Can you self manage a STR from afar?

[Keila Pritchard]

Basically, my wife and I are military and moving away soon. For two reasons, (1: our house is probably bigger than what most military families in the area are looking for. 2: our private room on AirBnb has been relatively successful) we are seriously considering doing a STR instead of a long term renter. We were going to go the Evolve (STR management company) but we saw a forum from years ago on BP that strongly advised against it. I guess I'm curious if there are any BP members who have done STR self management from afar?

Open to suggestions and/or past experiences. As a bonus if anyone has had experience with Evolve more recently than 2021, I'm super open to hearing your feedback on the company!

[Jesse Turner]

Thanks for posting! Now I've got Georgia (home sweet home) on my mind!

What I know about Evolve is that they pitch a low management fee, but they're also leaving a lot of the property management to you (external care of the property, for example).

As the STR industry matures, we get more market saturation, but we also get more tools on the daily. Check out Hostaway, Hostfully, and Guesty for Property Management Solutions. With Hostfully, for example, you'll get a system that you can integrate other systems (like Breezeway for cleaning and maintenance scheduling) and Pricelabs or Wheelhouse.

Before you move out of your place, search for and meet maintenance, cleaning, "runner", and inspection crews. These "boots on the ground" will be your lifeline for any remote management effort.

[Keila Pritchard]

Quote from @Jesse Turner:

Thanks for posting! Now I've got Georgia (home sweet home) on my mind!

What I know about Evolve is that they pitch a low management fee, but they're also leaving a lot of the property management to you (external care of the property, for example).

As the STR industry matures, we get more market saturation, but we also get more tools on the daily. Check out Hostaway, Hostfully, and Guesty for Property Management Solutions. With Hostfully, for example, you'll get a system that you can integrate other systems (like Breezeway for cleaning and maintenance scheduling) and Pricelabs or Wheelhouse.

Before you move out of your place, search for and meet maintenance, cleaning, "runner", and inspection crews. These "boots on the ground" will be your lifeline for any remote management effort.

Okay, that makes sense. I know it might sound crazy but my wife and I might move into an RV a couple months before the move to make sure the STR goes well before we start the move to the next duty station. I think this will help us make sure the systems are in place for us to be across the country. Do you generally have a single company/person for all of your services that are on retainer or is it a scheduled appointment for them for every new guest?

[Jesse Turner]

Quote from @Keila Pritchard:

Quote from @Jesse Turner:

Thanks for posting! Now I've got Georgia (home sweet home) on my mind!

What I know about Evolve is that they pitch a low management fee, but they're also leaving a lot of the property management to you (external care of the property, for example).

As the STR industry matures, we get more market saturation, but we also get more tools on the daily. Check out Hostaway, Hostfully, and Guesty for Property Management Solutions. With Hostfully, for example, you'll get a system that you can integrate other systems (like Breezeway for cleaning and maintenance scheduling) and Pricelabs or Wheelhouse.

Before you move out of your place, search for and meet maintenance, cleaning, "runner", and inspection crews. These "boots on the ground" will be your lifeline for any remote management effort.

Okay, that makes sense. I know it might sound crazy but my wife and I might move into an RV a couple months before the move to make sure the STR goes well before we start the move to the next duty station. I think this will help us make sure the systems are in place for us to be across the country. Do you generally have a single company/person for all of your services that are on retainer or is it a scheduled appointment for them for every new guest?

It depends on what's available in the Columbus area, but the Breezeway app, for example, can help coordinate and schedule your preferred contractors/agents on an as-needed basis. They can accept the specific job for that time/day as it is offered to them.

[Nolan Chandler]

Hey, @Keila Pritchard!

I am actually in the Marine Corps out of Camp Lejeune (now on terminal leave in CA) with a STR out there. I know everyone's situation is different, but I am able to manage it remotely. I had a STR company there and they were not doing the job, to say the least. I attended a local meetup and a gentleman had several in the area and educated me that if you have various apps synced together and a solid team (cleaners, handyman, etc.), then you do not need to be there or have a company management. Knock on wood, its been almost two years with no management company involved and doing fine.

The apps we use that are synced together are RemoteLock, PriceLabs, Hospitable, and Airbnb/VRBO.  If there guests ask random questions, we answer.  And I check on the cleaner for every clean and she reports back status.

