All Forum Posts by: Luke Carl

@Ken Boone I never would have guessed it was your first VR ;) 

Don't bother trying to book guests off platform. Maybe if it's their 3rd or 4th visit and you know you can trust them. But even then... not worth it. I love @Paul Sandhu but he's doing a whole different thing. 

You're getting ahead of yourself. Start booking guests on vrbo and airbnb and you'll figure it all out. Been in your shoes... It's not worth standing in them for too long. Just get up and running and move on. A website is a waste of time. Maybe if this was 2004 a website for bookings might be worth it. 

Property Managers in the Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg area charge 40%. 30% if you're lucky. If you don't self manage you wont make money. Self managing is easy! I do it with 5 cabins and I have a day job. Nothing to it! 

My pricing comes from my brain. I change my prices daily, sometimes multiple times per day depending on the season and occupancy. I could never use or trust a pricing website much like I could never use or trust airdna. My compulsive obsessing does me much better than a website possibly could. There are many people using and having success with such things, it’s just not for me. As for deadbolts and thermostats.... I won’t reply here. It’s too much for one thread. I’ll leave it to the president Paul Sandhu even though the “ultimate thread” was my idea ;) Hit em with the Hein!

We have a a URL that links to our Airbnb profile page if we need to quickly send a link to all properties via text or if it comes up in conversation.

We have business cards with the URL on the kitchen counter at all of our cabins along with koozies for @Avery Carl that say "This Cabin Is Not For Sale" on one side and "But if you want one, call Avery Carl" on the other side. Hard to say if the koozies work because Avery's phone seems to not stop ringing regardless. She's got quite the niche. She's a remote self manager (with my help) that sells cabins in the smoky mountains to other remote self managers and gives them the resources they need to self manage. It's not something you'll find every day in any market. **Insert @Paul Sandhu wife joke here**

No one seems to take the koozies or the business cards. I think it's more that they think they're not supposed to than anything. 

Setting up the airbnb profile page is very easy and somewhat similar to a facebook page with links directly to your properties. We maintain close to 90 percent occupancy year round. Hard to ask for more than that. Although I'm jealous that @Shelby Pracht is getting it done with just one platform that's rockstar! 

I'd be surprised if this link has converted one booking. It's more just easy access when a friend or family member asks to see them. But we also have a zero friends and family policy (meaning zero discounts). Learned that the hard way. 

Paul Sandhu I agree with most of the advice here. Although it’s starting to get a bit ridiculous. I wouldn’t be worried about Tom Gimer comment that seems a bit much but I’m also small potatoes. I agree most with Julie McCoy My first instinct when I was reading the OP was that you should raise your prices and see what happens. Although I’m more of a prices medium-low and butts in the seat kind of guy, it seems this is an opportunity to test the waters. Do you have return stays? Will they be annoyed that your price was more than last time? Will you honor the old price for return guests if that’s the case? For us when we have people come back they generally just instant book and don’t even ask us about price. But this is a different ballgame. You’re already 90% full. You’re doing everything right. Up to and including worrying so much about your business that you post your thoughts on this forum. Bravo! As for the TVs Walmart has a 32” for $99. Check with the old hotel and see if they’ll take $30 and if they’re decent. I realize you need a TON of TVs but I’d rather pay $99 for a new one than half that for 8 year old junk. I’m sure you can find a better price on line with some shopping. Will the hotel go up for sale or sit vacant? All questions were rhetorical. Good luck bud! Sounds like you’ve got a lot of good problems to have!

There is a Short Term/Vacation Rental forum on here. Spend some time hanging out over there and get to know the cast of characters Paul Sandhu for president.

Hey Ken Boone craigslist won’t help you Paul Sandhu is doing a whole different thing. You don’t need a website. At least not right now. Just get it up on vrbo and AirBnB and get the ball rolling here’s the link to sync calendars I don’t know why this question is asked so much lol http://www.vrcalendarsync.com/faq/how-to-sync-your-vrbo-and-airbnb-accounts-to-vr-calendar-sync/ Happy to jump on a 1 hour call and teach you everything you need to know I do it often for BPers. No strings. Good luck!

Russell Gronsky you’re joking right? LMGTFY http://www.vrcalendarsync.com/faq/how-to-sync-your-vrbo-and-airbnb-accounts-to-vr-calendar-sync/

@Chris Cantrell If you were in my market I'd talk to you! @Julie McCoy Self Manages in TWO different markets Remotely. She is a total pro. 

Jeff Oberts and don’t forget to send your guests and make them sign the rental agreement (easier done on vrbo than AirBnB) that says “if you break your finger it’s not my problem” so these situations never occur.