In the days before the pandemic began, AirDeed research has shown Airbnb hosts were earning between $10k – $12k annually from hosting, with this being dragged down by many part-time vacation rentals. You can see now that investing in an Airbnb property can prove to be very profitable if you put in the effort and work hard.

Prospective property investors shouldn’t expect instant revenue. You will need to market your rental in order to attract guests, get reservations, and generate revenue.

What are the advantages of renting an Airbnb rather than traditional rental?

Traditional renting means that a property is purchased to be rented for a set period (typically 6-12 months) to one tenant or group. The opposite is true with short-term rentals, which involves renting a property to guests instead of tenants for a shorter period (typically between a few days and four weeks).

Both traditional renting and Airbnb have their pros and cons. Traditional renting can provide a steady stream of income but owning an Airbnb provides unique benefits.

Higher revenue potential than traditional leases

Airbnb properties offer more rental income than regular property leases. Airbnb hosts have the ability to change their prices at will for maximum revenue during the in-demand months. Traditional rental properties are set with fixed pricing. It is an accepted practice, and Airbnb hosts are able to charge guests more for rentals. This allows them to make more than their landlords.

There is potential to offer additional services

Traditional renting means that a tenant is the only one who occupies a property. The landlord has very little contact with them, which leaves little opportunity for them earn additional income. Hosting an Airbnb property is a way for hosts to earn extra income and offer additional services.

These services may include breakfast, transportation, and even offering Airbnb Experiences to your guests. This can boost your business’s income and allow you to invest in the future.

A more diverse portfolio of guests

A vacation rental host typically has a turnover of many guests per month, unless they provide a long-term rental. A greater guest turnover will result in a larger number of guests staying at your property. A greater number of guests allows you to interact with more people from different walks of life.

You have greater control over your property

Airbnb rentals give you more control than traditional renting. A higher guest turnover means that you can do more frequent inspections and catch potential problems early. It’s also possible to do maintenance work faster than if the property was occupied by a long-term tenant. The best thing about owning a vacation rental property is the freedom to increase or decrease your prices. This is in contrast to the traditional rental, which can lock you into a fixed price for six to twelve months or more. You can also block several nights in your schedule to allow you to stay at the property.

What are the challenges of renting an Airbnb property?

The market is competitive

The short-term rental industry is highly competitive. Hosts and property managers must work hard to maintain the visibility of their business and reach their target audience. You should also keep an eye out for similar businesses and see what marketing strategies they are using. You won’t be left behind by your competitors if you do this.

You will need to follow the regulations of Airbnb in your locality

Different cities and areas have different rules and restrictions for Airbnb. The regulations that apply to your Airbnb property will vary depending on the location. These regulations can vary from mildly to moderately restrictive in terms of how often and how many guests you can accommodate at once.

The time and effort required to manage the property will be significant.

The management of a vacation rental is a time-consuming task that requires you to be able to manage multiple tasks at once. This is a continuous process that will require your attention. It is important that you can handle the constant work involved in maintaining the property.

It could take some time for your efforts to start paying off

It is unlikely that you will immediately see a revenue return. You will need to continue to work hard and tweak your management strategies as necessary to achieve results. A business can become profitable in an average of 1 to 3 years. While this is a rough estimate, remember that success takes time.

You may need to deal with guests who are difficult or poorly behaved.

The host may be faced with difficult guests. You might have guests that make difficult requests or throw an illegal party at your rental. They can also damage or break your property either accidentally or intentionally. Fortunately, they are rare and difficult guests will not book with you. However, you can charge a security fee to prevent them from booking with us.

How to find success in the vacation rental business

Hosts, like all entrepreneurs, face risks and are often challenged. But there are steps you can do to ensure long-term success.

1. Set realistic goals

First, determine your business goals. What goals do you wish to achieve? You can turn these goals into tangible, achievable targets you can reach. It is important to be realistic about the goals and the timelines needed to reach them.

2. Prepare a complete business plan

Next, create a business plan. This will cover every step in creating your company. Your short-term and long-term goals should be included along with any potential setbacks or obstacles. Also, how do you plan to overcome them?

3. Calculate how much capital is required to start a business

Starting a company takes money. You don’t want your expenses to be underestimated. You might consider consulting an Airbnb business consultant, who will review your plan to make recommendations regarding your initial capital. If you don’t have enough money at the moment to invest in your Airbnb, you can look into online lending platforms that provide financing for Airbnb.

4. Find out how much your monthly recurring costs will be

It is also important to calculate your monthly recurring expense. Keep track of the monthly fees for marketing, cleaning, maintenance, and management (if you are employed by one). You will find your monthly recurring cost by adding up all the fixed fees.

5. Calculate your monthly expense and the profit rate that you will require to pay for your occupancy.

Once you know what your fixed monthly costs are, you can determine what rates of occupancy will be required to pay them. You can also calculate what pricing strategy should you use to reach your target. You will also earn a profit from any bookings you make.

6. Calculate how much money you’ll need to keep your business afloat during slow periods or low seasons

Each property rental has a low season as well as quieter times. To keep your rental property afloat, make sure that you have sufficient savings to cover your recurring fixtures.

How to Find the Best Real Estate Investment Property

You don’t have to follow any hard rules when it comes to find your perfect Airbnb rental property. It is a good idea to adhere to some well-known best practices.

Do your research on the zoning laws beforehand

Before you look at potential properties for Airbnb, it is important to understand the area’s zoning and Airbnb regulations. Some areas may restrict the number or prohibit Airbnb rentals. You should first evaluate the area’s zoning laws to determine if they match your goals.

Use a vacation rental company or agent to help you find the right real estate agent

Partnering with an estate agent that specializes in short-term rental real estate is a good option for those who are new to investing or don’t have any previous experience in Property Management.

You can be confident that your decisions will be supported by an expert when you work with one. Talk to the company or agent about your concerns. They will then work with you to find the best real estate investment property.

Make smart investment decisions with analytics

You can also use analytics and data to make intelligent, informed decisions. You can make the most of heatmaps and investment property search engines, as well as Airbnb calculators, to help you choose the right investments for your vacation rental company.

By entering your data and requirements, you can generate relevant metrics to help you determine a property’s cash flow, return on cash, and occupancy rate.

Top 2 Rental Property Investment Data Sites

AirDNA

AirDNA is one the most trusted companies in vacation rental data. AirDNA provides valuable data and insight about over 10 million rentals in more than 800.000 locations around the globe, allowing investors the ability to choose and plan the best properties.

Mashvisor

Mashvisor, a leading rental data analytics firm, is well-known. Mashvisor offers a heat map and a real estate finder. It also has a rental property calculator.

Here are some things to keep in mind when buying an Airbnb investment property

Bigger isn’t always better

It can be tempting for hosts and managers to buy larger properties to allow them to have more guests and earn more profit. When it comes to vacation rental properties, bigger is not always better.

A larger home will be more costly to maintain than an apartment or smaller property. Be sure to have the funds and time to keep your larger investment in real estate.

Keep your target guest in mind

When searching for investment real estate, keep in mind who your target guests are. Your property should appeal directly to your target guests, so make sure you have the features they need.

Consider the location of the investment property if you are looking to attract business travelers. Many will look for Airbnb properties nearby the airport. You can appeal to families by choosing a larger property that can sleep at least four people.

Take into account how you will manage your investment property

It is also important to decide how you want to manage your property. This planning is important before you invest in real estate.

If you plan to manage your property remotely, be sure to include the cost of hiring a local manager. Cleaning, maintenance, and emergency response are other things you should consider.