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What Does a Property Inspection Cover?

When you are thinking of buying an investment property to rent out as an Airbnb in Scottsdale, AZ or another kind of rental property, you’ll want to have a property inspection done. A property inspection isn’t always mandatory according to your lender, but they are recommended. The following are some things that the property inspector will look at.

Windows

The property inspector will carefully assess the condition of the windows, looking for signs of insulation failure. They won’t necessarily inspect every single window in the property, but enough to determine the general condition of the windows.

Fireplace

Fireplaces are also thoroughly examined. Property inspectors check for indicators of wear that suggest a fireplace hasn’t been cleaned or maintained on a regular basis. They also inspect for potential fire threats, such as creosote accumulation on the walls of the chimney.

HVAC

The complete HVAC system, including the heating, cooling and plumbings systems, is examined by property inspectors. They’re specifically searching for signs of corrosion, leaks, mold development, and ventilation issues. In addition to the major components, they will thoroughly examine the tubing and wiring connections.

Electrical Problems

The electrical connections in the property will be examined by the property inspector. Any evident electrical issues, as well as situations that violate local and state construction codes, such as the absence of GFI outlets in rooms with running water, such as the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms, will be documented. Every outlet, circuit breaker, fixture, and switch will be inspected.

Hand Rails and Banisters

The stability and proper installation of safety and guard rails and stairway banisters will be checked. This will include problems like shaky banisters that are not tightly connected to the walls, or areas where one or more balusters are missing. The property inspection report will also mention areas that should have safety railings but which are lacking. Railings along balconies, deck and pool areas are examples of locations that will be assessed.

A property inspection will help to ensure that your potential new rental property is actually a good investment. Once you are ready to start accepting tenants, get property management services in Scottsdale, AZ so your passive income stream can begin! Contact us for more information to get started.

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3 Reasons Social Media Advertising Is Important for Short-Term Rentals

When it comes to marketing any business, social media is an invaluable tool that you have right at your fingertips for free. When an owner with several properties needs help from a short-term property management company in AZ, they often need help with advertising. Social media is a good place to start. Here is a quick look at three reasons social media advertising is important in the short-term rental business.

Make your property feel more accessible

Placing visual imagery of your short-term rentals on social media makes the property feel accessible or even approachable. Instead of going through a big-name website to get insight into your rentals, a prospective guest gets a first-hand look at the property on a platform that feels familiar. The social media user can navigate through things like property details and pictures that you include in posts as they browse their feed.

Get your property before target guests

If there are certain attributes about your property that you know are most attractive to prospective guests, social media makes it possible to get your advertisements in front of the right people. For example, if the property has an amazing beach view that is perfect for wedding ceremonies, center your post around these property attributes to make it shareworthy. It is bound to gain attention from people who are interested in such a rental.

Build a recognizable reputation as a brand

Social media makes it possible to build your reputation as a host. As a host, don’t neglect the fact that you are a business owner, and in a lot of ways, your reputation becomes your brand image. By regularly posting on social media and interacting with commenters, you can foster that sense of connection with your business brand. This recognition can support long-term success and business sustainability.

Get Help with Social Media Marketing for Short-Term Rentals in AZ

When done properly, social media marketing can be a highly effective and efficient component of your marketing plan, and a short-term property manager in AZ can help. Reach out to us at Sojourn Properties LLC to get a free property evaluation or find out how we can help keep your short-term rentals profitable.

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How to Attract Guests to Your Vacation Rental During Off-Seasons

A top reason owners reach out to a vacation rental management service in AZ with their vacation rentals is that they are struggling to maintain consistent profits. While you may have no problem at all keeping your units filled during heavy travel seasons, sometimes, it can be difficult to attract guests when traveling seasons slow. Our full-service airbnb management company in Scottsdale offers a few ways you may be able to attract guests to your vacation rentals during the off-seasons.

Adjust your pricing model

If you keep your pricing pretty stable regardless of the time of year, this can have a lot to do with how attractive your units are during non-peak travel times. The rental market can be highly competitive when you have a lot of travelers in the area. Therefore, you can afford to ask for higher per-night costs and still have no trouble keeping units filled. When traveling slows, more units become available, so you will have to adjust your pricing models to remain competitive.

Consider your target guest

While you may know your target guest in the summer or during busy travel seasons well, your guests may look totally different during off-seasons. For example, if you have frequent guests that stay in your units in the summer for festivals, those guests are not going to be looking for a place to stay in the winter. Therefore, you may have to adjust your marketing strategy to better target travelers that are coming to town for business, for the holidays, to visit family, etcetera.

