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Should Your Airbnb Have a Theme?

If you’ve seen Airbnb ads, you may have noticed that they showcase properties with a certain vibe to them. It may have left you wondering how yours stacks up and whether you could improve your bookings’ quality and/or quantity. We’ll look at some factors to consider before you decide.

Think Of Your Demographic

Through marketing, Airbnb is trying to create a certain type of longing for its properties. For instance, they’ll put a house on display that’s entirely decked out in 1970s decor. This nod to the past is artfully done and creates a unique environment that leaves a lasting impression on guests.

This is a great gimmick for many property managers in Scottsdale, but it depends on the expectations of your ideal demographic. A luxury home that was practically built for Instagram will likely benefit from becoming a tasteful party house. For instance, a birthday weekend or bachelorette organizer would look for decorations that would fit right into a romantic, celebratory atmosphere.

The Beauty of Themes

The beauty of themes is that they can be adapted to anyone. If you’re largely catering to budget-minded travelers, your theme might highlight how you’re able to keep costs down and how they can keep costs down too. Plus, it doesn’t have to be elaborate. You don’t need every inch of the property to reflect your chosen theme. For instance, IKEA furniture, books on money-saving, and lists of cheap recipes that they can make in the kitchen would be a great start.

The only real reason not to have a theme is if you don’t want to cater to anyone specific. For instance, maybe you host travelers from all over the world, and you don’t want certain colors or items to turn your guests off. There’s a reason why home sellers all stick with the same neutral color palette: unless they’re living in an artist colony or other niche neighborhood, they want the highest possible offers for their home.

Property Management in Scottsdale

If you’re looking for a professional to manage your Airbnb property in Phoenix or Scottsdale, Sojourn Properties LLC is here to help. We can not only outfit your property so it attracts the right people, but we can also help you keep it looking sharp from one booking to the next.

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Make Your AirBnb Listing Too Attractive to Pass Up

Everyone who owns a property rental wants theirs to be the most popular option. But achieving that ultimate goal takes a bit of tweaking. In the property-rental game, it’s all about your listing and how yours must shine to beat the competition. Your property management company in Arizona can help.

1. Stage Your Photos

Quick snaps of your home’s interior aren’t going to help you lease your space. Just as realtors stage their properties before an open house, you must stage the photos you plan to add to your listing. This means taking pictures in good lighting, removing all signs of clutter, plumping pillows, and lighting fireplaces. The more cozy and inviting your interiors look, the more guests will be able to picture themselves there.

2. Brag Up Your Space

Spacious backyard deck, oversized garden tub, sunken living room with fireplace — these elements are guest-approved. But so are vintage crown molding, hardwood floors that date back to the 1800s, and antique quilts on the beds. Make sure to list all your home’s special features. If your outdoor pool has exterior lighting, talk about it. And if your backyard features a meandering walkway that ends in a rose garden, your Airbnb listing is the time and place to talk about it.

3. Make Your Home Sound Irresistible for Every Season

Homeowners do this by finding nearby attractions or amenities that are appropriate for every season and then making sure to add them to their listings. Possibilities include:

  • Farmers markets
  • Golf courses
  • Pumpkin patches
  • Botanical gardens
  • Boat ramps
  • Bike rentals
  • Historical sites
  • Hiking trails

If you dig deep, you may find there’s much more to do in your hometown than you realized. Make sure visitors to your listing are made aware. And make sure every season is represented.

Short-Term Property Management in Arizona

Whether you own a new rental property or you’re an experienced host, having the right property management team in Arizona can mean the difference between success and failure. At Sojourn Properties, we’re experts in managing short-term rental properties, including those listed with Airbnb. Call today for expert advice and management tips from the professionals who will care for your rental property like it’s our own.

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How to Be a Better AirBnB Host When You Live States Away

Having an AirBnB property in Scottsdale or Phoenix, AZ is a great way to make a little extra money, no matter where you live. Of course, the realities of caring for that property and the guests who stay there can be different from what you pictured.

One major problem is that if you’re too far removed from the property, it’s easy to let problems slip through the cracks. While you’ve undoubtedly covered your major bases (e.g., keeping the property standing, the property listed, etc.), it’s critical to take care of all the other details. We’ll look at a few tips so you’re more connected to what’s happening.

Start with Communication

If you’re living in a different state, you need to be as upfront as possible with your guests about what they can expect when they’re there. In other words, if a plumbing emergency happens at 2 a.m., they should have some idea of who’s in charge of the problem.

