All Forum Posts by: Travis Rasmussen

@Randy Dickerhoff

Superhost here, you can check out local Airbnb's and see if they are booked up. You can also check occupancy rates and demand seasons on Airdna.co (not .com) Airdna does charge for it's service though.

@Ansel Troy

As an Airbnb superhost myself, I agree with the main post. It's a great business model, but everything he pointed out is on point.

@Brandon Moore

Welcome Brandon! I'm pretty close to you (we're up in Temecula area) and am doing the same thing investing in FL! :)

We currently have 1 property out there and are in Escrow for the 2nd!

@Frank Boet

Superhost here, just wanted to chime in and say you are asking the RIGHT questions. When people are looking to buy a STR, I ask "why are people traveling to the area." This is going to help you stay booked and run a great STR. Congrats and good luck!

@Raymond Brown

It's completely possible to manage a rental long distance. I would just recommend it's a place you plan to visit at least 1/year so you personally can at least get eyes on it.

I manage our rentals in Florida here from CA. Most of the work is on the computer/smartphone. It's getting the right systems in place and having a fantastic cleaner/on-call team.

@Mark Futalan

I really try to avoid it when possible.

Here's why-

I just had someone checking out recently that asked for a 3pm check out (we have someone checking in at 4pm). When I declined saying I have someone checking in the same day, the pressed it for 12pm. I stood politely firm, letting them know we sadly cannot accommodate requests like these as easily as hotels as when someone books are property, they are booking our whole property. It also takes 4-5 hours for my cleaners to properly clean the house and we would like to get it ready for the next guest.

When this person checked out, it was horrible. I would have had a horrible review from the next guest because there would have been no way the place would be ready on time.

The other time someone asked for late check out last minute, I gave them an extra hour, but they took an extra 2 hours to leave the property. Sadly, this tends to be the consistency when people ask for late check out. 

Sadly, always assume people will leave an hour later than their normal check out time. So if you give them an hour, you are now looking at 2 hours down. 

I always try to allow early check in. I even pass the guests number off to my cleaner so they can call when it's ready. But it is a good habit to be firm (but polite) on late check out. 

@Tyler Work

Looks like we were all off

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1857/what-is-t...

it's about 3%, I also confirmed with a random sample of my bookings that 3% was consistent. Mind you, I am only referring to the charge to hosts.

@Amy Kendall

There in Florida. There are many travel destinations that people go to there--also, it's a lot more affordable than CA!

@Alon Maoz

Did you decide on anything else? 

@Amy Kendall

Oo! I love this kind of stuff.

My wife and I invest out of state with Vacation Rentals, primarily Airbnb. We own 1, closing on a 2nd, and want to get more.

We started out just doing extra rooms in our house and we have learned a lot, and you ARE ABSOLUTELY asking the right questions.

To dive right into it, the first thing I always recommend is to ALWAYS buy not only where it is legal, but we prefer to buy in places that already have established regulation. As in, I rather buy in a city that is going to tax me on my vacation rental, but has decided they are legal there. Compared that to a city that has not passed regulation, but I am hoping and praying my STR can stay...a well....STR.

We personally don't allow people to stay in our properties more than 2 weeks. Primarily, that's because we live in CA where it's very tenant friendly. Someone stays in your property 30 days and that are gifted what seems to be more rights than that of the property owner. 

If you are doing this not just as a "2nd home" I always encourage to look at Year-Round travel destinations. There are many that people are ALWAYS traveling too. I like that idea of my "slow season" not being so slow. I also love the consistency. 

Flood insurance, depends on the area. I hope this helps!