The popularity of short-term rentals has developed rapidly in recent years. As a Forsyth rental property owner, you might be considering buying or converting one of your properties to a short-term rental. Before you do, it’s a smart idea first to explore both the pros and cons of owning a short-term rental property. Even though short-term rentals are a good fit for some, some investors may find that the quantity of work required isn’t worth it.
Maybe the number one advantage to owning a short-term rental property is the possibility for higher rental income. Short-term rentals usually rent for more per day than a long-term rental would. Therefore, if you can keep your property rented out, you could make quite a little more each month compared to what you received in a long-term lease. Short-term rentals let you increase prices at times of high demand, helping you to maximize your profits.
Another excellent benefit of owning a short-term rental is that it gives a lot of flexibility. Based on how you handle it, you could be renting your property a week at a time or for several months. If your rental property is in a nice vacation spot, you could utilize any vacancies as an opportunity for a personal getaway. You can also conveniently place your property on rental platforms like Airbnb, which does not require leases. You can also remove your listing from those sites at any time if you need to change your property back to a long-term rental.
On the other side, there are a few drawbacks to owning a short-term rental. Despite the fact that there is always great potential for higher income, but that income is a lot less stable. Many short-term rentals endure seasonal fluctuation, which implies your property might remain vacant a lot more than you want. Even though great marketing and creativity might help you avoid this, it’s necessary to keep in mind that even your collective ideas may not be enough. Short-term rentals are very delicate to economic conditions, and economic downturns often result in less demand.
Another significant disadvantage of short-term rentals to remember is that you will have higher costs. Preparing a short-term rental may signify that you need to furnish it and stock it with essentials. If you want your property to be competitive, it should have impressive furnishings and décor. You must also ensure that your tenants have things such as linens, toilet paper, pots and pans, and more. These things should be re-stocked between tenants, which may begin to add up in the long run.
There will also be more cleaning and maintenance required for a short-term rental. In case you’re doing it without anyone’s help, getting the room ready for the next tenant will take quite a bit of your time. But hiring somebody to perform it could be costly, particularly if your property is in high demand. It’s necessary to guarantee that the area is being thoroughly cleaned between tenants and that required maintenance and repairs are being done correctly and on time. Neglecting to do so can lead to bad online reviews and fewer bookings later on.
Lastly, it’s essential to check state and local regulations on short-term rentals. Other cities have made strict regulations banning short-term rentals in some areas, and so have many homeowners’ associations. Since restrictions will vary here and there – and even from neighborhood to neighborhood – it’s essential to do your research before buying or converting a property to use as a short-term rental.
Need help managing your current rental property? Give Real Property Management Vesta a call at 478-257-7055. Or conveniently contact us online.
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