This might be a plumber that you know, or a family member that’s in the area, or it could even be you managing the problem from afar. A property manager can handle a lot on this end, but you don’t want to ignore this step.

Think Through Different Scenarios

Owning a property is sometimes an exercise in the unthinkable. Mild-mannered guests with excellent reviews can wreck your living room after a party. Repairs that you spent a bundle on from the most recommended maintenance person can fail after a week. Storms can pop up out of nowhere and cause the type of damage that no one could have budgeted for.

If you haven’t considered what to do when different types of emergencies happen, then your property manager will be left to make all of the decisions on their own if they can’t get ahold of you.

Find Strong Property Management in Phoenix, AZ

There’s nothing like doing a job on your own, but in some cases, that’s just not a possibility. If you’re looking for people who can work with you no matter where you are and help you with the unexpected, Sojourn Properties LLC is a property management group serving the Scottsdale and Phoenix area.

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3 Ways to Battle Stiff Airbnb Competition

If you have an AirBnB in Scottsdale or Phoenix, you’ve likely already seen declining interest. Demand hasn’t been hit in every area of the US, but overall, it’s been saturated with options, and vacationers have looked more to hotels as a way to avoid taking chances. We’ll look at three things you can do to stand out from the rest.

Start with a Better Listing

Most AirBnB owners think that their listing comes across as reasonable to their guests, and this is true even if they’re asking for unreasonable requirements from their guests. To really stand out, you need to have more than a few good photos and reviews. This is the time to tell guests more about why your property is not only more unique than a hotel but one that will make for a more memorable stay. Pull out the compliments that former guests have left and lean into creating a fun story that will help you stand out as guests research what’s available.

Lean on Authenticity

People are looking for authenticity in their experience, regardless of the key features of your properties. A view of the mountains, an eccentric color scheme, themed rooms: whatever it is, just make sure that it’s done for more than Instagram-worthy photos. Succeeding on Airbnb in Phoenix, AZ means having a handle on your key demographic. If it’s primarily families you’re after, show them what you’ve done to make your place safer for kids. If it’s bachelorette parties, emphasize the backyard space they can use to throw shindigs after the bars close down.

Hire the Right Property Manager in Phoenix, AZ

AirBnB owners don’t need any convincing that managing a short-term rental can be a lot of work. Of course, that doesn’t mean they want to turn the property over to someone else. While a property manager in Scottsdale, AZ might be more of an expense, the right team can not only handle problems faster (ensuring that you get the repairs you need, when you need them), they can also showcase the best of your property to the right people.

Soujourn Properties LLC provides management services in Phoenix and Scottsdale, and we can tell you that there are ways to get an edge over your competition.

 

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How to Help Guests Care For Your Property

Many of your guests are homeowners, too. Whether you host business travelers, digital nomads or vacationing families, chances are that many of them understand the seriousness and necessity of keeping a property in good condition. As such, your guests very likely want to keep your property well cared for during the duration of their stay. You can encourage this behavior and help guests care for your property quite easily.

Have a Property Manager in Place

Not every situation can be planned for. When your guests have a situation for which they are not prepared, you can help avoid damage to your rental by having a Scottsdale, AZ property manager in place. This gives your guests 24-hour access to help when you may not be available or reachable. This is the single most important thing you can do to help guests care for your property.

Provide Trash Guidelines

To maintain a hygienic rental, let your guests know how to dispose of trash. This is an often-overlooked detail that can result in trash piling up in the wrong place. Let guests know in the welcome documentation where to access trash bins outside the rental, what the community pickup days are, and consider supplying a starter kit of trash bags that fit your waste receptacles.

Provide Housekeeping Essentials

Simply providing daily housekeeping essentials will help guests to keep your property tidy. Make sure you provide:

  • Mop and bucket
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Toilet plunger and toilet basin scrubber
  • Can of insect repellant
  • Window/mirror cleaning solution
  • Counter disinfectant
  • Paper towels
  • Kitchen cloth towels/tea towels
  • Microwave splatter cover
  • Starter dish soap

Provide Convenience Items That Will Minimize Problems

You can also provide some items that guests will see as a convenience, but which will also help minimize the chances of problems. These include:

  • Large key fob for keys to the unit (to prevent misplacing keys)
  • Second set of keys to open doors within the unit (for guests who lock themselves out of bedrooms or bathrooms)
  • Instructions to turn off gas/electricity/water to the unit
  • Placemats for the kitchen table
  • Coasters for drinks
  • Trash cans in every room, including the living/seating area

These small little details can help in a big way when you’re trying to support guests in their efforts to care for your property. When you’re ready to hire an Airbnb property manager in Scottsdale, AZ, please contact us for details.

