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Short term rentals - airbnb or other


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2021 Jul 11, 3:02pm   46,929 views  269 comments

by YesYNot   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

Anybody doing short term rentals lately?

I'm thinking of doing this in the Shenandoah region in VA, which has very low inventory and lots of short term rentals on the market. I assume that as more and more people do this, the market will saturate. I'm not sure how long that will take, and exactly how that will play out - plenty of thoughts though. In particular, I think if people insist on working from home, the far flung mountain retreat type areas outside of cities will do very well. I'm thinking that people wouldn't commute long distance every day, but might be willing to commute further once or twice a week. So, the high property values in/close to cities will continue to spread outward.

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145   mell   2023 May 1, 5:56pm  

Vrbo is decent, or at least better than air bnb.
146   WookieMan   2023 May 2, 5:38am  

mell says

Vrbo is decent, or at least better than air bnb.

Both are fine. The key is to take your time and really read every review. We've never had an issue with either service on the renting side. Also once you get any contract read every letter on it. The biggest horror stories are renting 6+ months out and the owner sells the place and doesn't communicate that. I've never stayed in one that I'd consider overly dirty or anything like that. There will be flaws with any property including hotels, so you have to set the bar appropriately in any situation.

Now if you book at the Four Seasons or a Ritz they have set the bar at a certain level. You should expect excellent conditions and service for the price. You can still get a 5 star experience at a VRBO or AirBnb, I just go in with a 3 start expectations and most time get 4 and sometimes 5 with certain rentals.

I've actually had good success with Turo for renting cars which is basically the same concept. Got nicer cars with more miles on them for 20-30% less than the major rental car companies. Had a BMW convertible out in AZ late January for $200 for 5 days. Pickup and drop at the airport garage which is closer than the rental car location.

There's always risk with this sharing industry type shit, but knock on wood I've had good luck. Key is always have a back up plan. Trip insurance on anything above $1k+ is a must for us now. That way if you have to scramble if a vacation rental screwed you, hotels and other shit could be covered and you can at least hopefully enjoy the trip or cancel. First time we bought it about 10 years ago used it. Saved us $7k for a $150 policy. Or we miss my BIL's funeral and likely have family shame forever. Fucking dumb ass (suicide). Although we rebooked that trip substantially cheaper. So loss/win/win.
147   Tenpoundbass   2023 May 2, 6:07am  

zzyzzx says






LOL my interloper buddy is going to Columbia. He's booking two different rooms from Airbnb and a room with Selinas. He likes having a room on different locations at his destinations. He told me when he leaves an AirBnb, he takes the sheets off the bed, the pillows out of the pillowcases and the towels from the bathroom and puts them by the door. "All they got to do is make the bed, they love me."

To which I told him, now you're creating a situation where they will expect that out of everyone.

Then I see this meme.
148   WookieMan   2023 May 2, 6:37am  

Tenpoundbass says

LOL my interloper buddy is going to Columbia. He's booking two different rooms from Airbnb and a room with Selinas. He likes having a room on different locations at his destinations. He told me when he leaves an AirBnb, he takes the sheets off the bed, the pillows out of the pillowcases and the towels from the bathroom and puts them by the door. "All they got to do is make the bed, they love me."

To which I told him, now you're creating a situation where they will expect that out of everyone.

Then I see this meme.

Eh, it's different with kids. I don't share a room with kids unless it's just one night. If we're staying more than that I need separate rooms or adjoining rooms.

Unless there are specific directions upon departure we just leave. We're paying a cleaning fee. Either way throwing towels and sheets in a tub is trivial and likely a 2 minute task. It's still cheaper to do a VRBO or AirBnb than having a single hotel room with 3 kids and being miserable for 3-7 days or so. Can't cook, so all meals are out and that's a fortune. Vacation rentals are substantially cheaper. Especially if the owner has named the unit and you find their own website. That way you avoid the fees from the services. We've save $600/wk on rentals doing that.

I don't know, I've had way shittier experiences in hotels than vacation rentals. As someone mentioned time share places that you rent are pretty good too. They won't make your bed everyday, but if there's an issue they'll come fix it. We stay at Margarittaville in St. Thomas. Never had a problem. Hotel level service outside of turndown service. And no, we don't have a time share there. I ain't touching that realm of bull shittery. Food sucks, but it's a 5 minute drive to Red Hook restaurants that are much better. And there's a strip club. God damn I need/want to get back down there.

15 year marriage anniversary (25 total) and turning 40. I might just book something. Mothers day surprise, anniversary, and my 40th. We'll see. Flights are gay in June. Prices are through the roof.
149   mell   2023 May 2, 9:01am  

WookieMan says


I've actually had good success with Turo for renting cars which is basically the same concept. Got nicer cars with more miles on them for 20-30% less than the major rental car companies. Had a BMW convertible out in AZ late January for $200 for 5 days. Pickup and drop at the airport garage which is closer than the rental car location.

