Sarasota-Based Hospitality Expert Larry Starr Offers Tips For People New to Holiday Vacation Rentals
If you’re looking to rent out your property to guests, you need to check out this advice from Sarasota hospitality expert Larry Starr!
Have you invested in real estate that you plan to rent out to vacation travelers? If so, you need to check out these tips from Larry Starr, Sarasota’s tourism and hospitality expert. The right steps now could help you maximize your revenue streams while mitigating risks.
“Vacation rental homes offer a great opportunity to create a revenue stream,” Larry Starr argues. “That said, markets are more crowded than before and if you don’t work to stand out, you may struggle to attract travelers.”
Airbnb and other websites have made it much easier to rent out rooms and properties to people on vacation. Twenty years ago, campgrounds and hotels were often the only options for travelers. These days, you can rent apartments, individual rooms, and more.
Making rentals easy has been of great benefit for people who own property. However, you’ll have to compete with others and may have to work hard to stand out.
“You want to make a great first impression,” Larry Starr of Sarasota says. “With Airbnb and the like, pictures of your property are the first impression for many people. You want photos that show your holiday rental in the best light. Avoid dark, muddy pictures. Look through travel magazines and think about how you can really show off your property.”
Hiring a professional photographer costs money. That said, an investment now could result in many more rentals in the future. If you’re not confident in your photography skills and how to present your rental property, hiring a pro may be in order.
Another thing to consider is the posting that you put up on Airbnb and other properties. You’ll want to make sure that your post info is well crafted and targets any questions or concerns that renters might have. Also, make sure you include relevant keywords, such as your location, and special features or amenities.
If you’re near a subway stop or the beach, for example, make sure you mention that. If your property has strong, reliable Internet, make sure you state that in your listing. Airbnb and other platforms often allow you to mention various features, such as the amenities offered.
“One of the biggest mistakes I see is people throwing up their listing without much effort,” Larry Starr of Sarasota says. “Details, details, details, you want to provide as much information as possible. So slow down and complete that listing, leaving nothing blank.”
Not sure how to put together great listings? It’s smart to work with rental management companies, like Larry Starr’s RVA Resort Vacations, that know advertising platforms inside and out.
Larry Starr Talks About Guest Satisfaction
Guest sanctification is another very important concept. You need to make check-in as easy as possible for guests. Anything they might need, say the Wi-Fi password or towels, should be provided and easy to find.
Once guests check out, make sure the space is properly cleaned before someone else checks in. Dirty accommodations are likely to lead to poor reviews.
“Think about your space from the guest’s point of view,” Larry Starr, Sarasota-based hospitality expert suggests. “Would you want to check-in and find a dirty room? Of course not. What amenities might you need or appreciate? A set of towels and easy-to-understand directions for using the Wi-Fi and TV will go a long way.”
Sound like a lot of work? It is. But if you don’t put in the effort, you may fail to tap into the full potential of your rental property. Another great option is to work with a rental real estate management company that can handle guest satisfaction and other details too.
“At RVA Resort Vacations, we work with people to maximize the value of their rental properties and to ensure guest satisfaction,” Larry Starr notes. “Managing vacation properties can be a full-time job and you need to know the industry in and out. Fortunately, my team knows how to maximize the value of rental properties.”