Finding a Realtor for Your Ideal Short Term Rental House

Remember, talk is cheap. But actions and what’s written on paper is what is important. If you receive verbal promise from realtor, from commission structure to no matter how small, ensure you get it in writing. Because, if it’s not in writing its not enforceable.

Chris – Your Vacation Rental Guide

Whether you are starting out with your first short term rental, or a seasoned veteran, you will need an experienced realtor by your side to choose your first home. Unless you inherit a home suited for a short term rental, property acquisition is key and buying the right property is important that is zoned for a short term rental.

Interview Local Realtors Who Specialize in Short Term Rentals (STR)

In the past, I used to be a super gullible investor when I first started in the short term rental business. I thought that short term rentals like Airbnb & VRBO shielded me from the volatility from the stock market and more riskier investments. The idea sounded good, because I wouldn’t deal with non-paying renters because they had to pay the platforms like airbnb & vrbo ahead of time, so the risk seemed much smaller.

But not every realtor is created equal. I soon found unscrupulous realtors that made big promises, but when it came time to deliver it was always a disappointment. 

Real estate and short term rentals can often be super complicated for a new investor just getting into the game. STR’s are not the easiest most passive type of investment, but they can be rewarding and also profitable if done correctly. 

I suggest looking for a realtor with a background in vacation homes and ideally property management.

The short term rental vacation home space is different than long term rentals, and while many realtors are equipped and knowledgeable in long term rentals, short term rentals do differ quite a bit in scope, nature and the logistics of the business. 

My first short term rental was a massive 14 bedroom home in Solterra Resort in Davenport Florida, which was a resort vacation community about 20 minutes away from Disney World. This specially zoned property for short term rentals seemed ideal for me, but it really was like running a mini-hotel. I didn’t know it at the time though. 

I started by hiring a realtor that specialized in short term vacation homes by DISNEY. In fact, he ran a property management company for vacation rental homes, in the scope of over 100 homes before he sold the business to a large fortune 500 company. I knew he was the right realtor for the job. 

Most residential or even commercial realtors are not equipped for the nuances of dealing with short term rentals, and the benefit of hiring a realtor that is already in the field of vacation rentals is that they will be able to provide you with insider knowledge of the area as well as how the short term vacation market works. 

Everything from designing a garage games room, to the type of decor, hints on dealing with guest-check ins and complaints are small tidbits of advice that an experienced realtor in the field of short term vacation rentals can give you, whereas a typical realtor may just want to sell you the house and be done. 

I do suggest you interview a few realtors before going “shopping” in the market and tour atleast a dozen homes in different communities, to ensure they are the right fit for you and the communities and amenities make sense.