If you have these apps (or apps/software like it) then this can 100% work with a trustworthy team of cleaners and handymen there.  If you ever want to know more, I would be happy to help.

_______________________
REALTOR® CalDRE: 02221003 | CA Bar: 322013

[Henry Lazerow]

Yes, it's very easy. Just use Turno for automatic cleaning scheduling (it links your airbnb calendar) and have a handy man for any repairs needed. The biggest issue I have had is actually keys. Handyman or guests lose keys or a lockbox gets jammed, the best solution to this is to have 3 sets of keys made on 3 different lockboxes so you have multiple backup.s 

[Michael Baum]

Hey @Keila Pritchard, so I would assume you are still in the USA?

I think you can do it without a lot of trouble once you get going.

Evolve is not the way to go. They take 10% and you do most of the work. What they do do is get you 3 and 4 star reviews. They also tack on a lot of extra fees that you get no part of. Best to stay away.

Now, what you need to do is find a good cleaner and handy person now before you are out of the area. Get them all setup and they will be your eyes and ears on the property.

Does either your wife's or your MOS allow for calls during the day if necessary? If yous set things up right, there won't be many of them.

Our lakehouse is 7 hours from us and we have no problems. Communication with both the guests and cleaners really makes it pretty easy to provide 5 star service for guests.

[Jesse Turner]

Quote from @Henry Lazerow:

Yes, it's very easy. Just use Turno for automatic cleaning scheduling (it links your airbnb calendar) and have a handy man for any repairs needed. The biggest issue I have had is actually keys. Handyman or guests lose keys or a lockbox gets jammed, the best solution to this is to have 3 sets of keys made on 3 different lockboxes so you have multiple backup.s 

 You could also do wifi locks like Schlage. There are software solutions that will allow these locks to automatically create a new code for new guests and deactivate the old one after checkout.

[Ryan Moyer]

Evolve isn't really a property manager.  They're more of a booking agent (and a poor one at that).  They handle the listings, getting the bookings, etc.  That still leaves you to take care of the maintenance, the guest communication, the cleanings, the 2am clogged toilets, etc.

If you're worried about being afar, Evolve only handles the very easiest part about being afar.

Realistically though, all of it is completely doable remotely.  The vast majority of people here manage their properties remotely.  Heck, it was so doable to manage my own that I started a property management company in a city 2000 miles away from where I live.

[Alex Scattareggia]

If you are going to go the PM route, I would always recommend local PM with good track record, already managing something similar to your property vs. one of the bigger providers (Evolve)

You can absolutely do it on your own, just understand that you are taking on a second job which will require some work no matter how much automation you put in.  

Thank you for your service, and good luck!

[Luke Carl]

Please check out a book called short term rental long term wealth. It’ll have everything you need 

[Ran Iarovich]

Find cleaners and handlers and sink them with your schedule. Do not use a bs property management company. 

[Patricia Andriolo-Bull]

First off, thank you for your service. My son did Basic Training at Fort Benny, I used STR visiting him there once so I can imagine you will have a lot of different types of guests. I have a STR in Marco Island (where I predominantly also live) but I do spend 3 months of the summer up north. I self manage and it can be done but make sure you have a good set of resources. I've found that I do very well because I am very hands on and responsive. If the AC goes or they can't get in for one reason or another, someone needs to be able to help them in person fairly quickly. But generally, those kinds of things happen very infrequently but I have had them happen. I hear others say get good cleaners that help manage the STR. I've been unsuccessful in that so far. My cleaners are phenomenal cleaners but generally stink at really understanding if something breaks (e.g. beach cart, umbrella goes missing, etc....). Have a good handy man or home watch type of person. Good luck!

[Sarah Kensinger]

You can definitely manage from afar! It might look big, but you'll figure it out! :)

[Keila Pritchard]

Everyone,

Thank you so much for the responses. I think we're going to move forward with self management. 

I'm working these next couple weeks on building my team then I will look at trying to implement systems to make the process easier (wifi locks, synchronization apps, etc.) I'm optimistic about the process but it does still seem a little risky. I'm hoping to start the property management before we leave so that we can get a taste of it before we're across the countyr. I will keep everyone posted on how it goes!