Turo is great, used in many times for 25%-50% of the price of a rental, had great cars to try out. No objections to Turo. But it's not comparable to Air BnB as Turo makes it easier and cheaper for you, they literally meet you at the airport outside to do the handover, no waiting in line like at the car rental with 1 employee for 500 customers. Had once a guy who claimed there was a scratch from a rock in the car now, and I quickly settled for an additional $150 or so, was still much cheaper than a rental car. Decent option. Not they are an SF company, not everything that comes out of there is bad ;)
151   WookieMan   2023 May 3, 11:08am  

mell says

But it's not comparable to Air BnB as Turo makes it easier and cheaper for you, they literally meet you at the airport outside to do the handover, no waiting in line like at the car rental with 1 employee for 500 customers.

Don't need to tell me, but if you have 3 kids it fucks things up massively with travel. We need 2 rooms if it's more than a night. At that point vacation rentals are cheaper by 20% depending on the area. Agree with Turo though.

Leaving for Door County, WI Friday. We got a 2 bed room fortunately. Hotel rooms with 3 kids is a pain in the ass. I won't do it unless it's a travel day and we stay the night before or when we land. Wife will sleep in and I'll be up at 5am. So it also helps with that. I'm a weirdo though. I just want my own space separate from the kids. I think they want the same.
153   RedStar   2023 May 3, 11:56am  

mell says


Turo is great, used in many times for 25%-50% of the price of a rental, had great cars to try out. No objections to Turo. But it's not comparable to Air BnB as Turo makes it easier and cheaper for you, they literally meet you at the airport outside to do the handover, no waiting in line like at the car rental with 1 employee for 500 customers. Had once a guy who claimed there was a scratch from a rock in the car now, and I quickly settled for an additional $150 or so, was still much cheaper than a rental car. Decent option. Not they are an SF company, not everything that comes out of there is bad ;)


Turo can go to hell. I fell prey to a scam artist and Turo banned me for trying to get my money back through the credit card company.

Long story short- I never got access to the car I reserved and paid for, owner lied and said I did. Turo didn't care and they have zero customer service.

They ended up banning my account because I tried to fight it through the CC company.
154   just_passing_through   2023 May 4, 6:10am  

zzyzzx says







Every time I see one of these I'm floored by the cleaning fees. I only charge $150 and throw in a free cleaning for people who stay more than 2 weeks for my Maui vacation rental. $150 is pretty standard although my cleaners think I shouldn't give freebees like that - I do.

In fact, I just turned over a ~2000sq/ft long term (1-year lease, SFH) and only paid $200 for make-ready-cleaning. It really should have been $400 but an old high school buddy owns the company and under charged me. I owe him quite a few beers.

What in the hell goes on in these AirBNBs!?
155   mell   2023 May 4, 8:45am  

RedStar says



Turo can go to hell. I fell prey to a scam artist and Turo banned me for trying to get my money back through the credit card company.

Long story short- I never got access to the car I reserved and paid for, owner lied and said I did. Turo didn't care and they have zero customer service.

They ended up banning my account because I tried to fight it through the CC company.

Good that you paid with CC, just charge it back. If they ban you, it's their loss. I always pay with CC and charge back if the service is not satisfactory. But Turo is likely struggling like all the smaller start ups of recent years. They can't really do much, like all of these direct brokers you run the risk of hitting a scammer. I don't know what their insurance/coverage policy is, but as a last resort you should be prepared to get a rental car. Not getting your car can happen at a rental company as well btw, though at least they would reimburse you. I used them maybe 5 times, and never had an issue. If the car rental companies weren't that shitty, Turo would have never been invented. Same as for Uber/Lyft vs cabs.
156   AD   2023 May 4, 10:47am  

I'd recommend searching for independent companies such as on Facebook ... for example in Panama City Beach, there is Dawns Rentals and Book That Condo ....

I don't believe they charge all the exorbitant fees like AirBnB and they give a better value or deal ...

Expedia is pretty good at giving options beyond AirBnB which is overly priced vacation rentals ,,,,

AirBnb peaked around $213 a share in February 2021, and a few months after its IPO... its now at $118 ...

I wonder if AirBnB will eventually go into obscurity like Yahoo and MySpace ...
158   zzyzzx   2023 Jun 8, 11:10am  

ad says

I'd recommend searching for independent companies such as on Facebook ... for example in Panama City Beach, there is Dawns Rentals and Book That Condo ....

I don't believe they charge all the exorbitant fees like AirBnB and they give a better value or deal ...

