Although the visible effects of the pandemic seem to be subsiding, it’s understandable that many vacation rental property owners have many questions heading into 2023. This summer’s occupancy rate did take a slight dip, but that doesn’t necessarily mean demand has diminished. However, many may not consider that occupancy rates can fluctuate not only because of demand but also supply. Rates are affected by the overall number of short-term rentals, not simply how many heads are in the beds. In other words, as the number of available vacation properties increases, the occupancy rate decreases, even if the number of people renting remains the same or goes up. As a result, we’re developing new strategies for the 2023 short-term rental market.
Navigating the Post-Covid Rebound
The days of pent-up high demand are gone. All markets have opened and are in a post-Covid rebound. The game we’ll need to play in 2023 is occupancy. Although we see less overall demand than we did amid the pandemic, the desire to travel hasn’t diminished. The primary way to ensure increased occupancy rates is by offering the best options.
Increasing Occupancy for Short-Term Rentals
It’s no secret that travelers have more choices than ever. To ensure that we are one of their primary considerations, we’ll need to leverage time and ensure our prices align correctly to win early bookings. First, we’ll set a far-out premium to gather revenue before the regular booking times. As we enter those standard booking windows, we’ll want to be aggressive with daily rates and potentially undercut the market by five percent, leading to higher occupancy and increased revenue for you.
Homes typically have empty calendars at the beginning of the month, and we’ve seen the fire sales that can occur when the market holds higher rates for too long. We believe that by partnering an aggressive pricing strategy with robust marketing techniques, we’ll come out ahead in a highly competitive business space.
First impressions go a long way, and vacation rental properties are no exception. Having your property in top form is an effective avenue to success with a relatively low investment. Captivating online imagery is the primary way to catch the attention of would-be renters, but what seems like an easy endeavor can become a mind-boggling experience in home design. No matter how good your camera is, you may come away with lackluster results if you’re not putting a valiant effort into staging your home. We want all of our partners to get the most out of their properties, so here are a few practical things to consider as get you started!
How Do We Define “Staging?”
Much like a five-star restaurant or world-class theatrical performance, aesthetics play an integral role in creating an emotional response to your vacation rental listing. Still, you may wonder what staging is and how it can maximize your revenue. Simply put, staging is the physical presentation of your home that gives renters a sense of what it’s like to live there. And although your guests won’t be staying permanently, you want them to imagine their personal experiences. After all, the first part of booking is grabbing your audience’s attention, in this case, vacationers.
3 Staging Tips
Almost everyone in the vacation rental space understands the importance of staging, but that doesn’t mean we all know how to do it. There are many different things to consider when presenting your home, and, understandably, you may have some questions. Browsing popular listings is one way to get your creative juices flowing, but one of your goals should be to set your property or properties apart from the rest. Here are practical tips that will bring life to your listing.
Create Space
One of the first things travelers look for when choosing a place to stay is ample space. Thankfully, there are a few things to facilitate those desires without tearing down walls. Neutral colors with simple designs can make rooms appear much more prominent. Mirrors can also add the illusion of space by reflecting what’s already there.
Shed Some Light on the Situation
Adequate lighting will maximize your interior design and make your property more appealing to discerning guests. Unfortunately, overhead lighting can only do so much and sometimes create unwanted shadows. Opt for warm lighting positioned in various spots around each room. Floor lamps, Edison bulbs, and hanging fixtures will help evenly distribute light without making your interior look like a doctor’s office.
Remove Unnecessary Decorations and Personal Items
It’s easy to go overboard with making your vacation rental feel like your home. While some guests may appreciate your 80s vintage toy collection or sports memorabilia, presenting a generalized theme is a better way to attract renters. A few knick-knacks related to the area won’t hurt, but too many decorations can become distracting, especially from an online perspective.
Short-Term Rental Management in Colorado
Finding the best ways to stage your short-term rental property doesn’t have to be an arduous process. And if it’s something you don’t want to take on yourself, many services specialize in maximizing your property’s online appeal. To find out how Effortless Rental Group can help you get a sizeable return on your investment and learn how much your property can earn, get started today by visiting us online.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Breckenridge – look no further. Bootsy’s Basecamp is the latest Breckenridge luxury house rental managed by Effortless Rental Group.