[Jesse Turner]

@Keila Pritchard, one thing I've learned about BP is that people are quick to provide advice.

Post your questions here often, and look up the various podcasts out there about STR. "Thanks For Visiting" has lots of tangible tips and tools they reference.

[Brad Larsen]

Quote from @Keila Pritchard:

Basically, my wife and I are military and moving away soon. For two reasons, (1: our house is probably bigger than what most military families in the area are looking for. 2: our private room on AirBnb has been relatively successful) we are seriously considering doing a STR instead of a long term renter. We were going to go the Evolve (STR management company) but we saw a forum from years ago on BP that strongly advised against it. I guess I'm curious if there are any BP members who have done STR self management from afar?

Open to suggestions and/or past experiences. As a bonus if anyone has had experience with Evolve more recently than 2021, I'm super open to hearing your feedback on the company!

 Hi Keila,

I can speak to being on the customer end this Summer using Evolve.  I booked a VRBO (Reserved it last year for this summer in CO) for 30 days and was well over $12k through VRBO for the month.  The owner of this property used Evolve and was remote.  The day of check in, we never received the check in info, yet drove to the property anyhow as we waited for the code from Evolve. 2 hours and 3 codes later, we still could not access the property.  It seemed they were just a call center type of service acting as a go between for the Owner. Evolve stated the owner needed 1 hour to respond and after the 3rd try, we could get a refund.  That night around 11PM, we found a different VRBO (Luckily!) available, managed by Pinnacle Management.  They actually got us access 24 hours earlier than requested-no charge being empathetic to our situation. That morning, by 9AM we were moving in for the month! 

Note-The owner of the original VRBO TEXTED us the morning after, asking if we ever got in stating there was a "Glitch" in a new system for getting codes. He lost out on a 30day high end STR for not being responsive and Evolve relied on him to be able to help us. We did get a full refund in just a few days.

Just sharing what I know from using them this Summer.   Hope this sheds some light on the differences of service between them and an actual full service PM Company.

I will also add, the second VRBO we ended up staying in had NO smart TV';s and they were out within the hour to install ROKU and then a week into staying there, the upstairs flooded the downstairs, we called Pinnacle MGMT on a Sunday at 530PM and they had someone out in 40 minutes. Had it been self managed, remote, I think the damage would have been a lot worse if it took 2 hours or longer for a 3rd party plumber VS 40 minutes and the repairs/expenses would have been greater. Some food for thought there.  

Hope this helps

Brad

[Seth Kristian]

Quote from @Keila Pritchard:

Basically, my wife and I are military and moving away soon. For two reasons, (1: our house is probably bigger than what most military families in the area are looking for. 2: our private room on AirBnb has been relatively successful) we are seriously considering doing a STR instead of a long term renter. We were going to go the Evolve (STR management company) but we saw a forum from years ago on BP that strongly advised against it. I guess I'm curious if there are any BP members who have done STR self management from afar?

Open to suggestions and/or past experiences. As a bonus if anyone has had experience with Evolve more recently than 2021, I'm super open to hearing your feedback on the company!

Stay away for a number of reasons, but namely that before you know it you’ll be seeing less than half of the revenue after Airbnb and Evolve take their cut, which is before you (Evolve) pays the cleaners, and dont forget about taxes friend. The gregarious welcoming mat will no doubt assuage even the most ardent skeptics, but like all the  other clouds, even the pink ones eventually blow away. You’ll be wrapped up in a broker/client relationship only with your money, license and reputation on the line, so i would ONLY recommend someone you trust and someone that can have some skin in the game. Find a family friend you can pay a reasonable % to, even if its the same as evolve (13-15% i believe?) but at least there is more incentive to NOT leave your name in the mud when it also affects their bottom line. Or develop a relationship with a small cleaning crew, assign them as co-hosts and use them as your channel manager. That’s my two (or three cents). Good luck! 

[Michael Smythe]

There are a lot of threads here on BP about how to do this.

[Jen LeViseur]

Hey @Keila Pritchard, you can 100 percent self-manage remotely, the question is do you want to? We have unite 14 hours away from where we live and have self-managed for years. I don’t have personal experience with Evolve, but if you’re looking at hiring a PM, you may as well hire a full-service PM and make it a passive income.