Managing a STR long distance... co host or self manage?

[Heidi Hughes]

I have been doing STR for several years locally and out of state. My out of state STR does not cash flow after all utilities, hosting fees, PITI, and supplies. It basically breaks even. I do most of the communication with the guests. I use a co-host to help with any issues that might come up (rarely have had any issues) and to clean. I pay them a 15% fee plus a cleaning fee. For those of you who self manage out of state STRs do you use a cleaning service to help with co-hosting? How do you compensate them? Or, do you recommend having a co-host? If so how do you compensate them?

Thanks for your input!    

[Michael Baum]

Hi @Heidi Hughes, our lake house is 360 miles from us and we self manage. We have a great cleaner. She lives just down the road and I can call her if there are any issues. She just records the time she is there and bills us hourly.

I would ditch the co-host. Automate the house as much as possible. What does your co-host charge for cleaning? Would they continue to do it if they aren't being paid to co-host? They could still handle the rare issues.

You might lose your co-host as a cleaner if you make the change, so be prepared to find someone new.