Expedia is pretty good at giving options beyond AirBnB which is overly priced vacation rentals ,,,,


I recommend just using hotels.
159   zzyzzx   2023 Jun 15, 10:58am  

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-short-term-rental-showdown-comes-down-to-vote/3277841/

Short-term rentals zoned out of Dallas single family neighborhoods
160   Eric Holder   2023 Jun 15, 12:00pm  

zzyzzx says

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-short-term-rental-showdown-comes-down-to-vote/3277841/

Short-term rentals zoned out of Dallas single family neighborhoods


Noooooooooo!
161   Eric Holder   2023 Jun 15, 12:02pm  

just_passing_through says

Every time I see one of these I'm floored by the cleaning fees.
...
What in the hell goes on in these AirBNBs!?


Tax fraud maybe?
162   WookieMan   2023 Jun 15, 1:08pm  

zzyzzx says

I recommend just using hotels.

Eh, that's a tough call. I do both. Depends on the price. If kids are going vacation rental is generally the way to go. We just booked airfare and two rooms at Margaritaville in St. Thomas for a stupid low price. So we're going the hotel route which is rare with the kids. Used points, so amount won't be accurate if I posted.

We've only have one "bad" vacation rental, which wasn't that bad of a vacation rental near Bryce Canyon, UT. The lodging in the area is shit. I doubt we could have done better. Shit hole of of a town, but an amazing NP.
166   Onvacation   2023 Jun 28, 12:33pm  

Stuck at JFK last night on the way to Maine; flight canceled. In our search for a room we found an airbnb for $120/night. Plus tax, plus some $50 fee, plus a $150 cleaning fee. We were going to have a room in somebody's house.

The Courtyard in Brooklyn charged us $250 for the night, all taxes and fees included.
168   GNL   2023 Jul 3, 10:15am  

I don't think RE is in a bubble. I think slow rises in valuation until the next breakout to the moon from here on out.
169   HeadSet   2023 Jul 3, 2:02pm  

GNL says

I don't think RE is in a bubble. I think slow rises in valuation until the next breakout to the moon from here on out.

Won't that result in houses being unaffordable? Do you think families will double up in single family homes, or trend toward multiple generations living together?
170   Booger   2023 Jul 3, 2:11pm  

HeadSet says

Won't that result in houses being unaffordable?


Already unaffordable.
171   GNL   2023 Jul 3, 2:14pm  

HeadSet says

GNL says


I don't think RE is in a bubble. I think slow rises in valuation until the next breakout to the moon from here on out.

Won't that result in houses being unaffordable? Do you think families will double up in single family homes, or trend toward multiple generations living together?

I think there is a plan and the plan is to reduce all consumption. Only the higher classes will own (eventually) RE. This is my generational opinion.
172   AD   2023 Jul 3, 4:19pm  

GNL says

I think there is a plan and the plan is to reduce all consumption. Only the higher classes will own (eventually) RE. This is my generational opinion.


very short audio message from me as I am trying this new way out of posting via audio: https://voca.ro/18HpqQjof3jX

,
173   richwicks   2023 Jul 3, 5:34pm  

GNL says

I think there is a plan and the plan is to reduce all consumption. Only the higher classes will own (eventually) RE. This is my generational opinion.


What part of You'll Own Nothing and Be Happy don't you people understand?

Eventually people will start demanding higher taxation on single family homes. If you don't think Prop 13 in California will be over-turned, guess again. Basically, the boomer generation sold the young generation into slavery and they will have to actually overthrow the government to correct it, that's why they are so pressed to be indoctrinated.
174   AD   2023 Jul 3, 8:36pm  

richwicks says


single family homes


wages and income need to at least increase at double the rate of housing over next 10 year to get housing back to affordable levels

right now a typical new detached house at Breakfast Point in Panama City Beach goes for around $500,000 ...

you need to earn at least $125,000 a year to reasonably afford that... the median household income here is around $80,000 ....

.
175   richwicks   2023 Jul 3, 8:37pm  

ad says

wages and income need to increase at double the rate of housing over next 10 year to get housing back to affordable levels


Yeah, won't happen.
176   AD   2023 Jul 3, 8:41pm  

richwicks says

Yeah, won't happen.


Yeah I understand.... Too many damn AirBnB's going up on the "barrier island" known as Panama City Beach Florida ...

they need to put in zoning restrictions to increase supply so it does happen around here...
177   Onvacation   2023 Jul 3, 9:16pm  

richwicks says

Basically, the boomer generation sold the young generation into slavery

No we didn't. We were just as manipulated as you are. Prop 13 was touted as a way to keep old people from getting kicked out of their rapidly inflating homes because they couldn't afford the tax bill.

What caused the inflation?

