If you have bought a property in San Diego and want to take advantage of the vacation rental market, you’ll be searching for the best Airbnb management company you can find. But if you have no experience in this area, you may not know how to whittle down the field of candidates to arrive at the perfect choice. So, how do you choose an Airbnb management company in San Diego to help you achieve your objectives?
20 Factors to Consider as You Narrow Down the Field
1. General Availability
You must ensure that your full-time property manager has the best communication skills and that the key staff members are available when needed. You may not expect them to be at your beck and call around the clock, but they should certainly have a way for your guests to contact them beyond standard business hours. Ideally, they will provide an emergency phone number or be contactable by email and text. Remember, some of your guests may arrive late due to travel issues, and if there’s something wrong and they cannot communicate, this may spoil their entire experience. In turn, this could lead to a negative review, which you’ll want to avoid at all costs.
2. References
Treat your search as if it were a job interview. You want to ensure that you choose the best manager for your property and need to hear what others say about their experience. You can seek written recommendations but ask for some contact details as well. That way, you can call current or former clients and judge their responses first-hand.
3. Service Fees
Service fees can vary considerably, but always keep in mind that cost should not be the driving factor. It may be tempting to go for the cheapest solution to try and maximize your profits, but there is an inherent danger in that approach. Remember, you need an Airbnb management company that will help give you the best return on your investment, which translates to high occupancy rates over the long term with satisfied customers. Five-star reviews are an important consideration, so check the ratings as well as the fees.
4. Differentiation
Sometimes, the little touches may persuade you to choose a particular management company. You may have looked at all the fundamentals and have more than one company on your shortlist. Does one company go the extra mile to ensure satisfaction? Perhaps they provide small gifts that will surprise a guest upon arrival or take extra time to “bed in” guests when they arrive. Some managers may discover additional information about why the guests are in the area without being intrusive. They may then provide them with some tailored advice or specific guides.
5. Past Reviews
You should read every review when narrowing down your prospects as this will help you learn from the first-hand experience of former guests. Don’t expect every review to be glowing, but you should make a point of finding out what caused a negative review and deciding whether it’s an important factor. Some people may grumble about the weather or the general location, which you can ignore. But if the complaint seems to be related to management, you’ll want to follow up with the management company.
6. Marketing Processes
Your property may be one of many similar homes in that area, so what can make it stand out? Without a proactive approach, you might miss occupancy targets, so you’ll want to hire somebody who is good at filling these units. Ask for information to see how the company spreads the word and determine how many marketing channels they use.
7. Existing Portfolio of Clients
There are two schools of thought when it comes to a client portfolio. If you see that a prospect management company has a very large number of Airbnb rentals on its current portfolio, is there a risk that you could get lost in the crowd? On the other hand, if a prospect has no active Airbnb rental on its present portfolio, the company may either be just starting out or unable to retain clients due to issues. This may be a judgement call for you as you consider this factor alongside the other points raised here.
8. Types of Services Provided
Some Airbnb property management companies offer more services than others. Determine which of these are most important to you and use this checklist to narrow down your choices. For example, do they provide professional photography services to help create a listing? Do they offer a price optimization service so you can be sure that your postings are likely to succeed in the current market? Some companies have a 24/7 concierge solution, while others will take full care of your property maintenance.
9. Professional Certifications or Licenses
If professional certification is important for you, check to see if the company is a member of an established and recognized trade body. Their staff may keep up with regular training programs or need to sit for certain exams to move forward. For example, see if they are members of the Vacation Rental Management Association.
10. Specific Airbnb Experience
Airbnb is one of the leading short-term rental platforms in the world and has a particular approach to the task at hand. Consequently, you must ensure that your management company has experience in Airbnb specifically, so they are on top of those subtle nuances that differentiate the platform. For example, they’ll need to know how to work with Airbnb’s search ranking system to make your property visible to platform guests.
11. Detailed Knowledge of Local Markets
Always pick a management company with good knowledge of the local market. Some may be a generalist and aim to market properties across California, but are they really aware of the levels of competition or the dynamics of this specific market? With such knowledge of this area, they can develop certain marketing tactics to attract potential guests. They will also be able to give recommendations for arriving guests and will know if any local rules apply to Airbnb properties.