Amp up your marketing efforts

During busy travel seasons, you may not have to do a great deal of marketing. People already have travel plans, and they already know they need a place to stay. However, when busy travel seasons pass, you may have to do a little legwork to get your vacation rental noticed. For example, if you normally don’t do a lot of social media advertising, it may be time to amp up those efforts when heavy travel times subside.

Find Help with Vacation Property Management in AZ to Keep Profits Flowing

With the proper strategies in place, your vacation rental property can remain profitable throughout the year. If you struggle with renting your property during off-seasons, it may be time to talk to a property manager in AZ. Reach out to us at Sojourn Properties LLC to find out how we can help.

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Starting An Airbnb Business? 3 Tips To Make It Work 

Are you starting an Airbnb business? There are many ways that you can make your business work. Setting goals, thinking of your customers, and having a plan for maintaining your properties can all help. In this article, we’ll talk about three ways to make your Airbnb business work.

1. Set Goals, Re-Assess Regularly

Every business person must be able to set goals for their business and work toward those goals. How much money would you like your property to make in the first month? The first year? What kind of guests would you like to attract – large groups? Families?

How much would you like to grow your business in the first year? And in the second?

Making these goals is important. It’s also important to re-assess your goals on a regular basis, and revise them as needed. Life doesn’t always go the way you want it to, so it’s important to maintain flexibility.

2. Think of Your Customers

Thinking of your customers and their needs is important. Hopefully, you know which type of customers your property is most likely to attract. Make a profile of your customers and what they’re most likely to want from your property, then find ways to make your property more user-friendly and welcoming for your potential guests.

Is your Airbnb a spring-break getaway destination? You’re going to need lots of beds, outdoor and indoor dining areas and plenty of bathrooms for all the guests who may be staying in your property at once.

No matter what kind of guests your Airbnb will attract, you should expect that they’ll want your property to be managed by a capable Airbnb property management in Scottsdale AZ.

3. Have a Plan for Maintaining Your Properties

Maintaining an Airbnb property can be tough, especially if you’re not living in the area. That’s why it’s important to work with a property management company in Scottsdale AZ.

When you’re looking for a property management company that will meet your needs, check their references and policies for maintaining properties. Price isn’t everything! The management company you choose should have a good reputation and great customer service. For more information about maintaining your Airbnb, call today.

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Attract More Guests With An Airbnb Listing That Stands Out 

Attracting good Airbnb guests is very important! The more guests you get, and the better quality guests that you attract, the more successful your Airbnb business will be. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to make your property more attractive to guests. It helps to work with a property management company in Scottsdale AZ – and it’s helpful to follow the advice below.

Take Professional Pictures

Most guests shop with their eyes as much as they shop by reading the descriptions of properties. Getting professional pictures taken of your Airbnb home is important for attracting guests.

Professional real estate photographers know how to take pictures of rooms so they appear light-filled and spacious. You’d be amazed how much difference it can make to get your real estate pictures professionally taken.

Create a Complete Listing

Give as much description as you can of your property so that potential guests will know what they’re getting when they rent your property. Are there interesting attractions in the area around your property? Is your property conveniently located? What are the greatest benefits of visiting your property? Provide all of this information in the description. Other information to give your potential guests include:

  • How many people could potentially sleep there?
  • How many parking spaces are available?
  • What are the rules of the property?
  • What do you provide on-site for visitors? What must guests provide of their own?
  • What makes your property unique?

Offer Small Touches

One way to attract guests is to offer a “welcome gift” to your guests – and let them know that they’ll be offered the gift when they check-in. You can also offer your guests a guide of local attractions, so they’ll have an easier time navigating the area. Most important of all is to let guests know they’ll have access to this when they check in to the property.

Know Your Guests

Know who your guests are and what their priorities are, so you can cater to their needs, and craft your listing to speak to their needs. Don’t forget to mention that you get property management services in Scottsdale to let guests know that your property is well-maintained! All guests need to know the property where they check-in will be clean and well-maintained.

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What Extras Should Airbnb Hosts Provide and Which Ones Are Nice But Optional?

Do you own an Airbnb rental in Scottsdale, AZ, or anywhere else for that matter? If so, you’ve probably been wondering which extras you need to provide and which ones you don’t. Or are you even obligated to provide any extras at all? Besides, do extras really make that much difference to your guests?

The answer is yes and no.

Let’s go into that a bit further.

Do I Have to Provide Extras with My Airbnb Rental?

No, you don’t have to provide extras with your Airbnb rental. Your guests probably aren’t going to rate you on your extras. However, they will decide whether to come back and whether to leave you a good review based on how well your rental met their needs.

Do Rental Extras Really Make a Difference?

