Vacasa for short term rental property management

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Vacasa for short term rental property management

Vincent Casiano
Member since 2022 · 6 posts · 1 vote

Good evening all,

The short term rental that I’m looking at is a rural vacation destination. I grew up there as a kid and knew that it would be difficult to find reliable contractors for maintenance and cleaning. It’s proving near impossible to get folks to call me back. Vacasa has a large footprint in that area and I’m considering having them manage the property to take the headaches off of me, since I have other full time employment. Does anyone have any insight into 1. Their pricing, 2. The quality of services they render? I’ve used them as a renter before and from that perspective have been happy.


thanks for any feedback.

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Shawn G.
Investor · Shreveport, LA · Member since 2015 · 16 posts · 10 votes
3y

Most of these services still require you to handle maintenance, cleaners and guest calls. I have used evolve and really all they did was take bookings. Put boots on the ground and find your team for self management. You will be happy you did it. 

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  • Shawn G.
    Investor · Shreveport, LA · Member since 2015 · 16 posts · 10 votes
    3y

    Most of these services still require you to handle maintenance, cleaners and guest calls. I have used evolve and really all they did was take bookings. Put boots on the ground and find your team for self management. You will be happy you did it. 

    1Reply
  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    3y
    Quote from @Shawn G.:

    Most of these services still require you to handle maintenance, cleaners and guest calls. I have used evolve and really all they did was take bookings. Put boots on the ground and find your team for self management. You will be happy you did it. 


     I agree with Shawn 

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  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    3y

    I am a large proponent of professional property management however Vacasa has terrible reviews (both guest and owner) everywhere.  I would look at the properties they manage in your local market and see the reviews they are garnering before considering them.  Their prices in my market of FL is 15-20%+.

    We manage over 50 units here and our experience from owners who left us to self manage, and owners who self managed and then hired us after is that our fee (typically 20%) is usually about covered through effective management processes.  We use a combination of pricey softwares and have 24 hour guest service which ensures better reviews and more bookings, effective quality control, and revenue optimization to achieve those goals.  


    Long story short if you find a competent management company you can relieve the headaches you mention and make around the same you would as if you were doing the work yourself.

    Good luck!

    [email protected]813-563-0877
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  • Ralph Poirier
    Rental Property Investor · Wrentham, MA · Member since 2019 · 137 posts · 104 votes
    3y

    I researched Vacasa as a property manager. The first issue was the 30% they would take for their services. Ouch!  What I’ve seen from most property managers if you have a clogged toilet they will send someone to plunge it. If that doesn’t clear it it’s still up to you to get a plumber to resolve. Some are better than others. 

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  • Jennifer Moraski
    Leavenworth, WA · Member since 2019 · 35 posts · 21 votes
    3y

    I haven’t used them personally but in our rural area it’s also a mixed bag with a lot of unhappy owners due to inconsistent service. I’m constantly getting letters from them asking me to switch. Look carefully at the services they offer and then also look at what a local property manager will provide, compare what they charge, then make a more informed decision. I think the most useful thing my local PM supplies is the local services (housekeeping, hot tub servicing, snow plowing, etc.). 

    Good luck!

    Jennifer

    1Reply
  • Paul Sandhu
    Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    3y

    Is the STR within driving distance? If so, do the work yourself. I do it for my 23 STRs. The furthest one is a 7 minute drive from my house.

    My house cleaner bought me a drone for my birthday.  It has a 6 mile range.  I can pop open a beer in my garage and fly my drone around (at about 350 feet above ground) and see who all is at my STRs.  DJI Mini 2.

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  • Trent Reeve
    Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Jennifer Moraski:

    I haven’t used them personally but in our rural area it’s also a mixed bag with a lot of unhappy owners due to inconsistent service. I’m constantly getting letters from them asking me to switch. Look carefully at the services they offer and then also look at what a local property manager will provide, compare what they charge, then make a more informed decision. I think the most useful thing my local PM supplies is the local services (housekeeping, hot tub servicing, snow plowing, etc.). 

    Good luck!

    Jennifer


     do local PM's charge less than the 20-25% i see from the bigger companies?

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  • Jennifer Moraski
    Leavenworth, WA · Member since 2019 · 35 posts · 21 votes
    3y

     I’m sure YMMV, but in my area 30-35% is common, so no. If you are looking at it just from cost, do it yourself. 

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  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    3y

    There are a TON of threads here about this. Use the Search feature:)

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9451 Reviews
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  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    3y

    Like @Jennifer Moraski, I get constantly bugged by Vacasa to switch to them. Our lake house is pretty rural and Vacasa wanted 40% to manage it. No way I would give up that control and profit (essentially all of it).

    i would manage it yourself. Work to find a good cleaner to make the drive, pay them well. Then find a good handy person as well and you should be good.

    0Reply
  • Gerald Pitts
    Lender · Asheville NC · Member since 2016 · 469 posts · 317 votes
    3y

    If you want a 2nd home here for sentimental reasons, that's one thing.  If you want to make any money, Vacasa is not the way.  If you can't find good boots on the ground, you just won't be successful here.  Not getting called back / and major Vacasa presence...These are both big red flags to me.  Find a place with more infrastructure for cleaners / handymen, and find a good cohost or self manage.  You can go visit the sentimental place with all the cashflow you make.  

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  • Mary Gary
    Member since 2022 · 1 post · 1 vote
    3y

    If I knew how horrible Vacasa is, I would never give them keys of my house! They will bill you 40% of your earnings, you will pay utilities, maintenance, buy new sheets and towels. Sometimes you will find your house trashed out. They do not do a perfect cleaning. We decided to self manage. Every 6 months I had a new manager in vacasa. It’s not a good company for people to work, it’s not a good company to make money with.

    1Reply
  • Lucie Tighe
    Property Manager · Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 147 posts · 66 votes
    3y

    @Vincent Casiano I have heard nothing but complains about Vacasa. Beyond the higher commission rate, they are simply too large, and their customer service is not a good quality to say the least. A lot of their clients are transitioning to other PMs.

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  • Melanie ThomasBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · San Antonio · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 489 votes
    3y

    Definitely check out the reviews online before you engage. Good luck & happy investing!

    [email protected]
    RentWerx Property Management4.73296 Reviews
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