How to Manage a Short Term Rental Without Hiring a Property Manager
Summary
This article from The Short Term Shop argues that self-managing your STR is often the smarter move, as it saves on management fees and offers tax advantages. It outlines tools and systems for successful self-management, emphasizing the importance of building a reliable local team and automating guest communication, and explains the advantages of being involved in the process yourself.
Key Insights
- •The short term rental tax loophole allows you to use bonus depreciation to offset your W-2 income if you actively manage your property.
- •Once your systems are set up, most investors spend only a few hours per month checking in.
- •Traditional property managers charge 20–30% of gross rental income. On a property generating $100,000 annually, that’s $20,000–$30,000 out of your pocket.
Action Items
- ✓Create a direct booking website and leverage social media to drive repeat guests.Effort: mediumImpact: medium
- ✓Build a trusted local team of cleaners, handymen, and vendors.Effort: mediumImpact: high
Tools & Resources
- →Channel Managers: Sync calendars and bookings across Airbnb, Vrbo, and direct booking sites to avoid double bookings.
- →PriceLabs: Tools like PriceLabs or Wheelhouse adjust your nightly rates based on demand, competition, and seasonality.
- →Short term rental tax loophole guide: You can read more in our detailed guide on the short term rental tax loophole , or check out our video podcast episodes where we break down tax savings strategies with CPAs who specialize in short term rentals.
- →STS Plus: Inside STS Plus , we give you templates, vendor recommendations, and a community of thousands of investors already running these exact systems.
Common Mistakes
- ⚠The biggest risk is not building a reliable local team. Without good cleaners and handymen, your property can quickly suffer.
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Curated by Learn STR by GoStudioM