Expert Tips and Insights for Maximizing Your Short-Term Rental Success 

Most STR managers won't show you the math behind their fee. Here's a year-long breakdown of what our 17/20/23% sliding fee actually costs (and saves) an owner in Park City.

Here's a question most property managers don't want you to ask: what happens to their fee when your property has a bad month? The answer, almost always, is nothing. They keep charging the same 20% whether they hit your goals or not. That's not accountability — that's just a billing arrangement. We built TruStay to answer that question differently. Our base management fee is 20%. But the number that matters is what happens around it: if we miss your agreed revenue goal for the

Utah is one of the strongest short-term rental markets in the country. National parks, ski resorts, tech corridors, and a year-round events calendar give owners a lot to work with. But "Utah" covers a lot of ground, and what your Airbnb earns depends heavily on where it sits and how it's managed. Here's a market-by-market breakdown — and what actually moves the number. Salt Lake City SLC is a year-round market with demand driven by tech conferences, university events, medical

Hiring a property manager for your short-term rental should make your life easier and your income more predictable. For a lot of owners, it doesn't deliver on either. The hard part is that most property managers make it difficult to know whether they're performing — or just collecting fees. Here's how to actually evaluate yours. The Number That Matters Most: Revenue vs. Goal Before anything else, you need a benchmark. What was the agreed-upon revenue target for your property

There's a wide range of what "property management" actually means in practice. At one end: a manager who lists your property, handles bookings, and collects their cut. At the other: a team that treats your property like an investment they're personally accountable for. Here's what the second type does differently. 1. They set a revenue goal in writing — and hold themselves to it The first conversation with a good property manager should end with an agreed number: a realistic

Ask most short-term rental owners who've worked with a property manager, and you'll hear a version of the same story: "I handed over my property, paid the fees, and never really knew if they were doing a good job." That distrust isn't irrational. The traditional property management model is structured in a way that almost guarantees it. The Misalignment Problem Here's how most management agreements work: you pay 20% of revenue, the manager keeps the lights on, and both partie

It's a straightforward math question, but most articles on this topic avoid actually answering it. So let's do the math. The Baseline A property management company typically charges 15–25% of gross rental revenue. If your property earns $60,000/year and you're paying 20%, that's $12,000 in management fees. For that $12,000, you're paying for: listing management, guest communication, pricing, cleaning coordination, maintenance oversight, and owner reporting. The question is wh

The short-term rental industry has matured faster than the businesses managing it. A decade ago, vacation rental management was a local, often informal business. Today, STR owners have institutional investors, analytics platforms, and AI pricing tools competing for the same guests. But the way most property managers charge their fee hasn't changed at all. That's a problem worth understanding. How Flat-Rate Fees Work Against You A flat 20% management fee sounds simple — and it

Self-managing a short-term rental is doable — especially when you're starting out with one property, you live nearby, and you have the time. But there's a point where self-management starts costing more than it saves. Knowing when that crossover happens is worth thinking through. When Self-Management Makes Sense You can reasonably self-manage if you live within 30 minutes of the property and can respond quickly to guest issues and maintenance needs. If you have the time. Hand

A 4.9-star property earns more than a 4.5-star property in the same neighborhood. That's not a guess — it's the pattern that shows up in every STR market. But most property owners think about guest experience as a hospitality problem, not an economics problem. It's both. What the Star Gap Costs You On Airbnb, properties with higher ratings appear higher in search results, get featured more often, and see higher conversion when guests compare options. The difference between a

The property management conversation usually starts with your potential manager pitching you a revenue projection and explaining their services. That's backwards. You should be the one asking the questions. Here are six that reveal the most about whether a manager is worth hiring. 1. What revenue goal will you commit to in writing? A manager who gives you a revenue projection during the pitch but won't put a specific goal in the contract is hedging. Good managers are willing

Most STR owners know what they're paying their property manager. Far fewer know whether they're getting good value for it. The gap between those two things is where a lot of money gets left on the table. Here's the framework that actually tells you. The Right Benchmark: Net Revenue Comparison The question isn't "how much am I paying in fees?" It's: am I netting more money with this manager than I would without one — or with a different one? To answer it, you need your current

Every company has a founding story. Ours is simpler than most: we built TruStay because we thought the standard property management model was broken, and we wanted to build something that wasn't. Here's what we mean by that. The Standard Model Has a Quiet Problem A property management company that charges a flat 20% earns the same fee whether your property earns $5,000 this month or $8,000. The manager's income is relatively insulated from your outcome. That's not a character

# Attracting Business Travelers to Your Short-Term Rental in Utah County Utah County is no longer just a family vacation spot. With Lehi’s Silicon Slopes tech hub, Provo’s universities, and a steady flow of conferences and events, business travel is booming in the area. For Airbnb hosts, this creates a valuable opportunity: offering short-term rentals that cater specifically to the needs of professionals. Unlike tourists, business travelers look for a different set of ameniti

Preparing Your Salt Lake City Airbnb for Ski Season 2025: A Comprehensive Guide Salt Lake City is a hub for winter tourism. With ski resorts like Brighton, Alta, Solitude, and Snowbird just a short drive away, guests from around the world flock here every year. For Airbnb hosts, this means one thing: opportunity. But ski travelers have specific needs. They quickly notice when a property isn't prepared for the cold. If you want to grow bookings and earn glowing reviews, you'll

# Boost Your Salt Lake City Airbnb Income with a Pool or Hot Tub Salt Lake City’s short-term rental market is competitive. However, certain amenities can make your property stand out, command higher nightly rates, and keep your calendar booked. Among them, pools and hot tubs top the list for both guests and hosts. When used strategically, they can help you tap into different guest markets year-round. Whether your property is a cozy mountain retreat or a sprawling modern home,

Utah County is booming, and with that growth comes opportunity. From college towns like Provo and Orem to the scenic beauty of American Fork Canyon and beyond, this area is drawing both long-term residents and short-term visitors alike. That makes it a prime spot for Airbnb or vacation rental investment, but only if you understand the rules. Whether you're thinking of converting your basement into an Airbnb or purchasing a second property purely for rental income, short-term

TL;DR: Sugar House is one of Salt Lake City’s top-performing neighborhoods for short-term rentals thanks to its walkability, year-round appeal, and strong guest demand. From families to skiers to remote workers, it attracts a wide range of visitors. TruStay helps homeowners in Sugar House maximize bookings and income through smart projections, listing optimization, and local expertise. Salt Lake City has many incredible pockets for short-term rental success, but few are as m

Salt Lake City offers incredible opportunities for short-term rental income. With world-class ski resorts, proximity to national parks, a vibrant downtown scene, and a thriving events calendar, it's a great place to own an Airbnb. But like any market, Salt Lake City has slower seasons, particularly in early spring and late fall, when bookings can become harder to come by. If you're wondering how to grow off-season bookings in SLC, you're not alone. The good news? With the rig

When it comes to managing a short-term rental in Utah, home security might not be your first thought, but it should be. Beyond cleanliness and guest experience, protecting your investment is key to long-term success. TruStay's team has seen firsthand how smart security choices can prevent damage, reduce guest complaints, and give owners peace of mind. Below, we answer the most common questions we get from Utah homeowners about how to properly (and legally) secure their Airbnb