Bought first STR this weekend - Orange Beach, AL

[Tyler Carter]

Long time landlord on SFHs for over 12 years, but bought our first Vacation Rental/STR this weekend. Under contract for a 3 BR, 4 Bath OBA cottage about .4 miles off the beach. We are excited and a bit anxious as STRs are a different game. Cottage was built in 2022 and needs no work, fully furnished. With only one STR currently, what is your best advice? Looking to do AirBnB, VRBO (likely the most used), and a direct booking site. Looking at both Lodgify and OwnerRez for PMS systems. Has been listed on AirBnB only up to this point. Closing on 24-April and want to be ready on day one. For all you seasoned STR experts, what is the one thing you would recommend for my first STR? Thanks in advance

[Andrew Steffens]

I agree with John, you do not need a PMS for 2 properties.  Just list direct on Airbnb and VRBO.  I cannot personally vouch for Houfy but people on here do for direct booking site.  Pricing is important, I do not trust OTA pricing, especially Airbnb though I have heard VRBO is a little better.  You can get PriceLabs or similar for pricing pretty inexpensively.