Questions about Phoenix short-term rental launch, answered in the words of the people who did the work. The engagement itself is on its own page.
What showed the model was working after launch?
The guest rating. The listings have held in the band Airbnb reserves for Superhosts, and the thing that moved it most was giving away what costs us nothing. Early check-in is the best example. Check-in is at three, a guest lands at ten in the morning, and there is a gap. A lot of companies charge an early check-in fee, which is short-sighted, because everybody knows the house is sitting there empty. If it is cleaned and it will not hurt the wow factor when they open the door, we give them the garage code for their suitcases. We do not nickel and dime. Do that and it is almost impossible not to get a five-star review.
How many units does it take to support a full-time manager, and did the platform get there?
Every four units supports one full-time manager. Below that, the salaried roles are not real yet, so you run it lean and let the owner cover the gap. We reached that threshold within two years. We have since put the same model into two more property management companies here in Phoenix, with very similar results.