All Forum Posts by: Mark Futalan

@Erick Jimenez

Hi Erick,

I have 2 STR's in La Quinta that I manage remotely from LA. Feel free to reach out should you have any specific questions.

Mark

@Pablo Flores

Hi Pablo. I have properties out in your area. I’ve used Tadd Dorazio Photography. He’s based out of Palm Springs and did a great job for us with photos and his photos helped launch our listings on Airbnb Plus.

Whether it's arbitrage, vacation rental investing, STR's, corporate leases, whether you own, sub lease properties etc., I think in one way or another everyone is effected by what's been going on in the market recently. And for those who think not, take a look in the mirror. We've seen lost revenue, cancelled bookings, our personal investments lose money, schools being cancelled, people working remotely, and people in fear about the future. I was at the store today, lines were out the door, people preparing for the worst and never in my wildest dreams would I think I would have to worry about trying to find a role of toilet paper! We should all remember we are all in this together and this community just helps us through. Stay safe.

@Daniel Chun

The Wink hub is needed to add/delete codes to Schlage lock remotely. Samsung SmartThings can do the same thing. You can add up to 30 codes per lock I believe. Yes I add the codes through the wink hub app and add/delete them through there

We just use the saved templates on Airbnb and save it to guests the day of check in. We use the Schlage smart locks with Wink 2 hub. It’s worked out fine but what we end up doing is giving guests 2 codes...one that we know works and one that we recently inputted. That way if one fails or there is WiFi issues. there is always a back up. We will delete and change them around every so often.

As of today, Airbnb’s extenuating circumstance policy allows for reservations booked before 3/13 for any period between 3/13-3/31 to receive a full refund do the corona virus outbreak.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/13/airbnb-extends-no-charge-cancellation-policy-due-to-coronavirus/

Our cleaning company and/or guests let us know if there are maintenance issues that come up. I have a list of handyman, plumbers, a/c guys etc that I have saved numbers for and give them a call when needed. Also use the NextDoor app to find trustworthy people that neighbors around my property use and have had good experiences with. I find that useful. Currently using a referral from ND to fix a small roof leak on one of my STR's. Handyman who's a roofer by trade for 30+ years.

@John D.

Wow is an understatement haha. Been doing the same as well the past 2 days. That’s a reasonable option. My only concern is that we give them full refunds and have them rebook to October and they turn around and cancel within 48hrs of our strict cancellation policy. But maybe this is something we can structure internally with Airbnb on their end..

@John D.

How are you and your team handling the tennis tournament and Coachella cancellations with Airbnb? I have a strict cancel policy but many guests are private messaging us for full refunds and Airbnb is calling us as well to see if we would like to do any type of refund.

Already seeing some repercussions with the STR market. We just had a major tennis BNP tournament in Indian Wells CA cancelled. Travelers are already concerned and asking about cancellation and refund options. We have a Coachella and stage coach music festival next month and fear the same fate.