All Forum Posts by: Stephen Stefanini
Stephen Stefanini has started 1 posts and replied 7 times.
Post: Orbirental - thoughts?
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
I was in the same dilemma: Orbirental vs. HostAway. I ultimately decided to throw down the $ and try HostAway because I never got a personal response from Orbirental regarding a few questions I had. My chat messages to them are still unread (1.5 weeks after posting).
I am about halfway finished with onboarding at HostAway and have had several hiccups, but I think it will work out in the end; their customer support seems to be on top of it.
Post: Airbnb tools for managing multiple listings
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
Originally posted by @J-Ryan Stewart:
Guesty isn’t even the best, but they certainly made me a lot of money when I was using them, in the form of time!
@J-Ryan Stewart: What software is better than Guesty? When / What were the circumstasnces that motivatef you to move away from using Guesty?
Post: STR / Airbnb Tax advice
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
So, here is my specific situation (I should have put this in my original post):
1 STR operating since Nov. 2017
1 LLC, which is operating the STR
Average length of stay is between 3-6 days
Everything is being run through the LLC's bank
Questions:
- Should I do the taxes myself (I've been a turbotax user in the past)
- Should I hire an accountant?
- Do I need a CPA?
- What else should I be asking that I have not thought of yet?
Post: STR / Airbnb Tax advice
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
This is the first end of tax year for my STR business. I've done my own taxes for years, but this will be my first time with an LLC & small business.
Any advice regarding taxes or accounting?
Post: Airbnb tools for managing multiple listings
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
Originally posted by @Andrew Wong:
Originally posted by @Rick Baggenstoss:
@Andrew Wong Did you evaluate SmartBnb? Anyone evaluate SmartBnb and NOT like it?
I evaluated SmartBnb, I really liked it. But it's not a property management system.
My issue was that I was bringing on someone to my team to help me, someone who wasn't there from the start. My partner and I had everything on Google Drive in various docs and excel sheets. But for someone new, having to decipher everything and try to realize what is happening, we needed some software to help with that.
SmartBnb helped with messaging, but I needed a place to centralize messaging across platforms, keep track of tasks, ability to modify listings in one place, amongst other things. Pretty much consolidate information in an easy way in one place for people to look.
@Andrew Wong So what software packages are you using to help with onboarding new employees, centralize messaging, keep track of tasks, modify listings, etc.?
Post: Active Airbnb hosts on the BP forum
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
Originally posted by @Chris Moore:
I do it in the bay area of California and increased my monthly gross 35% over my long term tenant. But there is a serious learning curve. I just kind of jumped in. I think everyone has to find their style and whats right for their market. I hate air bnb host relations so I am currently signing up for the other hosting sites.
Chris Moore, would you mind expanding on what you mean by host relations? Also, what other hosting sites are you considering?
Post: Residential or commercial property dilemma
- Santa Clara, CA
- Posts 7
- Votes 4
Hi Sarita,
Welcome to the world of REI! I am also new to the industry. I am planning on investing in multifamily properties as well. My thoughts are I want to have a large number of units and apartment buildings cater to that well.
I don't have any experience upon to answer your question, but I do have a few for you:
How did you decide upon which cities you want to invest in?
What other criteria have you decided upon for your investments?
What other criteria are you considering / debating about?
:)
-Steve