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Sinlge Bedrooms Vs. Whole Homes: Airbnb’s Marketing Shift

Airbnb started off with a simple concept. The founders realized that there were plenty of people who wanted to travel, even if that meant giving up a few conveniences along the way. They might be willing to share a bathroom, sleep on a couch, or stay in a bedroom that didn’t have a lock on it, all in the name of staying within their budget.

Of course, where a company starts and where it ends up are often nowhere near one another. Lately, Airbnb is course correcting to try to once again appeal to penny-pinching vacationers. If you have a rental property in Scottsdale, AZ, we’ll look at the debate, and how you can prepare to stay ahead of it all.

Marketing Shifts

Airbnb has been seeing a lot of complaints about how much it costs to stay in one of their properties. This is, in part, due to excess fees — many of which travelers won’t see until they’re at the very last step of the booking process. In addition, many of these costs seem entirely unfair to the guests. For instance, hosts may charge $100 for a cleaning fee while still requiring the guests to clean the property while they’re still on site.

It’s led to the company putting more efforts into their single-room options, which will make it easier to stay with the host (which is usually far cheaper than staying at a hotel. As Airbnb leans into this direction, though, companies like VRBO lean the other way. VRBO’s marketing continues to emphasize the downsides of living with a stranger, even if it’s only for a day or two.

Rental Properties in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ

Sojourn Properties LLC provides property management in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ, so our staff knows that bad PR and marketing shifts can make a difference to your bottom line. The main takeaway here is that there will be a continued market for both types of travelers. If you do happen to cater to the whole home crowd, the best thing that can do for them is be as fair and transparent as you possibly can. To learn more about how a property manager can make this easier, contact us today.

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How to Plan for Airbnb Emergency Repair Scenarios

Even with a well-maintained Airbnb property in Scottsdale, sometimes, unexpected repair situations can arise. Whether it is an overflowing toilet, a busted water line, or a faulty AC unit, it is ever-important to get prepared for these events just in case. Few things are worse than navigating the unknown when you have a guest to impress staying in your rental. Here are a few tips to make sure you are prepared for an emergency repair situation in your Airbnb.

Make sure guests know who to call if something goes awry

Make an emergency contact list and place it somewhere visible at the Airbnb property. Post your contact information clearly on the booking website and in your messages. Always ensure guests can clearly find contact information that will get them immediate attention in an emergency.

Know who you can count on when your property needs immediate attention

Few things are worse than having a busted pipe, a heating outage, or other emergencies and not being able to get a professional to help right away. Make your own list of pros you can contact in the area that will be available at a moment’s notice. This will ensure you won’t have to waste time searching for someone to help if a guest calls you with a problem.

Have plans in place to keep guests accommodated during repairs

Emergency repairs during a stay can ruin a guest’s experience. However, there are ways you can mitigate a negative review in spite of the situation. Have plans in place to make the guest as comfortable as possible for different scenarios. For example, if the water has to be turned off, it would be helpful to have bottled water in the fridge or a few gallons of water tucked into a closet. Or, if the primary AC unit goes down, it can be helpful if you have a portable AC or a few extra fans in the unit that guests can use to stay cool.

Need help with Airbnb management?

At Sojourn Properties LLC, we make Airbnb management in Scottsdale easy. If you need help with your short-term property rentals in the Scottsdale or Phoenix area, reach out to the team to discuss your needs.

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Shelter in the Storm: Your AirBNB as Emergency Housing

You’d like to offer shelter in a crisis, but you’re unsure how your short-term rental can help. It’s situations like these where your AirBNB property management company in Sedona, AZ, can be a great resource. If you have questions regarding how to offer your rental unit as a shelter for displaced families and individuals, we have answers. Here’s what we know:

AirBNB Will Pay for Your Guest’s Stay

You can offer to host emergency guests at a discounted rate, but it’s not required. AirBNB will take on the responsibility of paying for the use of your rental unit for guests who have been displaced due to disaster or emergency, or for guests who are seeking refuge. They’ll also waive any fees normally charged to you or to your emergency guest.