TPTB want us to fight. Don't give in to them.
178   AD   2023 Jul 3, 9:26pm  

Onvacation says


TPTB want us to fight. Don't give in to them.


its all supply and demand and i wonder how much it is not-in-my-backyard mentality as far as this

you got to have adequate housing for the bottom of the socieoeconomic ladder who work in the various jobs from fast food to car repair shop to urgent care clinic in rich areas and zip codes

i rather rent a nice home and be able to save a lot of money for retirement than own a home with large housing expenses like mortgage and property insurance (even if it annually appreciates at double the rate of annual inflation)

.
179   AD   2023 Jul 3, 9:43pm  

Bitcoiner says

> the reality is they can survive with roommates, in ADU’s, or in a “charming studio” aka 250 sqft shoebox.


that is what my mom does... her and my stepdads home was only $250,000 on 5 acres in mountains of Colorado (about 2 hours from Denver) back in 2002 when they built it... now the county appraiser has set a value of $890,000 ...

the home has a garage apartment which is connected to the main house via a hallway or breezeway, so the county calls it an Accessory Dwelling Unit ...

my mom charges about $1250 a month for it (which includes all utilities and internet) and is 600 square feet 1 bedroom with a den and 1 bath ... I guess the den can be like a bedroom too..

.
180   richwicks   2023 Jul 3, 10:43pm  

Onvacation says


What caused the inflation?

40 years of war. The real purpose of war from the point of view of the Federal Reserve is to enslave the country through debt.

If you look up the national debt in 1971, it's 398 billion dollars. The national debt doubles on average every 8 years and has been doing this since 1971.

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/national-debt-by-year-compared-to-gdp-and-major-events-3306287

Current national debt is I think 33 trillion.

Calculate it. It's entirely predictable.

Think war is cheap? It produces nothing and is very expensive. I wouldn't be surprised if we are fucked in less than 10 years. We're going to lose this proxy war against Russia. We don't even try to win wars. For the defense industry it's to make money, for the FED it's to enslave the country.
181   Patrick   2023 Jul 3, 10:47pm  

GNL says

I think there is a plan and the plan is to reduce all consumption. Only the higher classes will own (eventually) RE.


And that is called hereditary aristocracy, something we fought a revolution to escape.

Georgism is a good answer to the problem of real estate consolidation, among other problems.
182   Onvacation   2023 Jul 4, 5:06am  

richwicks says

Onvacation says

What caused the inflation?

40 years of war. The real purpose of war from the point of view of the Federal Reserve is to enslave the country through debt

So why are you blaming boomers?
183   DhammaStep   2023 Jul 4, 5:41am  

Bitcoiner says

Happy birthday to the greatest country on earth! Happy 4th

Oh fuck off. You have no problem with citizens being denied the right to work while celebrating Independence Day?
184   richwicks   2023 Jul 4, 6:18am  

Onvacation says


So why are you blaming boomers?

This is the generation that "won't get fooled again" that got fooled again over and over and over again. 7 times in just 20 years.

They saw the Pentagon papers, they knew the Gulf of Tonkin Incident was faked, but the insist every fucking war from 1980 onward was justified. The watched the Church Committee hearings, that was in 1975. I was 4 then, and I know about them. That had Operation Mockingbird revealed in it, it revealed the existence of MKUltra, Project SHAMROCK, and COINTELPRO. Our government has been doing surveillance on the population since the 1960's.

This is the make peace not war man generation that moved on to greed is good that moved on to turn the middle East to glass generation that is now Slavi Ukraini.

99% are completely brainwashed. These are the people that still think television has news. They are just frustratingly selfish and or easily controlled and they are very corrupt. Who is running the country now? Generation X? The Silent Generation? They've been in power since the 1980s. FINALLY the USSR collapsed. Where's the peace dividend?

There's been nothing but malinvestment since 1990. There hasn't been ANY accountability in government since the Savings and Loan Scandal.

I can see this this, I'm in X. If I tell a boomer that the 1993 WTC bombing was done by the FIB, explain who Emad Salem is, I'm just called "crazy" by them. If I point out that 9/11 was our Reichstag fire, explain all the "mistakes" both the FIB and CIA made, again, I'm crazy. If I point out that the Douma Chemical attacks were faked and explain what the TWO OPCW whistleblowers said, again... If I point out that Bana al-Abed COULDN'T have been in Aleppo, I'm just paranoid. If I explain this is why we know the US overthrew Ukraine in 2014, I'm just talking nonsense.

For over 20 years I've spotted the propaganda, and good luck convincing anybody in the boomer generation. My generation isn't much better, but it's better, and younger and younger are smarter are smarter and smarter. The boomers ought to know better. They saw the Gulf of Tonkin was faked in 1971. The - year I was born.

They are frustratingly gullible, and they have 100% faith in this government by and large.

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