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📱Best Apps and Tools for Managing Your Short-Term Rental

📱Best Apps and Tools for Managing Your Short-Term Rental

If you manage an STR, you know the chaos of juggling bookings, cleaning schedules, and guest communication. Keep reading for the powerful apps and tools that can transform your business.

February 17, 2025

FEBRUARY 17th, 2025

Good afternoon STR Report Community!

In today’s issue, you will find:

📱Today’s Article: Best Apps and Tools for Managing Your Short-Term Rental 🏡

📈 Trending Market Highlight: Austin, Texas

✉️ STR News: Airbnb to spend up to $250M on new businesses in 2025 & more

💸 Mortgage Rate Watch

🥔 Unique Airbnb of the Week

🏫 Subscriber Perks: Beginner’s Guide E-Book, Guest Communication Messaging Templates, Airbnb Welcome Guide Template, & STR Buy Box Template

✅ Community Perks: Personal Airbnb Investment Finder, Top-Tier Property Management, STR Loans & More, Airbnb Construction, STR Realtor Search, & Tax Savings for STR Owners

📬 See our collection of newsletters here: Prior Newsletters

What it’s like trying to figure out how to successfully manage your STR without using the right tools & technology

Community Perks with The STR Report

🔎 Personal Airbnb Investment Finder – Need an expert to handpick profitable Airbnb properties that match your criteria? With 130+ successful deals, all cash-flowing, you’re in good hands.

🏠 Top-Tier Property Management – The best property management company you’ve never heard of. Rated 4.9 stars on Google, delivering a 27% revenue increase. Serving clients nationwide.

🤑 STR Loans & More – Need funding for your next short-term rental? Expect expert guidance, personalized service, and the best possible rates.

🔨 Airbnb Construction – Building or renovating a short-term rental? Work with experts who know exactly what features maximize bookings and boost nightly rates. Designed for profitability, built for success.

🏡 STR Realtor Search – Finding the right short-term rental property starts with the right realtor. Get connected with top STR-focused realtors who know the best markets and cash-flowing deals.

💰 Tax Savings for STR Owners – Keep more of your rental income with expert tax strategies tailored for short-term rentals. From write-offs to depreciation hacks, maximize savings and minimize tax liability.

📲Best Apps and Tools for Managing Your Short-Term Rental

If you’re managing a short-term rental, you’ve likely encountered the chaos of juggling guest communications, cleaning schedules, bookings, and more. While it’s rewarding to see happy guests leave positive reviews, the behind-the-scenes work can be a full-time job. Fortunately, there’s a world of apps and tools designed to make your life easier and your rental business run like a well-oiled machine. Let’s dive into some of the best tools that will help you take your short-term rental game to the next level. 🤳

1. Airbnb (and Beyond)

First things first: if you’re not already using platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com, you’re missing out on a massive pool of potential guests. These platforms not only help with bookings but also provide built-in tools for messaging, calendar management, and analytics. For an all-in-one solution, Airbnb’s app is a great place to start. However, managing multiple platforms? Keep reading!

2. Channel Managers: Simplify Your Bookings

If you list your property on multiple platforms, a channel manager is a must. Tools like Hostfully or Lodgify sync your bookings across platforms to prevent double-bookings and save you from logistical nightmares. Bonus: They often come with additional features like guest messaging and analytics to keep you organized.

3. Automated Guest Messaging: Save Time, Delight Guests

Nobody wants to spend their evenings copy-pasting check-in instructions or answering “Do you have Wi-Fi?” a thousand times. Enter automated guest messaging tools like Host Tools or Hospitable (previously Smartbnb). These apps can send pre-written messages at key points of the guest’s stay, like confirmation emails, check-in instructions, and even gentle reminders to leave a review.

4. Dynamic Pricing Tools: Maximize Revenue

Pricing your rental can feel like a guessing game, but tools like PriceLabs, Beyond Pricing, and Wheelhouse turn it into a science. These apps use algorithms to adjust your rates based on demand, seasonality, and even local events. Goodbye, empty weekends! Hello, optimized earnings.

5. Cleaning and Maintenance Management

Keeping your rental spotless and running smoothly is non-negotiable. Apps like Turno (formerly TurnoverBnB) or Properly help you schedule and communicate with cleaners. They even allow you to share checklists and photos to ensure everything is guest-ready.

6. Smart Home Devices: Convenience and Security

Smart locks like August or Schlage Encode eliminate the hassle of handing over physical keys. You can generate unique codes for each guest, improving security and making check-in a breeze. Pair that with a Nest thermostat or a smart lighting system, and you’ll have a tech-savvy rental that impresses guests and saves energy.

7. Accounting and Taxes Made Easy

Managing finances can be a headache, but apps like QuickBooks, Xero, or Stessa simplify the process. These tools help you track expenses, manage income, and even prepare for tax season. Some, like Stessa, are tailored specifically for rental property owners, making it even easier to stay on top of your game.

8. Property Management Systems (PMS)

For hosts managing multiple properties, a full-scale property management system like Guesty or Hostaway is a game-changer. These platforms centralize all aspects of your business—from booking management to team coordination—into one dashboard.

9. Review Management: Build Your Reputation

Positive reviews are the lifeblood of a successful rental. Tools like Revyoos or features within channel managers can help you manage, request, and respond to guest feedback effortlessly. A well-crafted response to a glowing review (or a tactful reply to criticism) can make all the difference.

