Just Book It! – Benefits of Booking Agents in Short-Term Rental

At first, listing your property on Airbnb, Homeaway or VBRO seems easy, exciting and actually kind of fun.  However, as this industry has grown and consolidated it has become far more complex than it may seem to a solo host at face value. 

The ecosystem of these channels is mashing together, and leaders in this space now have floors of executives who are laser-focused on increasing enquiry conversion as well as minimising risk. 

Even for hosts/investors that have heaps of spare time, it is virtually impossible to understand all the idiosyncrasies (as well as opportunities) these platforms present. To understand and harness these ecosystems a person needs to be completely in the industry. To be an expert you really must have done hundreds or even thousands of guest bookings to gain true market insight.

Traditionally there have been 2 ways to short-term rent your investment property.  The first is to hire an agency that does the work end-to-end for you. This can be expensive but can certainly be a good investment if you have a strong agency that drives results. The second is for the owner to “self-manage” the property directly. Investors who have embarked on this strategy would know that this is equivalent to a part-time job. This has left a gap in the market for owners and agents to simultaneously work together and collaborate to maximise results for all parties.

As a specialised rental agency, we have found that many owners/hosts want a professional 

partner in this space. Still, they do not necessarily want to pay the higher fees associated with full management. In light of this, we have created a hybrid product where owners can be hands-on and involved but also benefit from having an expert agency working on the property. We call this a “Booking Agent” arrangement.

What is a Booking Agent Arrangement?

Our Booking Agent Arrangement is where we collaborate with owners and fulfil the Sales, Marketing, Finance and Legal components of a short-term booking. In these cases, Property Providers manages the booking until we have received all the funds for the booking before arrival. Then we introduce the guest to the owner to organise the pre-arrival, meet & greet etc., as well as manage any post-arrival issues such as repair and maintenance.

The owner then simply advises us when the guest exits and reports any deductions that are required from the guest’s security deposit which is then processed by us. If the owner books the property themselves, they simply advise the agency that the property is booked so that the calendars are aligned and updated – this is critical to avoid double bookings and booking conflicts.

What type of owner is a Booking Agent arrangement for?

What are the Benefits of using a Booking Agent?

• It complements the owner’s sales efforts and can maximise sales/booking outcomes
• The costs are significantly less than using an agent for full management
• The owner gets to have personal contact with every guest
• It allows owners to maintain greater control of what is going on on their property
• It ensures maximum coverage across channels and provides an additional channel through the agent’s website/booking platform
• Owners can learn and leverage the agency’s practices and procedures
• It can harness the power (market share and share of voice) of other listings in the same competitive set that is managed by the agency.
• Allows access to the agency’s marketing investments (i.e. website, electronic direct mail, social media etc.)
• The owner can gain access to dynamic rates to optimize occupancy.
• It allows the owner-manager to dial up and down their own engagement based on what is going on in their lives.
• It helps manage risk for owner hosts (i.e. better understanding of cancellation policies, lodging damage complaints etc.)

Where should an owner be careful when working with a Booking Agency?

This space in the market for owners and agents to work together can provide great benefits and partnerships for all involved. With this arrangement, communication is key, and if managed properly then the property’s success can be tenfold. As a host, if this is not an avenue you have already explored it is certainly worth considering.

Property Providers is Sydney’s most flexible residential rental agency.  Our core purpose is “To Help People Live Better” through providing long-term luxury leasing, super luxury holiday homes and executive rentals for extended stays.  If you are interested in listing your property please contact us at +612-9969-7599 or if you are looking for a tenant or guest who is looking for a handpicked home please visit our website or brief us here.

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