Nothing revitalizes the soul quite like a relaxing escape – this 5 bedroom/5 bathroom property is the perfect place to do just that.
From the start of the onboarding process, we knew this home’s transformation from what it was to what it is would be special to witness.
This luxury wilderness retreat in the mountains is filled with reminders of the creativity and intention that were put into every decision when getting guest-ready.
Whether you are looking to host a getaway with your gals or a retreat weekend, the space welcomes you in and wraps you up in its warmth.
Family-friendly features, like a bunkroom with children’s books and toys, is bound to make this a repeat destination where memories are made amongst the alpenglow.
With only a 30 second walk between you and the only private access gondola in town, this ski-in/ski-out home is a shredder’s dream. It also backs up to the largest cross country ski trail network in the United States.
When your day under the modern sky is done, coming back to the basecamp means your adventure never has to end. With a hot tub, record player and vinyl collection, and Apple TV, you get to choose your own adventure in the evening.
Zuni Street Lofts just got a little more loca. That’s right – the highly anticipated Cantina Loca is open and ready to rock your boca with its authentic Mexico City street food, mezcal, and tequila.
Putting the loca in local, chef Dana Rodriguez hit the Denver food scene in 1998 after moving from Chihauhua, Mexico. A career fueled by passion and dedication, Rodriguez started as a dishwasher for a restaurant on Larimer Street and worked her way up to the James Beard-nominated chef the city knows and loves today.
There are layers to the triumph of Cantina Loca’s opening.
It also will serve as the perfect place to showcase her tequila and mezcal brand, Doña Loca. Inventive spirits and cocktails from expert bartenders are a promise.
Then there comes the layer of triumph of the restaurant opening in the Covid era. In the height of the pandemic, Rodriguez went on record to detail the heartache and anguish restaurant owners and employees were experiencing.
To be hit as hard as her industry was and to rise up and refuse defeat is perhaps the most exhilarating message this opening can send.
We are confident that Cantina Loca will enhance the already sparkling reputation of Dana Rodriguez and the Denver food scene, and we cannot wait for you to experience the one, the only, the loca.
Experience Cantina Loca as a guest of Zuni Lofts and receive 10% food and beverage. Interested? View all of our luxury vacation rental hotel lofts and book your next stay!
Vacation rentals in Lower Highlands (LoHi) Denver that provide fine bath products & consumables to enhance guest stays.
Intentional. Informational. Impactful.
These are just a few commonalities Effortless Rental Group shares with our partners at Le Labo and Public Goods.
Here at Effortless, we are constantly working to level up the guest experience. Every opportunity is met with an abundance of consideration and a thorough assessment to determine if it will do just that.
When today’s partnerships were yesterday’s prospects, the same due diligence was put forth; yet, the decision to join forces with both was a no-brainer.
There is a worldwide emphasis on sustainability in today’s consumer culture. A 2021 study revealed over one-third of global consumers were willing to pay more for sustainable products. This demand has many companies scrambling to catch up with companies that know sustainability is not trendy, but timeless – companies like Le Labo and Public Goods.
Bath products for Vacation Rental Guests staying with Effortless Stay at Zuni Street Lofts
Often described as “intoxicating,” Le Labo’s collection of pure, clean fragrances lend themselves to artful irony and the joy of being pleasantly surprised.
When our guests are greeted with Le Labo’s sensorial bath products, they know Effortless Stay & Zuni Lofts put their wellness above all. Plant-based, genderless, claimless, cruelty-free products that make you feel good and smell amazing.
Sustainability is achieved in each stage of the supply chain. Production highlights include bottles made from sugarcane, biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastic, and tree-free paper products. For every order placed, a tree is planted, making every shipment carbon offset.
Products are made with ingredients that any guest can use. All products are designed to enhance the space they are in, not detract from it. The wide array of essential products that are already available is expected to get even more comprehensive.
