Self-Managing Large STRs (5+ Bedrooms) — Is It possible ?

Question

Hi everyone,
I’m looking to hear from investors who have self-managed larger STR properties (5+ bedrooms, up to ~15 guests) after moving away from a property management company.

What were the main challenges, which automation systems and tools actually worked (guest communication, pricing, operations), and do you feel self-management at this scale is sustainable long-term with a local team?

Looking for real-world experience, not theory.
Thanks!

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @Amir Portal. We have been self managing out lake house which is 2700sqft 4/3 and sleeps 10-12. Not quite as big but close enough.

Like @John Underwood said, it isn't much different than managing a 2/2.

The systems you need to have in place are cleaners (number one), maintenance/handy people, and service folks for the hard systems.

The cleaners are going to be your number one. You might need to make sure they have 2 people as a back to back can be tough in a larger place.

Servicing your furnace, A/C, water heaters, pool etc is key. Setup 2x yearly for all the hard systems is required to keep them running in top shape. Pool and hot tub would be more often of course.

Bottom line it can be done without a lot of fanfare. Just get all your ducks in a row and forge on.

If you only have one place, then you don't need a ton of tools to manage it either. No sense in spending a bunch of money on complicating your management.

Collin Hays · Answer

I used to manage my large-ish cabin from 1100 miles away, so it's possible. It's all a matter of the value of your time, because it is a part time job.

You'll need to be available for guest questions, inquiries, and concerns all of the time, and have a list of reliable contractors, particularly for a big house.  HVAC, pool, hot tub, plumbing, and electrical folks.  And obviously a good housekeeping crew.  You will need to stay on top of your rates to make sure 1) your property is renting the maximum number of nights, and 2) you are getting the most that you can for the nights rented.  Even with some automation, you will need to be involved or you are leaving a lot of money on the table.

John Underwood · Answer

Not that much different from a smaller property.

Still have to have cleaners clean after a stay.

Interact with the 1 person who made the reservation.

Bigger house has more stuff that can break or be damaged. Good cleaners are your ears and eyes to let you know when there is an issue.

Andrew Street · Answer

Biggest challenges would be turnover coordination, high guest message volume, and maintenance issues escalating quickly with larger groups.

Long-term it’s sustainable, but only if you treat it like a real business, not a side hustle. A strong local cleaner and handyman matter more than any tech. Without them, it falls apart fast at this size.

Jon Martin · Answer

Yes, very reasonable. Larger properties are arguably easier because people book further in advance and tend to book longer stays. Whereas smaller properties tend to get booked for shorter stays with less lead time, therefore higher turnover overall and more guest communication.

Biggest challenge is that it’s more house to clean and maintain, so you need a good team to keep things in good shape.

Andrew Steffens · Answer

Coming from a property manager, you can totally do this yourself.  The question is do you want to and is it the highest and best use of your time.

Lets say your house does $100,000 gross and your PM charges you 20%, you will make $20,000 in one year.  Lets say you spend 500 hours self managing, you are making $20 per hour.  If you have the time, great.  Many of my clients are doctors, airline pilots, etc and can reliably dedicate the time and they make more money per hour not managing property.

Another possible option is limited management - I offer this in FL and you may be able to find it where you are.  I handle communications, pricing, marketing, taxes, automations etc at 10% and leave the maintenance and cleaning management to you.  This gives you participation in the care of your property and you save money and you do not need to do a lot of the daily tasks but focus on the actual property with a team you build.

Account Closed · Answer

We have a couple large cabins that sleep 20 we self manage from 8.5hrs away and a large beachfront 6 bedroom nearby.  Honestly not too much more work outside of size.  If my 1 bedroom has 2 maintenance issues a month then I expect expect 8 to 10 issues for a 5  bedroom just because more things to break. With a good maintenance team emails and text messages takes care of most of it.

Travis Timmons · Answer

I own and self manage a 5 bedroom, 3 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 1 bedroom property...they all take the same amount of effort to manage. The one difference at the 5 bedroom, obviously, is that there is a some more maintenance.

Self-Managing Large STRs (5+ Bedrooms) — Is It possible ?

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