Purchase a STR with 100's reviews. Will they transfer?

Question

We scored a deal on a STR that has had 100s of reviews. I am curious will we be starting from scratch with reviews after the sale or is there a way on Airbnb/VRBO for the reviews to transfer? seems like since its the review of the property not necessarily the owners it would transfer but i am new to this so figured worth asking.

my guess is that we would need to maintain the same VRBO / Airbnb property number or follow some process?

Thanks in advance

Bo

Thanks in advance

Bo

Joey Morea · Answer

@Bo A Vanecko

Vrbo will let you transfer reviews. Airbnb will not.

Mike V. · Answer

If you are integrated with VRBO you can add it to your account and transfer all reviews with it.  On Airbnb there is no way to do this- the only work around would be to takeover his Airbnb account and add yourself as the payout method and then make yourself a cohost so you don’t beed to log between accounts.

It’s a pain but would work.

John Underwood · Answer

You have to have a new account, so you will be starting over on reviews.

These will not transfer.

Ken Boone · Answer

So last year we bought a cabin that was already listed on airbnb/vrbo.  I assumed we were starting over and that is what we did.. with 0 reviews.  Shortly after we were up and running my wife had a discussion with VRBO, and they told her since the property was listed with VRBO by the previous owners and we were re-listing the property, they could have moved all of the reviews over to the property now listed under our account.  By the time we found this out we were too late.

I would call VRBO and discuss this with them prior to setting up your listing.  Not only will that help starting out to have all of those reviews, but you will already meet that aspect of the requirements for being a premier partner on that property.

Bo A Vanecko · Answer

not paying a premium actually got a discount on it b/c of the uncertainty in the market...its why we moved...easily would have gone for 10% more in the normal market.  motivated seller so jumped on it...

Luke Carl · Answer

No sir they will not. And You certainly shouldn’t pay a premium just because it has good reviews.  The house is worth what the comps show in a single family home. It’s not multi family where it may be worth more based on performance.

Bo A Vanecko · Answer

perhaps i was wrong on this as i realize that how it was serviced is just as important as the place itself... looks like the listing will transfer with new ownership and start anew ...  but figured still worth seeing if there are ways to maintain the reviews...

Purchase a STR with 100's reviews. Will they transfer?

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