Effortless understands the modern-day traveler’s sacrifice of leaving pieces of home behind and alleviates it by placing Public Goods products in every property. You’ll never feel like you’re living without at an Effortless Stay at Espadin LoHi – you may even find a new favorite essential to introduce to your home.
Effortless Rental Group is proud to announce the latest partnership with the Zuni Street Lofts.
At Zuni Street Lofts, guests are not simply welcomed to the community – they are welcomed into it. This partnership was founded on intention and a steadfast commitment to making a positive impact – and we’re only getting started.
Travelers will experience premium service and features during their stay, as each loft unit comes equipped with fully stocked, designer-grade kitchens and spacious living spaces, with floor-to-ceiling windows and some of the best views in Denver.
While guests may come for the exclusive features, its elements of inclusivity will truly make their stay. A collaboration with local artists is reflected in decor and design representative of the sensational, creative energy of the city.
A seamless introduction into the community starts with every loft’s unique design, with each unit representing a different small Denver business. Along with an immediate connection to the community, Zuni Street Loft’s local partnerships encourage travelers to reap the benefits of shopping local through discounts and promo codes for food, drinks, wellness, art, and more.
The Espadín’s location is one of the many reasons that makes it the hottest place to stay in Denver. LoHi (Lower Highlands) is an eclectic mix of sleek, ultra-modern, and classic Denver Victorian architecture, LoHi is as vibrant and lively as its residents and the community. This dynamic Denver neighborhood is known for its walkability and some of the best locally-owned restaurants, fitness studios, cafes, boutiques, and much more.
At the Zuni Street Lofts, guests rest easy knowing that “stay” and “sustain” are one and the same. That’s because Zuni Street Lofts is committed to being an eco-friendly, sustainable space to ensure minimal impact on the planet and the community. Part of Zuni Street Lofts commitment to the planet includes zero single-use plastics, solar power generation, and EV charging stations. Underlying all design decisions is a sensitivity to the environment and a goal of attaining LEED Platinum accreditation. Innovation never looked so green.
Whether their phone eats first or not, guests will have flavor at their fingertips at Catina Loca. *OPENING FALL 2021
“Serving up authentic Mexico City street food, the best mezcals and tequilas in the game, and just the right amount of loca for your boca.”
Female-owned and operated by award-winning chef and notorious local tastemakers and pacemakers, Dana Rodriguez and Dana Macfarlane. Taco ’bout a Denver hospitality dynasty!
Interested in learning more about Dana’s spirit line of Mezcal? See 5280’s feature here.
We couldn’t be more excited to share our thriving community with you, and with that, we welcome you to the Zuni Street Lofts and into so much more.
Interested in staying at Zuni Street Lofts? Click here to book.
A couple years ago, my partner and I found ourselves with new job opportunities and the possibility of a new life adventure in Denver. After more than half a decade in the mountains, we were ready to make the move from Breckenridge, except for one sticking point – our home. We had purchased our A-frame a few years back, and maybe it wasn’t quite our dream home yet, but the last thing we wanted was to sell our one and only real estate investment. Still, we weren’t going to be able to pay Denver rent, let alone buy a home in Denver someday, without selling. Right?
Wrong. This is where the idea of Airbnb started to come into focus in a whole new way. Sure it was on our radar as slowly but surely over the years, Airbnbs had become our preferred way to travel, and we knew some local friends who had tried hosting with varying degrees of success. But could we become hosts ourselves? Could inviting guests into our own home seriously generate enough short-term rental income that we could pay our mortgage and hold onto our home? All while renting, living and working in another city? We decided it was worth a chance, why not find out. Let’s do this!
