New to LOCAL STR property management

[Megan Ashford]

Seeking advice on starting career as a local STR manager. Thank you for any Suggestions or leads.

[Evan Polaski]

A friend of mine recently posted a video on her social media re: welcome gifts and why she doesn't offer them as a host of about a dozen properties in and around Phoenix.

It got me thinking about this:
Do the basics right. As a guest, I should be able to walk around in white socks or bare feet and not have my socks/feet turn black.

If you want your guests to clean up after themselves, give them the things they need to do it.  I.e. if you ask guests to run the dishwasher before leaving, provide dishwasher detergent.  Take trash out, have plenty of trash bags.

Beds and heads is a great way pack a house full a "frat boys" who are just going to party.  If you want high end guests, make sure the property can cater to them.  I.e. as an adult, I don't want to share a bathroom with people.  I would pay more, especially for friends trip, to have say a 4 bed, 4 bath house versus save a couple hundred bucks and have to share a bathroom with 2 other grown adults.

Since you are talking about managing for others, but it is your reviews on the line: you should set the level of service you want to provide and the anticipated cost for that service, then find clients that are wanting a manager that treats this like the hospitality business it is, and not a "get rich quick" scheme that many people still think Airbnb can be.

And lastly, to tie into @Andrew Steffens' comment: would you ever apply for a hotel manager and/or property manager role?  Hosting an Airbnb is both: you are a full on hospitality professional with a 24/7 customer service role + a maintenance manager coordinating contractors to maintain the properties in between guests.