Vacation rental property management companies provide a valuable service to owners. However, their services don’t come cheap. You might pay your vacation property management company anywhere from 10% to 30% of your monthly rental income.
There are pros and cons of hiring a vacation property management company versus managing the rental yourself. We’ve highlighted some of those pros and cons below:
You’ll have fewer problems overall when working with a good property management company. You’ll encounter fewer maintenance problems. Fewer problems with guests. Less damage. A good property management company can’t completely eliminate the unexpected, but it can take steps to reduce their impact – say, by finding better guests.
Better response times for you and your guests. Unless you live a few minutes away from your vacation rental property, it can be hard to manage a property from far away. What happens when guests encounter problems? What happens if there’s a leak at your place between renters? Hiring a vacation property management company allows better response times for you and your guests – even 24/7 service from some of the bigger property management companies.
Better technology and marketing. Vacation rental marketing technology is changing every day. The best property management companies stay on the cutting edge to ensure your unit stays rented out as much as possible. Vacation rental property management companies may have dedicated marketing teams solely responsible for putting your unit in front of as many potential renters as possible.
Less control over guests and management. When you work with a property management company, you’re giving up a certain amount of control over your property. You’re allowing someone to vet potential guests, perform repairs, and interact with your guests. If your vacation rental is like a home, then this can be nerve-wracking. Make sure you understand all of the terms and conditions of your vacation rental management company’s contract before you buy.