10. Marketing Tools: Stand Out From the Crowd

For hosts looking to grow their brand outside of major platforms, consider marketing tools like Canva for designing stunning listings and social media posts, or Mailchimp for sending email campaigns to past guests. Creating a memorable brand identity can turn first-time visitors into repeat customers.

Wrapping It Up

With the right combination of apps and tools, you can streamline your operations, enhance your guest experience, and maximize your income. Whether you’re a seasoned host or just starting out, these tools are your ticket to short-term rental success. Cheers to happy hosting!

Decided you don’t want to deal with managing your rental? Get in touch with an expert property manager & have them manage your property for you.

Today’s feature: Austin, Texas 🌆🧲🐴

Downloadable Austin, Texas Short-Term Rental Market Report

	Austin STR Market Report.pdf1.31 MB • PDF File

Austin is a great place to invest in a short-term rental for several reasons:

📈 Strong Market Performance

Average Daily Rate (ADR): $164 per night
Occupancy Rate: 62%
Annual Revenue Potential: Around $36,000 per year
Austin’s rental market remains steady, making it a profitable option for investors

🎸 High Demand from Tourists & Events

Home to SXSW, ACL Festival, and Formula 1, bringing in thousands of visitors
Year-round tourism thanks to outdoor attractions like Lady Bird Lake & Barton Springs
Strong corporate travel demand from Austin’s booming tech industry (Tesla, Apple, Google)

✅ Favorable Regulations & Investment Potential

Lenient short-term rental regulations compared to other major cities
A diverse range of neighborhoods with high rental demand (Downtown, South Congress, Zilker)
If short-term rental rules change, properties can still generate strong returns as long-term rentals

With stable demand, solid returns, and lenient regulations, Austin is a prime spot for short-term rental investments. Read our full Austin, Texas Short-Term Rental Market Report attached above.

💸 Airbnb to spend up to $250M on new businesses in 2025
Short-term rental giant Airbnb said it will spend as much as $250 million on new businesses in 2025.

🚜 US farmers turn to Airbnb, corn mazes to outlast agricultural downturn
Amid declining crop prices and rising consumer interest, farmers are turning to agritourism, which provides stable revenue to endure market volatility, with farmstays on rental platforms increasing by 77% in five years, according to AirDNA.

📋 Airbnb Rolls Out New Features to Encourage More Owners to List Properties
The San Francisco-based company expects more people to become hosts to bring in a second source of income as the economy slows. To help them feel safer with the prospect of renting their homes to strangers, Airbnb is expanding its identity verification process to the 35 most popular countries.

🖼️ Bradford 2025 and Airbnb call on locals to host ‘culture enthusiasts’ in their homes during historic year for the district
Airbnb, named the official accommodation provider for Bradford's 2025 UK City of Culture programme, is investing £100,000 to support tourism and economic growth while offering new hosts in West Yorkshire a £100 travel coupon.

💝 Looking for a romantic getaway? Gatlinburg has one of world's most romantic Airbnb stays
Airbnb's 2025 list of the most romantic getaways, based on guest reviews, includes a charming remodeled A-frame cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains with cozy amenities like a hot tub and fire pit.

🚦Dallas Airbnb, VRBO Owners To Keep Booking Guests Following Latest Court Victory
The city's list of legal options for banning short-term rentals is dwindling.

🏖️ Short-term rentals in Indian Rocks Beach could have relaxed regulations
Indian Rocks Beach city commissioners are expected to vote on an ordinance that could change short-term rental rules.

💸Mortgage Rate Watch – February 14, 2025

Current Mortgage Rates (as of February 14, 2025):

30-Year Fixed: 6.96% (-0.08%)
15-Year Fixed: 6.41% (-0.07%)
30-Year Jumbo: 7.32% (-0.07%)
30-Year FHA: 6.33% (-0.12%)
30-Year VA: 6.35% (-0.12%)
7/6 SOFR ARM: 6.85% (-0.10%)

Market Overview:

Mortgage rates have shown a moderate decline across most loan types, reflecting a weaker performance in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and lower Treasury yields. This movement suggests investor confidence in slowing inflation and the potential for Federal Reserve rate cuts later in the year.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fluctuated between 6.11% and 7.52% over the past year, and recent downward trends indicate some relief for homebuyers after months of high borrowing costs.

mortgagenewsdaily.com

However, the housing market remains challenging due to affordability constraints and low inventory.

Rate Trends & Forecast:

Short-Term: Mortgage rates are likely to remain range-bound, with minor fluctuations based on economic data and Federal Reserve signals.
Long-Term: The Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates will be the primary driver of future mortgage rate movements. If inflation continues to ease, we may see further gradual declines in rates throughout 2025.

For real-time mortgage rate updates, visit Mortgage News Daily.

Bored of staying at regular Airbnbs? 🥔

Book your next stay at the famous giant potato in Idaho.

Staying in the Potato Airbnb is more than just an overnight stay—it’s an unforgettable experience. The owner has carefully crafted a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, transforming a small space into something that’s never been done before. From the quirky, cozy interior to the novelty of sleeping inside a giant potato, every detail is curated to create a unique and highly shareable moment. This attention to experience and aesthetics is what makes it so successful. Guests capture and share their stay on social media, turning the Potato Airbnb into an Instagram sensation. By focusing on creativity and visual appeal, the owner has ensured that this stay isn’t just a place to sleep, but a bucket list destination worth visiting.