It doesn’t matter if it’s a luxury home in Orange Beach or a beachfront condo in Fort Morgan; rental property owners on the Gulf Coast often reach a point where they contemplate whether they should look for a professional management company to assist with their business. If you find yourself in the same situation, this blog is tailored for you.
The first question you should ask is: Do I genuinely possess the stamina and time required to manage all the aspects of my beach rental, or do I see my Gulf Coast real estate primarily as a passive income source?
If you consider short-term rentals as a means to generate a ‘passive income,’ then hiring a professional manager is the best choice for you.
When running a beach rental on the Gulf Coast, or any location for that matter, adopting a ‘set it and forget it’ approach is never a good idea. Short-term rental properties demand considerable effort and constant attention. This is why having an expert on your side can make all the difference.
But how, precisely, do they help?
This blog will tell you five ways a Gulf Coast rental property manager can elevate your business and enhance your income.
1. They support you right from the beginning, helping in the launch and growth of your business.
Whether you’re a newcomer to this industry or expanding your rental portfolio with new properties, Gulf Coast rental property managers can transform your initial short-term rental efforts from ‘challenging’ to ‘effortless.’
From selecting the right furniture and finding professional photographers to crafting an optimal listing description, they got you covered. Property managers will handle all those initial steps or, at the very least, provide guidance as you take your first steps as a property owner.
For example, at Luxury Coastal Vacations, we understand what makes a beach rental stand out in a highly competitive market. As Gulf Coast property managers, we have effective strategies in place, designed to make your rental thrive from the very beginning, from securing bookings to setting the right price and getting your initial outstanding reviews — all crucial aspects for a smooth beginning.
This knowledge proves invaluable not only during the startup phase but also in the continued success of your short-term rental business.
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The beautiful décor of Beach Colony West in Perdido Key, Florida. Property managers on the Gulf Coast can assist you with furniture selection and many other aspects of starting up a new rental unit.
2. They handle daily tasks.
A major aspect of property management revolves around handling daily tasks that can, in truth, become quite repetitive. Having a team of experts available 24/7 ensures continuous monitoring and the management of daily to-dos, guaranteeing your rental stays on the right track.
Here are some of the daily tasks they handle:
- Non-stop customer support
Customer service is one of the most demanding aspects for any short-term rental host, and it’s vital for achieving success with your listing and garnering those coveted five-star reviews.
Communication with guests begins as soon as they show interest in renting your property as they browse online and continues well beyond check-out, involving follow-ups and reviews.
As property managers on the Gulf Coast, we handle an average of 120 guest interactions per month per beach rental. That’s a lot! However, over the years, we’ve learned to implement templates and standard procedures to streamline the process and ensure the highest guest satisfaction.
- Mastering swift responses
An essential part of customer service is responding to inquiries. While presenting your property effectively with great photos and an enticing description can reduce the number of questions, inquiries still come in — and sometimes even in the middle of the night.
In this industry, it’s crucial to respond to these inquiries as quickly as possible, with an average response time of five minutes or less considered ideal.
At Luxury Coastal Vacations, we rely on a guest support team that works around the clock to address questions and requests. The result? Excellent reviews from our guests and more peace of mind for our property owners.
- Handling urgent needs
When dealing with a high turnover of guests in your rentals, unexpected issues can arise. These might include guests being locked outside due to a malfunctioning smart lock or plumbing problems that leave your property without water, and so on.
And these things often happen at the most inconvenient times, such as during your family holiday, for instance.
When the need arises, it’s good to have someone on standby, even better if this person has experience in resolving whatever issue your guest is facing. Enter your trusty rental manager.
At Luxury Coastal Vacations, we not only have a team ready to address and resolve urgent matters, but we also know who to call when these things pop up — the right plumber, the right handyman, and more. It’s a total win-win: we keep your guests happy and your peace of mind intact.
