorites with great reputations.
Using this means no more hastily sending a text to ask, “Did you remember to change the towels?” COM programs Make sure your stuff stays clean, so you don’t end up with horror stories like finding a sock missing from the microwave (yes, it’s happened).
Guests expect perfection. Your cleaner needs to be updated regularly. You don’t want to be your clean self personal editor. COM systems help you deliver by simplifying cleaning and maintenance tasks so that every profit is flawless.
Manage Your Business
Short-term rental success isn’t just about having a great property—it’s about making your life as a host easier. Your time is valuable, and STRs will never be perfect to do nothing naturally (unless you have an unlimited budget, which I can’t relate to). Taking your systems and processes seriously will pay off in the long run.
These five tech tools will help you automate, optimize, and streamline your operations, allowing you more time to enjoy the good parts of being a host (like counting your 5-star reviews). And who knows? With all this extra time, you can start your own TikTok thread about the most dangerous guest stories.
I would love to watch and love to cry when I have a visitor’s attempt to sacrifice a goat. I’ll save that story for Halloween.
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A Note About BiggerPockets: These are the views expressed by the author and do not necessarily represent the views of BiggerPockets.
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