New Host: Air BnB or VRBO?

[Matt Greenfield]

Hey there,

First time caller, big fan of the forums. Currently, I am waiting to receive my STR certification from the local municipality so I figured I would try and get all my ducks in a row in the interim. I live and invest in Charleston, South Carolina and am new to the STR host experience.

I am looking for some up-to-date insight into the Air BnB vrs VRBO (or other online STR rental service) question. I listed a couple talking points below, but any information / tips would be greatly appreciated.

1) Fees

2) Targeted audiences (older vrs younger renters)

3) Customer Service

4) Leads

5) Automated cleaning services / ability to integrate with a third party cleaners 

6) Key policies

7) Onboarding process

[Paul Sandhu]

Originally posted by @Sean McDonnell:

@Paul Sandhu How have you not got a realty TV show yet?

I wonder the same thing every week.  What are some recent highlights?  2 guys processing a deer in my yard. Tenants running the heat and air conditioning at the same time. Seeing a person laying on the ground in front of a property, then calling an ambulance for them.  Turns out that person was a tenant.  He died.  The hospital sent a bill to the apartment of mine he was staying at.  $16,000.  Replacing 3 leaking hot water tanks and the wooden floors underneath them in 3 months.  Walking into an unoccupied place and finding a 2 legged intruder.  Shooting pigeons and squirrels that somehow got into a 3 story house.