Should You Hire a Property Manager for Your Airbnb or Short-Term Rental? Real Pros & Cons from Experience
When becoming short-term rental hosts, we didn’t even know it was possible to hire a property management company for this type of rental. So we have self-managed from the very beginning in 2016, including cleaning between every guest since (yes, I know this probably sounds crazy! Let’s just go ahead and admit that it’s a control issue on my part…).
On paper, a property management company sounds ideal: hands-off income while someone else handles the details and middle of the night lock-outs. But after two personal experiences in Airbnbs as guests, we’ve seen firsthand that there are serious pros and cons worth considering before turning over the keys.
Whether you’re just getting started or considering outsourcing operations, here’s what we’ve learned.
The Pros of Hiring a Property Management Company
1. Time Freedom
You’re not tied to the property. If you live far away or travel often, a manager can handle check-ins, cleanings, guest communication, and emergencies without interrupting your day.
2. Local Expertise
Good companies understand local laws, seasonal pricing trends, and marketing strategies that can boost your listing’s visibility and revenue.
3. 24/7 Guest Support
Middle-of-the-night lockouts or maintenance calls become someone else’s problem…in theory. IF they do actually advertise 24/7 support. This is a huge benefit for hosts who prefer a passive income approach.
4. Streamlined Operations
Many companies offer full-service packages including photography, listing optimization, pricing automation, maintenance coordination, and supply restocking.
The Cons of Hiring a Property Management Company
1. Lower Quality Control
In our experience searching through Airbnb listings to find vacations for ourselves, guest satisfaction consistently suffered when a third party managed the property. Reviews often mentioned cleanliness issues, unresponsive communication, and deferred maintenance; things we could never let slide ourselves if we are expecting 5 star reviews.
2. Costly Fees
Most companies charge between 20–40% of your revenue, which can significantly eat into profits.
3. Lack of Personal Touch
Guests appreciate a unique, well-maintained, and thoughtful experience. Property managers often rely on templated messages and outsourced cleaners, leading to a generic stay that lacks the hospitality touch many guests look for.
4. Less Control Over Your Investment
When you’re not involved in day-to-day decisions, small issues can snowball into expensive problems.
When we had long term renters in our property before Airbnb, we discovered a leak that had been ignored for months, which could have cost us more in repairs than the income we earned during that period. Since we are handy ourselves and have tackled several renovation projects in the past, we were able to rectify the problem, but not without an emergency 8 day FULL bathroom renovation. As in: removing the tub, toilet, subfloor and seeing the dirt below. By renting via Airbnb, we now have much better visibility to any issues that may come up and they are addressed immediately.
5. Hard to Find the Right Fit
Not all companies are created equal. Some are too large to give your property the attention it needs, while others lack the experience or systems to manage effectively. Depending on the location of your STR, there may be limited availability in property management companies.
Tip: check out other Airbnb or VRBO listings in your target area and find out who the host is. It’s usually easy to determine if the host is an individual or company. Oftentimes companies will have a significant number of reviews, like 24,000, and that’s an indicator that they manage many properties. This means they are likely available in your area if they are hosting other nearby properties.
What We Do Instead
Because we live close to our short-term rental and feel confident in our ability to manage day-to-day tasks, we have always self-managed our property. It allows us to maintain higher standards, ensure the space is truly guest-ready, and build relationships with our visitors that keep them coming back.
Final Thoughts: Is a Property Management Company Right for You?
Hiring a property management company can be a smart move if:
- You don’t live near your rental
- You want a completely hands-off experience
- You can afford to trade income for convenience
But if you value quality control, maximizing profits, and offering a top-tier guest experience, managing the property yourself (or hiring your own local team) may be the better option.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your goals, availability, and comfort level with hosting.
Have you had experiences with property management companies—good or bad? Let us know in the comments!
