Technology best enhances what we do when we can “set it and forget it.” This automation feature frees our time from doing repetitive, mundane tasks and helps to focus on the work that really matters. Though vacation rental business management can’t be completely hands-free, the latest vacation rental automation tools can maximize its efficiency.
Another advantage of using automation tools is their ability to help you manage your budget wisely. By improving six crucial areas of vacation rental management, software solutions can reduce expenses and make your business more cost-efficient.
#1- Optimize Your Pricing
Make the dynamic pricing part of your Airbnb automation. Automated dynamic pricing tools take the information available on the booking platforms regarding pricing, recent activity, and vacancy rates to suggest optimal prices for a vacation rental. Dynamic pricing tools keep your vacation rental business competitive by ensuring you get the best rate for the booking. With automation software, it’s easy to monitor pricing changes and push the new rate across multiple platforms.
#2- Reduce Repetitive Tasks
Much of the work for vacation rental managers involves repetitive tasks such as answering the same questions, sending the same welcome emails, scheduling cleanings, restocking supplies, etc.
Automation tools reduce the time spent on these routine tasks. With Airbnb automated messages, preset your frequent communications and let the system send them at the right time. Again, this is a time-saving measure that makes vacation rental management more efficient.
#3- Enhance the Customer Experience
Guests appreciate prompt responses to their questions, but we can’t be available 24/7. Automation helps you reply faster and make a positive impression of you as a host. Positive guest reviews are key to winning bookings. You can automate the process of writing guest reviews to receive as many good reviews as possible and handle the negative ones. In its turn, good reviews attract more bookings, while more bookings mean higher revenue.
#4-Synchronize Platforms
Keeping your vacation rental business afloat means it needs to stay booked. While Airbnb is the leader in the field, it is not the only platform available for reserving vacations. To extend the reach, hosts often list their properties on multiple vacation rental sites. However, managing multiple listings and accounts can turn into a real challenge taking away all your time.
Vacation rental software such as iGMS makes it easy to manage multiple platforms within one interface. This saves you time and creates a consistent experience for guest touchpoints.
#5- Stay Organized
Eliminating human error is another reason to use automation tools. Vacation rental businesses have lots of moving puzzle pieces. When people are involved, inevitably, a ball will get dropped. You, as a host, may have to deal with different unpleasant situations such as missed cleanings, lost keys or receiving double-booking. They can negatively impact the guest experience, not to mention extra stress and expenses for the owner.
Using Airbnb automation tools allows you to avoid human errors and helps to deal with the common Airbnb problems. As an example, think about key management. What if your guests lose the key, how will they access your property? What if you can’t be there to let the vendors in?
Nowadays automation solutions allow hosts to arrange a smooth self-check-in process. This way you can ensure secure access to your property without your physical presence and even keys.
#6- Improve Cleaning and Maintenance
Clean and well-maintained properties make a positive guest impression. Having a cleaning schedule and a plan for regular property maintenance is essential for your success.
Vacation rental automation tools enable you to effectively manage your cleaning contractors. The software will schedule and assign the tasks for you in coordination with your bookings.
#7- Track Vacation Rental Business Performance
Airbnb automated tasks for a vacation rental business include generating reports. See the big financial picture to know how your property is performing, and track your income and expenses.. When you know the numbers, it’s easier to optimize the vacation rental business for efficient management and increased profit.
Though it’s impossible to be fully hands-free when running a vacation rental business, automation tools make the entire process much easier by reducing the time and effort spent on communication, scheduling, and booking management. As a bonus, these efficiency measures improve the overall guest experience you can deliver.