Dakota Murphey has experience in property management with her portfolio of properties expanding in the South of England. Her passion for renovation and home improvement projects is shared through her writing to help educate and inspire others. Got a holiday rental? Here are 5 marketing mistakes that will cost you real money. Being a holiday let landlord can be a rewarding job as long as the bookings keep coming in to generate that all-important income. But how do you know you’re doing all you can to maximize occupancy? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned landlord or have only just acqu ..read more

Julie Schoelzel is the founder of Weekends Around, where she features vetted vacation rentals, hotels, easy itineraries, and local guides to help people make the most of their precious time away. After staying in nearly a dozen Short-Term Rental properties while looking for a home in a new state, she quickly realized that a five-star rating does not guarantee a five-star weekend. Weekends Around is like a best friend who has already done all the research for you. It was in the eighth hour of a two-day drive home from a vacation in Canada when our oldest daughter, Emma, transformed from a chatt ..read more

Whether you’re new to the vacation rental business, Airbnb superhost, or a vacation rental manager, staying on top of industry trends and innovative technology tools and marketing strategies can be difficult. The best way to do this is by learning from thought leaders in the industry. Currently some of the most sought after experts include: Heather Bayer, host of The Cottage Blogger Podcast Brandon Turner, host of The BiggerPockets Podcast Jasper Ribbers, founder of Get Paid for Your Pad Evelyn Badia, founder of The Hosting Journey Tyann Marcink, author of Create Killer Vacation Rental Proper ..read more

A recent study was published outlining the state of the global vacation rental industry, with a focus on segmentation and software spending. Specifically, this report is a compilation of public and private data that shows just how large and robust the market is for vacation rental management software. There is certainly a lot to talk about, much of which is critical for vacation rental managers to understand and digest. In today’s article, we take a closer look at one aspect of this report: the state of the vacation rental industry in the U.S. We encourage all vacation rental professionals to ..read more

While owning an Airbnb rental property can be a lucrative opportunity, it can also be time-consuming. As an Airbnb host, owning a rental property is anything but a passive gig: you must manage your bookings, communicate with guests in a timely fashion, and keep your property in pristine condition. Maintaining a high guest occupancy and providing five-star guest service consistently requires a significant investment of your time. If you need to hire an Airbnb property manager but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll provide tips on finding the best Airbnb proper ..read more

If you chose the Hostfully Property Management Platform to scale your vacation rental business, or opened up a Guidebook, you’re now a Hostfully Host. It’s time to celebrate! You’ve put a lot of time and energy making a beautiful Guidebook or building your Property Management Platform—Now it’s time to share with the world! You should be proud that you are scaling your vacation rental business with the right tools to streamline workflows and ultimately provide a 5-star guest experience. Promote in your listing Vacation rental businesses and owners who promote the fact that they use Hostfully ca ..read more

This how-to guide was inspired by a 2019 VRMA Spring Forum panel presentation by Lynn Thurston of Watersound Management, Michelle Williams of Atlantic Vacation Homes, and Sue Jones of KLS Group, moderated by Victoria O’Connell of WeGoLightly.com Why social impact matters   “Today people expect a company to do business and do good – both, not one or the other. Both.” — Lynn Thurston, Watersound Management Vacation rental managers are super connectors in the local community. And this isn’t limited to being ambassadors for incoming travelers. I’m talking about the deep relationships that v ..read more

Connor Simpson has a history working with vacation rentals and recently launched a marketplace, Weddings by Owner, where property owners can list their space as a wedding venue. Have you ever thought about hosting a wedding at your vacation home? If you have, there couldn’t be a better time. The current wedding industry trends reflect well for small private owners to get their piece of the wedding market. More and more couples are looking for non-traditional venues to make their own. Read on to see if your place might be a good fit for a wedding. Weddings are getting smaller You might be think ..read more

You’ve already decided to start a property management business. The first thing you’ll need to do is put together a comprehensive property management business plan. Having everything written out will help you run a very focused business. Your property management business plan should contain a detailed proposal in which you address all of the following: Setting up your company Choosing a business model Setting up short-term goals Learning local laws and getting certified Setting up an organizational structure with potential employees Defining base services to clients/owners/tenants/guests Defi ..read more

Allie Shaw researched rental home security statistics as well as crime reports to find the best solutions in keeping your home secure. She is a freelance writer for multiple publications and is an expert in all things home and tech. As a landlord, it’s easy to overlook home security, but this oversight can cost you if there’s a break-in. Many states have laws that hold the building owner responsible for damages caused by a break-in, which means it’s in your best interest to keep your rental home secure. These home security tips can help you avoid any issues associated with a break-in, all whil ..read more