Yes, they do, but you don’t need to go overboard. What makes your rental popular is how comfortable and convenient it is. Therefore, providing coffee pods, snacks, and other little niceties will make your guests’ stay comfortable and convenient because you anticipated their needs. This way, your guests don’t have to lift a finger or go out of their way to cover what most people consider a basic but not necessary need.

So that leads to the next question. Which extras are basic and should be included as part of a guest’s stay and which ones are nice but optional?

Basic Airbnb Amenities That Should Be Included with Every Stay

Here are some of what we consider basic Airbnb amenities that should be included with every stay.

  • Highspeed WiFi – lets face it, this is an absolute MUST in any property to be successful!
  • Coffee pot, coffee, creamer
  • Soap, shampoo, body wash
  • Hairdryer
  • Toilet paper, tissues
  • Sheets, blankets
  • Minimum one pillow per guest
  • Minimum one towel and washcloth per guest

Optional Airbnb Amenities That Are Nice but Not Necessary

Most Airbnb management services in Scottsdale, AZ will tell you that while the following amenities are not necessary, they will make a difference in how comfortable and convenient your rental is for your guests. Therefore, we highly recommend you go ahead and include these extras.

  • Ironing board, iron, and clothes baskets
  • Laundry detergent (even if your rental doesn’t have a washer)
  • A variety of phone chargers
  • Snacks such as popcorn, nuts, pretzels, etc.
  • A guidebook with area activities, restaurants and their menus, directions, and hours, etc.
  • A pool table, ping pong table, or foosball table.

And if you really want to up your game and set yourself up for great reviews and extra bookings, try providing luxury amenities. These could be anything from high-end linens and towels, his and her robes, movie streaming, a welcome basket, or anything else you think your guests might appreciate.

The Bottom Line

Anything you do that goes above and beyond what your competitors are doing is going to make your rental all that much more successful and profitable. The best thing to do is to put yourself in your guests’ shoes and think about what you might need if it were your stay. Just make sure what you’re doing is budget-friendly and not ultimately costing you more than you are making.

What’s Next?

If you don’t have the time to manage your Airbnb rental or are tired of the everyday churn of dealing with guests, their questions, and issues, please Contact Sojourn Properties today. We offer a variety of Airbnb management services in Scottsdale, AZ.

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Here’s Every Detail You Need to Include in Your Airbnb Listing

When potential guests read your Scottsdale, AZ Airbnb listing, they do so to see if it will meet their personal, family, business and/or vacation needs. Your listing is the only front-facing marketing piece that you have to convert someone who’s just browsing into a paid guest. Make sure that you take advantage of every opportunity to express all that your Airbnb offers by including plenty of information. Here are the details that should be included in your Airbnb listing.

What Floor It’s On

Many travelers have special needs and can’t manage stairs. They’ll be looking to see what floor your Airbnb unit is on, so make sure you tell them. If it’s on a second floor, mention how many stairs there are, or if there is elevator access.

Proximity to Food Stores

Your guests will need to access food right away. Let them know with a map screenshot or detailed information how close the nearest food stores are. Also include the name of the stores and distinguish between small corner markets and full-product grocery stores.

Nearby Dining

Be sure to mention nearby dining establishments with a brief description of the style and type of cuisine. For instance, you could say: “Within a 5-block radius there is a Mexican taco stand, an Argentinian fine dining establishment, a take-out pizza place and a fast-food American hamburger place.”

Disposable Amenities Supplied

No guest wants to arrive only to find there’s not so much as a square of toilet tissue or hand soap in the unit. Allow guests to prepare by listing exactly what you will provide. Specify that it’s “starter” supplies so you don’t have to refill paper products for long-stay guests. (Note that it’s good practice to include starter supplies of bathroom tissue, hand soap, paper towels and dish soap.)

Refund Policy

You can avoid sticky situations by plainly explaining your refund policy upfront. The Airbnb listing platform provides a special field for this, but go the extra mile and detail how any refund will be provided and on what terms.

The more detailed information you can provide in your Airbnb listing, the fewer disappointed guests you will have. Your Airbnb management company in Scottsdale, Arizona will help keep guests happy, too. For more information about Airbnb management, please contact us.

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How to Choose a Location For Your Airbnb

If you’re looking for an investment property to buy so you can use it as an Airbnb, location is doubly important. Many Airbnb guests choose their accommodations based on their location first, and other things like amenities, second. After all, the perfect Airbnb is no good if it’s in the wrong location. Choosing a location for your Airbnb can be challenging, but these tips will make it easier.

Consider Access to Highways

Ideally, your Airbnb will be easy to find off the interstate. Guests who are coming in from out of town will be unfamiliar with small, local roads and may be wary about traveling down lonely country lanes in unknown locales. You don’t need to have your Airbnb in the city center, unless you want that, but reasonable access without the need for a four-wheel drive vehicle is usually best.

