All Forum Posts by: Mark Futalan

Couldn't agree more. As much as we strive for 5 stars, that's not reality. The reality is there will be times (hopefully far less) where we don't meet a guest expectation for whatever reason. Remember we are dealing with multiple personalities and people from all walks of life. Everyone is different and expectations can be different. Any STR operator can relate to this. I do like the idea of responding to all your reviews good or bad because if you respond to only the bad, you highlight that review more. And remember when you respond the the bad, be as professional and courteous as you can because it is a public review. I don't know how many times I've seen responses that were very negative and demeaning in tone. You don't want your future guests to see that.

@Rachel Kokosenski

Hi Rachel,

I think that's a great strategy and one that can do really well. As some may have mentioned, the desert has been mostly a destination for STR's. I'm seeing a strong interest in the area for medium term to long term stays (2-3, 6 months, 1year etc) but this can partly be driven to the pandemic and people's ability to work remotely. As far as snow birds, the winter time is a very popular time and there is demand for long term rentals during this time but with the pandemic and travel restrictions, I'm not sure how that will fair out at least for this year. With people traveling habits and work routines changing, I think this mid term stays will be something that will continue in some form in the future. With longer than 30 day stays, you avoid TOT, turnover, less work and restock of supplies etc that you find with an STR. I wouldn't completely rule out STR because there are months typically March and April that more lucrative than others. So if you can find a place that allows that flexibility that's a good thing. I will have a 6 month furnished lease on one of my places coming up in the next month. I'm considering a hybrid approach going forward during the year of STR and medium term leases.

@Dawn Vu

Sent you a PM. Happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

@Steve Fitzgerald

No parties or large gatherings should be stated in your house rules. Most cities have occupancy requirements for STR's or even permit requirements for large events. Your guest probably wasn't having a "party" per say, but the large gathering was enough to bother your neighbors with the traffic and cars in the driveway. A suggestion you can do is also put a cap on the number of vehicles at the property in your listing along with the total number of guests you are allowed or would allow in your home.

@Mike R.

Yes JT and Yucca Valley have been on the map lately especially with everything going on, we are seeing huge demand for JT and it’s surrounding parks.

I can definitely imagine Big Bear! Was always curious about seasonality as I’ve heard mixed messages but glad your doing well out there!

@Mike R.

Yes there are opportunities throughout the Coachella valley. Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, La Quinta, Indio, Cat City, Rancho Mirage, Bermuda Dunes just to name a few. All have their own set of STR requirements but definitely less restrictive than PS.

@James M.

We own properties in the La Quinta area which is further down the Coachella valley. Not sure where your hearing that Palm Desert is STR friendly, it's actually quite opposite last I heard. If they are zoned R1-R2, which is a majority of where homes are located, STR's are prohibited. If you can find some outside those zones, there could be opportunities. You are correct about PS, they are very restrictive and most investors seem to have better luck on return with other cities in the Coachella valley with less restriction as PS and for far less money. And with everything in close proximity to each other, travelers don't mind the extra drive.

@Padric Lynch

That may limit your marketability a bit because people look to stay in Airbnb’s for that very reason, to cook and have access to laundry especially if those stays are longer.

@Roy Hu

More bedrooms definitely means more money in terms of what you can charge per night since you can sleep more people. Most standard homes are 2-3 bedroom so those with 4,5,6 and up you might have a niche that smaller homes can’t provide. With that though comes other issues like more cleaning resulting from wear and tear from larger groups and also more potential for problems with noise, parking , neighbors complaining etc. Also, from what I’ve seen, most bookings have to be pre planned with larger groups as compared to a small family just getting away for the weekend.

@Chris Mury

It took me a good 2-3 months to set up my properties (light remodel, paint, furnishing, professional photos etc) but then again, I did this on weekends driving up from LA. You have a good advantage if you living in one of the units. The quicker you can get set up and go live, the better as people tend to plan out their days with the next 1-3 months. The pandemic has changed things a bit but I’ve seen demand pick up heavily in our area.