Having a thriving vacation rental comes down to choosing the right location and right home. If you’re a busy property owner in Park City, you know that you’ve got a piece of paradise where guests have an abundance of ways to enjoy themselves. Between the features and amenities of your home, and the recreation that Park City is known for, it’s no surprise that owning a vacation rental can be quite a lucrative prospect.
Below, we will go into how you can find the best property management companies in Park City, Utah, what qualities to look for, and how Park City Vacation Rentals can provide what you need and more. Let’s get started.
Identify Your Goals Before Your Search
What exactly are you looking to accomplish with your Park City vacation rental? Are you all about seeing a return on your investment and maximizing your income? Or how about balancing the day to day burden and opening up room to enjoy the property yourself?
A solid property management company can open up these possibilities and more. However, it’s important for you to express what your goals are up front. Get your non-negotiables down, and then explore the various Park City property management companies that can help you meet them. What do these companies focus on? Are they knowledgeable about the area in addition to the market?
Questions to Ask Potential Managers
Next, you can approach the process like hiring an employee. Get to know how your prospective property management company would tackle certain situations. Ask for a walk through on the processes in place once there’s a booking, how your home will be prepared for guest arrival, cleaning and inspection after the guests have left, and how quickly maintenance needs can be cared for if issues arise, and by whom. Will maintenance be out of pocket or worked into a property management plan? These are things to discuss up front so you can make a good decision.
Request a management agreement to find out what is included in your property management coverage and what’s extra. You’ll need to understand how the fees are structured, how linens are handled and blackout dates for when you as an owner want to use your property.
Verify Reputation and The Onboarding Process
Don’t underestimate the power of client referrals. Inquire with property owners who have worked with the particular property management company you’re interested in. Get to know how they felt working with this company. Did they feel informed? Were issues resolved in a timely fashion? Did the company suggest improvements that could enhance guest experience in your property? These are essential to the success of your property.
Perusing the property management company website can also tell you a lot. What do the listings look like? Are they compelling, using SEO-friendly content and attention grabbing photos? You’ll want to be proud of your vacation rental being listed on their website, not embarrassed.
Revenue Management & Marketing
When you evaluate a property management company, start with their pricing philosophy. It needs to be dynamic, to match the flow of seasons and stand out from the competition. Does your property management company understand the market and price accordingly to demand the attention of the right guests?
Do they set rates once per season, or do they actively manage rates daily, adjusting rates for booking windows, mid-week slowdowns, last-minute spikes, and length-of-stay patterns? Getting the answers to these questions will let you know if your property will get the marketing and attention it deserves.
Listing Optimization
A winning property management company will work to reach guests across all the top outlets. There should also be a direct booking option from their website that makes securing a rental as simple as possible. Look for clean, easy-to-navigate listing pages with fast load times, clear availability calendars, and transparent fees.
Listings for your property should be optimized with compelling descriptions that get the guests excited to stay there. Showcase the value that staying in this rental will bring to their vacation. Highlight amenities that accentuate the stay. Property management companies should do what it takes to get the reader to imagine staying in your property through excellent photography, floor plans and 3D tours. Strong SEO and email marketing campaigns in peak seasons will do wonders at keeping your listing at the top.
Good Photography and Storytelling Sell the Experience
Is your property management company willing to invest in professional imagery that reflects the beauty of your property in every season? It might be hard to maximize guest occupancy during the winter if all you have are summer photos of your rental. Make those snowflakes sparkle. Help the reader imagine themselves gliding out onto the slopes from your ski-in/ski-out rental. The visuals need to tell and sell a story about the experience that can be had.
Transparency Through Reporting
It shouldn’t be like pulling teeth to access the revenue reports of your rental. A good property management company will provide you with updates that discuss occupancy rates, your average daily rate, and your rentals performance over the months. These reports will help you track your vacation rentals success and understand how the pricing and marketing is (or isn’t) working for you.
Park City Vacation Rentals takes a hands-on approach to revenue management. We keep you in the know with real-time data and insight so that we can work together to make adjustments for the advancement of the property and your unique goals.
Seasonal Preparedness and Year-Round Maintenance
Before going with a property management company, learn about their plans for maintenance throughout the seasons. Park City’s winter weather can be cold and harsh. So, your property needs to have the right care regimen in order to keep bookings steadily increasing. What’s their approach to snow removal, making sure the HVAC system is maintained, and inspections after snowstorms? Amenities like driveways, decks and hot tubs need attention to make sure guests don’t get hurt.