Your Guests Will Be Vetted Before Referral

You won’t have to worry whether someone is taking advantage of your good intentions, because AirBNB makes sure guest information is accurate. This means guests must either be referred to AirBNB by a legitimate nonprofit organization or resettlement agency, or they must show proof of residency in an area affected by a disaster. In some instances, guests are required to provide special immigrant visas to book an emergency stay with AirBNB.

All the Same Safeguards Will Be in Place

As the host, you’ll enjoy the same protection as normal, including the protections offered by AirBNB’s Host Guarantee. Accordingly, you’ll receive:

  • Up to $3 million in coverage against damage by guests
  • Reimbursement for missing items or unexpected cleaning expenses,
  • Reimbursement for lost income during clean-up

This means you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by offering your short-term rental to guests impacted by disaster or displacement. This may include providing shelter for emergency service workers as they assist during clean-up of natural disasters including, flood, fire, or earthquake.

If you’d like to learn more about the AirBNB process of becoming an emergency shelter for families or individuals in need, talk with a representative from Sojourn Properties LLC, your AirBNB property management company in Sedona, AZ. This is the individual who can help guide you through the process, making life better for you and for your emergency guest.

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Optimizing Your AirBNB for the Digital Nomad

Nomads still enjoy wandering. But today, they do it out of pleasure instead of necessity. There are probably prospective guests out there right now, reading the ad for your short-term rental and deciding whether or not to book a “workation”. The question of the day is: Will they choose your rental unit or another unit close by? The right AirBNB property management company in Sedona, AZ, can help you optimize your space to draw in these modern wanderers. Here’s what we recommend:

1. A Quiet Place to “Work”

Create a designated work space in your rental unit that allows guests to find seclusion when it’s time to work. And if this space has a pretty view, so much the better. You don’t necessarily need a window that overlooks a private beach, though it would be ideal if you have one. But you should at least aim for a window overlooking the garden or the neatly landscaped backyard. This can provide inspiration for guests who must stay logged in while winding down.

2. Fast Internet

High-speed internet is a necessity. Make sure you have sufficient internet speeds provided by a DSL, satellite, cable, wireless, or fiber-optic provider. This ensures your guests will be able to log on and easily work without interruption during their stay.

3. A Secure Connection

Most importantly, your internet connection must be secure. Otherwise, you could be putting your valued guests at risk. We recommend the following:

  • Disabling remote access
  • Enabling strong encryption
  • Updating firmware
  • Changing the password after every guest
  • Using long, strong passwords

These are safeguards that will help to ensure nobody accesses your private connection without permission. And changing your password regularly is a preventative measure, too. Never publish your WIFI password in your ad or in any literature you print up. Instead, give it to guests after they’ve arrived for their stay. After they leave, change it right away.

These safeguards are necessary to protect the privacy of your rental unit and your guests. Sojourn Properties, your AirBNB property management company in Sedona, AZ, can help you with more safety tips for your rental unit. Contact us today.

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Must-have Amenities for Your AirBNB

Staying at an AirBNB is all about having the comforts of home at your fingertips. That’s why most prospective guests have a list of things they can’t live without. If your rental space checks off these boxes, it could become the next hot commodity. Your AirBNB management company in Sedona, AZ, can tell you why these items top the list.

1. Internet Access

Many modern travelers need the ability to work, even while on vacation. As a result, rental spaces that offer internet access and a simple home-office set-up are in demand. A small desk tucked away in a quiet corner of the house will suffice as long as your guests can connect to your internet provider.

2. Convenient Kitchen

If your kitchen is updated and modern, guests are likely to have a better experience. This means having access to chef’s knives and cutting boards, a cooktop, oven, and a microwave. There should be a few nice pots and pans for cooking, and plenty of flatware and serveware.

3. Washer and Dryer

Nobody wants to take time from their dream vacation to check out the nearby laundromat. Make sure your rental unit comes equipped with a washer and dryer, so guests can wash off the sand, sea, or mud after a day of taking in the local sights.

4. A Place to Park

A designated parking space is nice. Private parking is even better. If your rental unit is located in an urban area with on-street parking only, consider renting a parking space from a nearby lot.

5. Luxury Amenities

An indoor or outdoor pool, a Jacuzzi or hot tub, and a well-stocked wine bar make nice icing for the cake. The same can be said for nearby attractions, such as theme parks or private beaches. If your rental unit can offer one or more of these amenities, expect to rent it regularly.

It takes more than a pretty home to be successful in the short-term rental industry. Guests must have a reason for choosing your space above all others. Sojourn Properties, our AirBNB property management company in Sedona, AZ, can help. Call today.

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