But wait, who was going to want to stay in our space? Now it had been working fine for us, but it was far from guest-ready. The thought of re-thinking the space so it was dreamy and desirable was, quite frankly, paralyzing. Where would I start? We had been living on hand-me-down furniture. It needed a fresh coat of paint and a deep clean. The kitchen needed to be updated and so did the bathrooms. The dollar signs started to flash before my eyes and I couldn’t imagine transforming our home into a self-sustaining business on my own. In a near panic, we brought in our friend Erin Deeley, founder of Hydaway, to take a look at the space. As a career creative director and stylist, she’s intuitive and thoughtful, but also a hard-hitter and we knew she would give it to us straight. We braced ourselves for her assessment and what she came back with was shocking. Yes, we needed to clean and paint, but with new furnishings and some creative styling, she thought we could be a competitive, standout short-term rental, in a matter of months. The construction and full remodel projects could wait (thankfully!); pragmatic staging, intentional styling and thoughtfully shot photography would be the solution.
Truthfully, we didn’t have the money saved to make this upfront investment in furnishing our whole house. But as a proud homeowner and strategic business woman, I know that sometimes it takes money to make money. And in an increasingly crowded, competitive Airbnb marketplace, I wanted to give my new business the best chance at sustainable profitability and long-term success.
So Erin got to work. She was super sensitive to our tight budget and timeline, bringing in a mix of high and low-end furnishings, old and new. Erin worked to make sure the home had optimal flow and function for guests, while still reflecting our tastes and who we are. She artfully highlighted the best attributes of our space, while quietly drawing attention away from what wasn’t so great – no reno work or major construction needed. She transformed our tired, hand-me-down interior into this playful mix of clean modern lines, cozy bohemian touches and a hint of nostalgia that nods to the 1960’s architecture. She also worked with us to professionally photograph the space, another crucial piece of the puzzle as these photos are literally the first impression we make on every potential guest. She helped me start to think about this home as not only a potentially profitable business, but a potentially powerful brand that I’d get to share with the world.
And I’m happy to report back, this was 100% the right move. We made our money back in less than six months, and that initial investment continues to pay dividends in every way. We engaged with Effortless Rental Group to manage the property, keep it sparkling clean, well maintained, occupied and priced right – and we’ve never looked back. Almost two years later, @TheFoxAFrame is a successful business and brand with occupancy rates and annual revenue that have consistently exceeded our expectations. And back in Denver, we’re in the process of purchasing our second home, a dream that would have never been possible without the success of this short-term rental. Oh, and I think it goes without saying, but I’m a total interior design convert. This value add in my life is an appreciating asset I’m holding onto.
My Takeaways
The Financial When your space has that Instagrammable, share-worthy style, your listing will stand out, it will get you noticed. Period. It will generate more impressions, more interest and more clicks. That equals guests in the door and ultimately higher occupancy, nightly rates and total revenue. Invest in interior design and photography. In a matter of months, you can see the return on your financial investment. When you invest in your space, your guests will too.
The Emotional This is the one I never saw coming. But I have to tell you, when I’m able to spend time at my house, it is a completely transformed space. The design changes the energy of the space, how you feel and how you live in it. Now it’s this magical escape that’s our very own. The fact that we get to share that feeling with guests, day after day, makes our investment totally worth it. And not to make it financial again, but honestly the value of that emotional connection regularly surfaces in better reviews, higher ratings, recommendations and even repeat stays. When you care about your space, your guests will too.
Build a Brand, Not Just a Business. The modern guest audience in today’s connected world is looking for more than just a place to stay. Attention to the experience and brand you’re creating might take a little more time and effort, but it will inevitably translate to better engagement, overall guest satisfaction, customer trust and affinity. This is all crucial to lifting customer lifetime value and creating sustainable When you believe in your space, your guests will too.
The Fox A-Frame – Property Performance (May 2020 – May 2021)
Named one of Colorado’s best Airbnbs in 2020 by Conde Nast Traveler, The Fox is a charming retreat nestled in the mountains of Breckenridge, Colorado – a breath of fresh air, a world away. Ready to book your stay?
Hydaway offers interior styling and brand marketing services to help the aspiring short-term rental owner build a profitable business, powerful brand and lasting success for their new or existing Airbnb. Ready to transform your space?