Housekeeping Standards and Inspections
A clean rental often leads to 5-star reviews and repeat guests. So don’t be afraid to discuss housekeeping standards and schedules up front with your potential property management company. How often are deep cleans scheduled? Are essentials restocked after every stay? Will inspections of appliances and other items in the home be done so that everything present is working properly for guests?
Pre-arrival inspections are essential and can cover items like Wi-fi, smart lock codes, temp setting, and first impression touches. Don’t neglect post-stay inspections either, which can catch damages or issues early and address them.
Proactive Maintenance
We have to acknowledge that no matter how prepared you are, things can happen. A garage keypad gets a little too cold. The bathroom faucet springs a leak. Or the internet goes down. Your property management company should have a 24/7 maintenance response and a go-to team of local professionals to fix the problem.
Preventive maintenance plans like seasonal HVAC servicing, roof and gutter checks, deck safety checks, and appliance testing will help you save money and time in the long run. A company that is willing to take time for preventive measures is one that cares for their property as if it were their own.
Technology That Adds Peace of Mind
Is your potential property management company into using technology? Or are they stuck in the past? Smart home technology is the way of the future and is very helpful in vacation rentals. Things like smart locks, water leak sensors, remote access thermostat controls and other items can make life easier for you and your guests while protecting your home.
Guest Care That Builds Loyalty and Appreciation
The best property management companies value guests as much as the homes. A prompt, empathetic response to a guest question or concern can help at building a rapport and positive experience. Effective guest care is essential. Property management companies should go above and beyond to maintain open communication with guests so that they feel important. When your guests and property are cared for with a high level of attention, five-star reviews tend to follow.
Consistent Communication with You as the Property Owner
You shouldn’t feel like another cog in the machine. A good property management company will take time with you, discussing your property’s condition, any updates that should be made, and guest feedback. Not only will they express the criticisms, but they will also seek to celebrate the wins like positive guest feedback and increased booking opportunities. They’ll also check in with you before each season to discuss rate strategies, property refreshes upgrades, and any adjustments needed for better performance in the vacation rental market.
Flex Time for Personal Use
It’s not always about business. You deserve to enjoy the perks for your vacation rental. Your property management company can make time for you to do so. Discuss flexible scheduling that allows you to reserve personal dates for family visits, holidays, and ski trips without being penalized for it. The goal is to have this vacation rental work for you, instead of you working to maintain it.
Suggestions on Ways to Improve
A proactive property manager will look for ways to boost your home’s appeal, showcasing the best aspects of your property. This might come through recommendations for new features and amenities to add to the home. Even small changes can make a huge difference in guest satisfaction and meeting your goal quota for bookings. At Park City Vacation Rentals, we love helping owners fine-tune their homes for success and are happy to offer any suggestions to our property owners so that they can maximize their revenue and see that ROI on the horizon.
Why our Park City Property Management Team Stands Apart
At Park City Vacation Rentals, we firmly believe in developing a partnership with our owners. It’s not just a work arrangement. We’re invested in your success and doing what we can to get your property the praise it deserves. That’s why we aim to be transparent with your financial reports, use specific marketing techniques to get your property noticed, and take time to incorporate the little things that increase guest satisfaction. When you entrust your property to us, we do our part to bring the knowledge of the market, logistics and operations to help your home become the well-oiled booking magnet we know it can be.
Look No Further Than Park City Vacation Rentals
Finding the right property management company in Park City doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming. It’s all possible when you have the right partner. Take the time to follow the advice in this blog. Have a little patience and ask all the right questions. The property management company for you is one that aligns with your long-term goals, cares for your home well, seeks the advantage of the customer, and keeps communication open.
If you partner with Park City Vacation Rentals, you’ll be working with a local team that knows the Park City market well. We will work to take care of the details like marketing and maintenance so that vacation home ownership is easy and rewarding for you. There’s no time to sweat the small stuff. It’s time to get your Park City vacation rental managed in a way that allows you to focus your attention and energy on the things you love.
Test us out. Submit an online contact form so that we can get to know you and unlock your property’s revenue potential. We’ll tour your home together and create a property management plan that reflects your goals. Then we will brainstorm a strategy that incorporates proper marketing, operations and increased revenue that will take your investment property to the next level. Contact Park City Vacation Rentals today to experience property management that’s the full package.
