What does a property manager do?

Owning a vacation property can be a dream come true, but managing everything from bookings, cleaning, marketing and more, in the hopes of providing a superior guest experience can be a greater challenge than many homeowners may have anticipated. Whether you’re an existing vacation homeowner or considering becoming one, in this blog we lay out what property managers actually do and how they can step in to make vacation rental management a smoother, hassle-free process, and in some instances even help you boost your rental revenue. 

The role of a property manager

Vacation property managers are specialized professionals who handle the day-to-day operations of short-term rental properties, so you don’t have to. Whether you own a beachfront house, a mountain chalet, or a lakeside lodge, these experts act as the bridge between you (the property owner), and your guests. Their primary objective is to provide a seamless experience for both homeowners and guests. A solid property manager will ensure a high-quality guest experience and maybe potentially help increase bookings. 

Below are some of the key responsibilities of property managers:

(please note that services and costs may vary from one property manager to another)

1. Guest communication and booking: Vacation property managers typically handle all guest inquiries in a timely and efficient manner. They will manage the bookings, coordinate check-ins/check-outs and ensure that guests have all of the necessary information to enjoy and make the most of their stay at your property.

2. Property maintenance and housekeeping: Property managers will oversee regular cleaning, maintenance checks, and immediate resolution of any issues that may arise during a guest's stay. This responsibility is vital to ensuring guest satisfaction and encouraging future repeat bookings. 

3. Pricing and revenue management: Property managers will typically conduct market research and use data-driven insights to determine competitive pricing strategies. Correct pricing is a crucial element of property management, as it will inevitably impact your property’s occupancy and revenue.

4. Marketing: In order to attract potential guests and boost bookings, property managers will need to create compelling property listings with high-quality photos, write engaging descriptions, and use various channels to effectively reach the target audience. 

5. Check-in and Check-out process: Property managers will often be in charge of greeting guests upon arrival, providing them with information on the property and local attractions as well as collecting valuable feedback at check-out.

6. Guest services: To enhance the guest experience and ensure they make the most of their stay, property managers often offer concierge services to assist guests with booking local activities, recommending restaurants and more.

7. Legal compliance: Vacation property managers will stay informed about local laws and ensure your property complies with all necessary regulations.

The value add of property managers

Vacation property managers can help existing vacation homeowners generate rental income without the very demanding responsibilities of managing a vacation home. In other words, they can allow homeowners to reap the financial benefits of renting out ones vacation home without the hassle. They will manage everything from guest communications, property maintenance, pricing, revenue management, and marketing, ensuring that your property generates bookings and delivers a high-quality guest experience, so you don’t have to. Although hiring a property manager comes with a price tag, it is for many, a worthy investment.

It is important to note that there are many property management companies who offer varying degrees of services at different rates and who may charge more for specialized services like interior design help, or on-demand chefs, to name a few. One must carefully consider what services one is looking for and which property management company can help you reach your goals.

Wander Operated: a new kind of property managment

As you do more research on property managers, you might come across Wander Operated.

Here’s a little bit about us. At Wander, we pioneered the ‘hotelification’ of vacation homes by forging a brand that brings together the consistency of luxury hotels with the comfort and space of your own vacation home to create a unique experience that guests truly love and want to come back to. By delivering a 5-star hospitality and unmatched consistency across our portfolio of properties, our homes have dramatically outperformed the market across every metric. 

With Wander Operated, we’re now giving select homeowners the chance to transform their one-of-a-kind home into a top-performing investment property – a Wander location. Once again a proven product that boasts 30% higher occupancy vs. the market and an industry-leading guest satisfaction score of 93%+. Wander Operated offers everything from 24/7 concierge services, smart-home technology, access to our marketing machine, our booking platform, dynamic pricing model, tech-enabled management, hotel-grade cleaning, access to our 180K+ travelers looking to book a home just like yours and more. 

Here’s your chance to transform your vacation home into a top-performing asset and unlock all the benefits of being a Wander home. Learn more or apply today at wander.com/operated