12. Contractual Terms
Ask for a sample contract and read it carefully. Ensure that it covers everything you need and don’t be afraid to ask questions about any clauses you may see as unfavorable. The contract should detail the services they provide and the associated fees. You need to know your responsibilities as a host and, crucially, that there are no gaps or uncertainties. Find out what will happen in the event that contract rules are breached or if there are any termination fees to consider.
13. Examples of Current Listings
When you look at some current listing examples, consider them from the perspective of a potential guest. Do these listings excite you, and if not, why not? Does the management company ensure that all photos are of the highest quality? Will a site visitor be able to view an array of images that show all rooms and from various angles? These listings should go into great detail about the property so you are left with no questions or assumptions.
14. Methods of Communication
How will a company communicate with you once you have signed on? Certainly, you don’t want to handle all the nitty-gritty yourself, which is why you are choosing such a company in the first place. However, you don’t want this to be an entirely hands-off approach either. Instead, set expectations and find out how often you will hear from them and what information they will supply. You may need to know if a guest has a significant issue immediately, but once you have agreed on the method and frequency of communication, you’ll want to ensure a consistent flow.
15. Dealing with Arising Issues
In an ideal world, issues never arise, but in reality, it’s inevitable to run into problems from time to time. If the air conditioning suddenly decides to stop working, how will the management company handle this issue? Your goal should be to ensure customer satisfaction in every case, and the way that the company deals with any situation when the guest is present will be crucial. Ask the company how they will typically process these situations.
16. Managing Inventory and Stock
Who is responsible for managing inventory and ensuring that everything is fully stocked before the next client arrives? Certain consumables will run out, and the management company must ensure that they have a replacement stock on hand at the right moment. In other words, you don’t want a last-minute panic if there are no filters in stock for your Breville Barista.
17. Providing Accountancy and Tax Details
At the end of the year, you will need to account for your business affairs with the tax authority and certainly need details of your rental activity. What kind of reports can you expect from your management company? Will these reports make your accounting and tax affairs more straightforward, with attention to detail and necessary information?
18. Handling Damage
There is always a risk of material damage when you open up your home to strangers. While Airbnb may well ensure that hosts are compensated if guests cause damage, your management company should also keep an eye on this. If any damage becomes evident, the manager should take this up with the guest while they are on the property and not be afraid to follow any of the rules laid down in the contract.
19. Knowledge of Real Estate Law
The last thing you want is to fall foul of any legal issues, and real estate law can sometimes be complex, changing from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Ensure that your property management company is fully aware of any challenges so that such issues do not find their way into your plate. As an example, will your guests be made aware of potential environmental hazards, such as those on the Proposition 65 list?
20. Portfolio of Experienced and Professional Contractors
The best management company will have a portfolio of experienced and competent contractors renowned for providing high-quality service and are available as and when needed. This “A” team should include builders, plumbers, HVAC contractors, and cleaners but can also extend to photographers and marketing experts.
How to Find the Best Airbnb Property Management Company
Finding the best Airbnb management company may take some time, but don’t rush the process. Certainly, you want to get your property on the market as soon as possible so that you can begin to recoup some of your investment and look forward to those profits. However, a cautious approach at the outset will pay dividends.
Narrowing Down Your Options
You may choose to advertise the fact that you’re looking for a management company on your initial listing or scroll through the search engine results to look for the best Airbnb management company in that area. You may find that several property management companies bid for your work, but remember to take into account all the factors listed above before you make your final decision.
Why Your Choice Is So Important
When you find the perfect Airbnb management company for your property, you will quickly see the advantages. The company will:
- Maximize occupancy
- Provide the highest levels of service
- Be efficient and thorough
- Communicate effectively with both you and the guests
- Optimize your listing through various platforms
- Ensure your property remains in good condition
- Deal with problems immediately
- Always be professional
You will avoid some of the problems, such as:
- Poor quality service, which can lower your ratings
- Excessive expenditure, which can dent your profits
- Any risk of legal issues
Working with the Best Airbnb Management Company in San Diego
If you are looking for an Airbnb management company in San Diego, there’s plenty of choice. However, you’ll certainly want to consider Haustay, a company with more than 700 five-star guest reviews. This professional organization is locally owned and operated and its management and staff fully understand the dynamic vacation rental market in San Diego.It’s worth your while getting more information, so please email nick@www.haustay.com, fill out the contact form, or call 858.943.3653 for help today.