Look at Tourist Activity

The most successful Airbnbs are often located in touristy areas. Look at how many tourists come to any place you’re considering. Is the town a “drive-by,” or do tourists come to linger for a few days? You want to have your Airbnb situated in a place where tourists are attracted to.

Review Local Area Attractions

Another thing to look at is the number of area attractions. Try to choose a place where there is a lot to entertain people of all ages. It doesn’t have to be near Disneyland, but it should be near natural or man-made attractions. Ideally, those attractions should be either numerous or so complex that they require stay-overs to get the full experience. Note that when looking at management for your Airbnbs, you don’t have to do the work. You can hire an Airbnb management company to take care of your Airbnb rental for you. This can even include providing pamphlets and ticket information about local area attractions.

Use these tips as a guideline when looking at various investment properties to use as your Airbnb. If you can tick most of the items on this list, then chances are you’ll meet most of the requirements of your future Airbnb guests. For full-service help managing your Airbnb property, please contact us today!

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Secrets to Better Airbnb Reviews

As an experienced Airbnb host, you may already know that the key to more and better bookings is great reviews. Hosts with more positive reviews get ranked better on the Airbnb platform and are better able to charge higher rates. Positive reviews have also been proven to make those listing get more confirmed bookings once a consumer clicks on the listing and reads through the reviews. Following are the secrets to better Airbnb reviews.

Be Responsive

If you have a consumer reach out to you with a question prior to a booking, be sure to answer them as soon as you receive the message notification. Consumers usually want to confirm accommodations as soon as possible. If you don’t respond, they’ll quickly move on to their next choice. When you’re responsive like this, it will likely be noted in your Airbnb review.

Be Helpful

Once your booking is confirmed, message your guest and ask if you can be of service to them. Ask if you can help to arrange activities, transportation or information about the place or the community where the property is located.

Be Personal

Whenever you message your guest, be sure to use their first name. Sign your message with your name, too, so they have that personal feeling and realize that they’re just dealing with another “real” human being.

Be Informative

Make sure your guest knows exactly what is expected of them in terms of checking out. Don’t make them have to contact you to figure out how to do things like where to leave the keys. Ideally, you would supply written information in the unit that they can readily access in their own language.

Ask For The Review

Airbnb automatically reminds guests to leave reviews. But to get more positive reviews, go ahead and message your guest yourself. Wait until the end of their stay or shortly after they’ve checked out. Say that you hope their stay lived up to their expectations, and that you would very much appreciate an honest review.

Leave a Review Yourself

Be sure to leave a positive review for your guests whenever possible. This will make them feel more inclined to leave you a positive review.When you follow these tips, you’ll be more likely to create a relationship with each guest, which will encourage them to leave a review to support you when they leave.

If you’re looking for professional Airbnb property management in Scottsdale, contact our team today for a free consultation!

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How to Pin Down the Best Airbnb Pricing for the Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, more guests are making plans and booking accommodations. The key to attracting as many guests as possible for a lucrative season is setting the right holiday price point is important. As you work with an Airbnb property management company in Scottsdale, consider these three tips for creating the best price for your rental.

Consider Your Target Audience and Their Travel Habits

What does the typical holiday traveler look like at your Airbnb? If you get a lot of corporate travelers through the holidays, your price points should reflect the typical per-diem costs these travelers will be willing to spend. Likewise, if you get a lot of family vacationers, your pricing models should cater to the typical budget of that traveler. The closer you can align pricing with what target travelers prefer to spend, the more successful your rental will be.

Examine the Competing Property Pricing in Your Area

Take a look at some of the other properties available in the same area as your rental, especially those that offer similar amenities and amounts of space. How do their pricing models change for bookings through the holiday season? If you see there is a general uptick in pricing, you can compete by pricing your unit at a similar or slightly lower price. If you see the properties are going cheaper to allure holiday travelers, you may need to make adjustments to stay in competition through the season.

Work with a Property Manager for Valuable Pricing Insights

By working with a property management company, you gain access to information that can help you generate the most effective price points. At Sojourn Properties LLC, we utilize insightful analytical data from sources like SmartBnB and AirDNA to ensure your property has the most attractive pricing. These insightful resources allow us to keep tabs on trending pricing models and what works best for other properties.

Achieve the Best Pricing with Airbnb Management Services in Scottsdale

With the best price points in place for the holiday travel season, you are more likely to see your Airbnb properties returning the best profits. If you need help pinpointing the best pricing or other property management in Scottsdale, reach out to us at Sojourn Properties LLC.

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