Providing homeowners in Colorado with the most trusted, comprehensive set of property management services while maximizing revenue. Stop stressing over managing a short-term rental by yourself. Get the services, resources, and support you need to succeed in this constantly changing world of short-term rentals.
Interested in a FREE property evaluation? CLICK HERE to fill out an inquiry form or call sales directly at 720.297.5905.
We’re extremely excited to announce that qualifying premium & luxury Effortless Rental Group vacation rentals are now available on Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
What is Homes & Villas by Marriott International?
Homes & Villas by Marriott International is a home rental offering from Marriott International, comprised of a curated selection of premium and luxury rental homes cared for by a select group of professional management companies.
At its core, Homes & Villas by Marriott International provides consistency and quality, evaporating the anxiety currently associated with choosing home accommodation and giving guests the space and amenities of a home backed by a trusted travel company with the very best in loyalty benefits.
What does it mean that Effortless Rental Group’s homes are featured on Homes & Villas by Marriott International?
Effortless Rental Group is one of the select professional property management companies who have been vetted and approved to feature their homes on the Homes & Villas platform. This gives Effortless Rental Group and their homeowners, access to the following:
Marriott’s distribution channels and marketing opportunities
Brand affiliation with Marriott – if a house qualifies for the Homes & Villas by Marriott International program, that indicates a certain level of safety security and design
Homes will have a more significant presence on our site as opposed to others, due to the number of homes we curate per destination.
Property performance data and, if need be, guidance on property improvement plans
How can I see if my home would fit into HVMI?
Before you can join Homes & Villas by Marriott International, you have to be managed by one of their select professional property management companies – like Effortless Rental Group! Effortless Rental Group is well-versed in the type of homes that are likely to be accepted into the program and can discuss the potential fit of your home with you.
Effortless Rental Group’s very own Dana Lubner was recently featured on STR Success Stories where she had a virtual chat with Julian Sage (of Short Term Sage) about her personal story and how she joined her family to help grow Effortless to what it is today. Dana also discusses how she was involved in not only growing the business but how to scale at a healthy level while also keeping the quality of the service they wanted to offer for their clients and guests. She talks about how she was able to help Effortless speed past the growing competition in Denver & what it takes to market and brand your short term management company. Dana shares what it is like working in an advocacy group hired by companies like Airbnb & VRBO and their efforts to drive initiatives forward with local regulators.
Check out the full podcast episode with Dana HERE!
Don’t forget to follow Julian and his entire podcast series Short-Term Sage HERE!
As concerns grow about environmental sustainability in our communities, many of our travelers are now searching for more eco-friendly travel options. We’ve heard our guests loud and clear: Effortless Rental Group is going green at all of our vacation rental properties in Colorado! Effortless Rental Group believes in reducing our carbon footprint which is why we are excited to announce our partnership with Public Goods. Public Goods will be providing our properties with high quality items such as cooking seasonings, salt & pepper, olive oil, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soaps, paper towels, toilet paper and coffee. All of which are sustainable, non-GMO, organic, eco-friendly, non-animal tested, free of harsh chemicals – and so much more!
We also plan on implementing a reduction in single-use items in all of our properties, focusing on reusable or recycled items as much as possible. We believe quality is more important than quantity, which is why we’ll be advocating our owners to invest in products for their homes that are sustainable, eco-friendly while also providing an excellent experience for all of our guests.
Chemical cleaning products can be harmful to wildlife and human life, and we’d like to make a difference anywhere we can. We’ll be shifting to biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning products with Public Goods that are effective, while also following all CDC guidelines for disinfecting. This will decrease the range of harmful chemicals our guests are exposed to and lessen the amount washed into the environment during use.
Here are some easy ways you can make your vacation rental green:
Help your guests reduce their plastic use by providing reusable options such as shopping bags
Provide filtered water for guests so that they can refill their own reusable bottles
Make it easy for your guests to recycle. If recycling is an option for your home, make sure to be clear about what is recyclable and what is not.
Vehicles are the leading cause of air pollution in climate change. Help your guests make better choices by recommending public transportation, rideshare programs or walkable attractions in your neighborhood.
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