So how would you know “exactly” what happens in them? Unless of course… you have….cameras.

Interesting.  I have a bunch of rentals and the cap rate on them has been stupid low for the last few years.  Been seriously considering liquidating them and trying to find vacation properties to do this with.  

How do you find out if something is going wrong?  Does the cleaning crew call you and tell you about it?  

What would you say are the biggest pitfalls someone new at this should avoid?

Or I've been the guy banging a chick in one.

We have great cleaners and support teams. The biggest pitfall is buying the wrong bedroom count for the area.

Touché

Send me the info on Hocchie-Town. Thats in my AO, and may run to Antlers for a new side by side. Actually had family in the area, (Nashoba) till my grandmother passed away a few months ago. Grew up hunting the area and remember when nothing was there.

Rented a place in Hochatown earlier this year. Nice place, shit management. Was out of propane and had no hot water. Got it resolved eventually, but the managers were less than amicable and didnt care that we were taking cold showers for a 1/3 of ours stay. Really love the lake though.

How do you go about figuring out what the correct bedroom count for the area is?

You have to go through all the cabins in the area. Airdna is a good resource for that.

We own a place in Maui and STR it. It’s a dual purpose play for us as we’ll retire out there in a few years for half the year and continue renting it out the other half. In the mean time we stay there 3 or 4 times a year now and do normal maintenance/upgrades while out there for not only tax purposes but guest experience.

We have a very simple philosophy and we state it on our rental page, “If it’s not good enough for us it’s not good enough for you as we all use the same stuff!” We respect people spending their hard earned money on our place and want them to enjoy it, we’d be horrified if something we did, didn’t do, or missed affected their enjoyment of it and the value they should be getting.

We respond within minutes to inquiries or questions, have good communication and make no money on the cleaning fees or tax collection. Check out consists only of optionally bringing out the trash/recycle and starting a load of laundry before leaving, not required however and they’re told so. Helps the cleaner on same day turn around and they appreciate it.

We’re 2600 miles away in WA State so proper planning is important. First is have a cleaner you can rely on and trust, this is the single most important thing if you’re not close by. Have a local that can help with immediate unforeseen issues if it can’t wait and affects the guests use of or security of your property. Be up front about the properties offerings and drawbacks (if any), communicate clearly and ensure through your listing and words they feel like you give a shit and aren’t some dollar chasing slumlord. Do these things and the reviews will reflect it and so will your bookings.

It would frankly all be far easier if I didn’t give a shit and let the chips fall where they may as long as the money keeps flowing, but I’m not built that way. Call it karma, respect or just plain old self interest but it’s paying the freight 100%+…

Also on the topic of reviews, we ask them for a positive review and let them know we’ll be leaving one for them as well! Of the hundreds of reviews we’ve gotten only one was less than 5 stars and that was from someone who stated the bedroom was too warm for them even though on the front page of our listing it states there is no A/C in the bedroom and it can get warm. Ugh, but I guess it’s like getting that first scratch on a brand new car so it’s over with, the shitty part is we’ll never get to perfect 5 stars as it’s not possible after getting one that is less…

Do you ever walk through with a black light to designate areas for extra cleaning?

Black Hilles, eh. Want to buy another one?

Maybe.

You sound exactly like me.

Do you change the covers and comforter?  If yes, how frequently.

What if a home owner states that a rental is a 5 bedroom? 1 of the alledged bedrooms is a screened in patio with twin couches. 1 bedroom is a room with no closet, windows, or furniture other than a futon that you can't open up when actually standing in the room (slightly larger than an open futon). Air conditioning inop. $8500 iirc for 5 nights. Pay in advance, no refunds...
I wanted my pound of flesh. My siblings disagreed.

ETA; corrections. No longer a rental either that I can find. I hope a herd of stinking hippies trashed the place.

We wash them each turn. We buy the quick dry comforters.

Airbnb would have refunded you. I hope you left them a review.