- Taking care of your beach rental
A rental property receives more traffic than a regular home, so it requires extra care. To keep your rental consistently in good shape, it’s crucial to establish robust maintenance routines and conduct regular check-ups.
Having a reliable cleaning staff who can handle the small things, such as monitoring inventory and restocking supplies and amenities, is a good starting point. However, finding the right talent can be challenging.
Gulf Coast professional property managers, like us, usually have this part sorted out by partnering with cleaning companies that have top-notch crews. It’s the perfect combination you need to keep your rental in its best shape.
We maintain a close relationship with our cleaning crew and trust them to report anything that arises. In the rare instances that they overlook something, our inspectors, who conduct routine checks, will spot it with eagle eyes.
3. They embrace complex duties, too.
The rental business can get much more complex than daily assignments. Sometimes, urgent situations arise, involving issues such as plumbing, HVAC, electricity, internet, and so on. When these things happen, it’s essential to act as quickly as you can. In some instances, a delay in fixing the problem could even lead you into legal problems.
This is another pain point where property managers can really help out. Once again, they have the systems in place to take care of things quickly and inexpensively.
Finding contractors who can fix issues without breaking the bank can be a real hassle. They also work to prevent emergencies from happening as much as possible by establishing preventive routines and conducting thorough annual inspections, ensuring items like extinguishers and smoke detectors are in top shape.
At Luxury Coastal Vacations, we have a network of reliable contacts in our little black book of vendors and contractors. These are experts we’ve worked with for years and can get you the best deals thanks to the relationships we’ve built. No need to waste your time searching, briefing, and negotiating.
And we go a step further: we troubleshoot before the specialized vendor arrives.
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Everything in this beautiful Orange Beach condo is kept in pristine condition at all times. Property managers can establish procedures to ensure that your rental is always in top-notch condition for guests.
4. They handle administrative responsibilities.
Running a short-term rental involves more administrative tasks than many new owners initially think — particularly those who consider it a passive income source.
In today’s tech-driven era, software can certainly streamline processes, but the ultimate responsibility for maintaining order still rests with you or your manager.
Admin responsibilities include substantial market analysis and business development. For instance, you’ll need to assess demand in your area and regularly adjust prices to ensure consistently optimal revenue. While tools like Wheelhouse or Pricelabs can be helpful, having someone who understands the ins and outs of the business behind the wheel is even better.
As property managers operating in Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola, and Perdido Key, our dedicated team meticulously tracks numbers and consistently refines rental pricing whenever possible. They are fully committed to perfecting this craft to deliver a great and positive impact
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The Last Mango Beach House in Gulf Shores is consistently booked at the right price for the right guests. That’s one of the perks of having property managers with the know-how of revenue optimization for every day of the year.
5. Guess what: they actually make you (a lot) more money.
We know what you’ve been thinking: all this incredible help comes at the price of high fees, right?
Sure, having someone handle everything for your Gulf Coast rental property comes at a cost, and sometimes it can be quite substantial. But here’s the deal: property managers can actually help you not only cover their fees but also generate a healthy profit on top of them.
Consider how much they can save you by shielding you from expensive contractors and cleaning crews alone. This can often outweigh the commission fees you’re paying, and the benefits don’t stop there.
A top-notch manager can enhance your earnings through their marketing expertise, property improvements, and revenue optimization, attracting more guests to your property.
If they’re anything like us, they’ll have your rental performing among the top 10% for earnings in your area. This means you’ll be putting significantly more money in your pocket, even after they’ve taken their share.
Rental Managers save you time and effort and they make you more money.
Gulf Coast property managers are truly game-changers for your vacation rental business. Their role goes beyond mere operational management, handling the daily tasks, addressing challenging issues, or dealing with demanding administrative work. They also give a real boost to the revenue of your beach rental.
Thanks to their help, your main concern will shift from managing everything to deciding how to make the best use of all the extra time and money you’ll be getting.
