Question on management companies for STR

[Leah Johnson]

I am looking to purchase a STR in the Orlando area - timeline TBD.

While talking with my other investor we have discussed trying to self manage the property.  We are not in the area at all - several states away.  

Are there management companies that allow you to pick and choose what services they provide to you?  We would like to do the marketing and listing ourselves, but trying to find one that helps with licensing, taxes, repairs. 

We are trying to keep profit in our pocket but many of the management companies I've looked at just do it all.  

[Shawn McCormick]

Quote from @Leah Johnson:

Where is some good information on self managing a property then?  We are willing to learn.

@Collin Hays @Luke Carl

My advice to people entering Orlando as their first go around with STR is to build the cost of a PM into your pro forma. Also, use them for at least the first year, Orlando is very competitive and full of very similar homes, these are not unique mountain view or beach front properties. There is more nuance involved in attracting guests when they have so many cookie cutter properties to choose from.

Let the PM set up calendars, get lots of reviews, pricing strategies based on the global demands, get the place clean, stocked up and marketed well. Once you have it running smoothly and have implemented some automation, you can revisit self managing. If you try and save a few bucks in the beginning before anyone even knows you exist, it may cost you dearly. Set yourself up for success so that you can self manage and scale later on.