The short-term rental (STR) industry has grown exponentially in recent years, and it’s no secret that listing your property on multiple platforms can increase your visibility and potential income. However, there are both pros and cons to listing your property on multiple STR platforms. In this blog post, we’ll explore both sides to help you make an informed decision about which strategy is best for you.
Pros:
Increased Visibility:
Listing your property on multiple platforms can increase its visibility to potential guests. When you list your property on several sites, you are exposing it to a wider audience, and this can result in more bookings and increased revenue.
Diversified Income:
Listing your property on multiple platforms can help diversify your income streams. If one platform experiences a slowdown or a dip in bookings, you’ll still have other platforms to rely on. This can help you weather the highs and lows of the industry more easily.
Competitive Pricing:
By listing your property on multiple platforms, you can compare pricing strategies and adjust your rates to remain competitive. This can help you optimize your pricing strategy and attract more bookings.
Platform-Specific Benefits:
Different platforms offer different benefits and features to hosts. By listing your property on multiple platforms, you can take advantage of these benefits and maximize your earning potential. For example, some platforms offer promotional tools, while others provide insurance coverage.
Flexibility:
Listing your property on multiple platforms can provide greater flexibility and control over your bookings. You can choose which platforms to list your property on, adjust pricing and availability, and manage guest communication all from one centralized dashboard.
Cons:
Increased Workload:
Listing your property on multiple platforms can increase your workload. You’ll need to manage multiple calendars, reservations, and guest communication channels. This can be time-consuming and may require additional resources or outsourcing to manage effectively.
Duplication of Listings:
When you list your property on multiple platforms, you’ll need to create and manage multiple listings. This can be tedious and time-consuming, and it’s important to ensure that your listings are consistent and accurate across all platforms.
Platform Fees:
Each platform charges a fee for hosting your property, and these fees can add up quickly. When you list your property on multiple platforms, you’ll need to account for these fees in your pricing strategy, which can impact your revenue.
Scheduling Conflicts:
When you list your property on multiple platforms, you run the risk of double bookings or scheduling conflicts. This can be a nightmare to manage and can result in unhappy guests and lost revenue.
Quality Control:
When you list your property on multiple platforms, it can be challenging to maintain consistent quality control. Each platform has different standards and requirements, and it can be difficult to ensure that your property meets them all.
Conclusion:
Listing your property on multiple STR platforms has its pros and cons. While it can increase your visibility, provide diversified income streams, and offer platform-specific benefits, it can also increase your workload, result in duplication of listings, and incur platform fees. Before making a decision, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and consider your unique situation, such as your available resources, your property’s location and market, and your personal preferences. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to list your property on multiple platforms should be based on your goals and priorities as a host.
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This article originally appeared in WishSTR Blog.
Property Management and Hosting
Shawn Goh began his career as an IT special consultant with leading firms such as SAP. With his extensive background in technology, Shawn built the ever-developing hardware and software infrastructure which allows for smooth operations across our portfolio. Coming from humble beginnings, Shawn has always been a tireless champion of progress.
Property Management and Hosting
Noah Laker led leasing projects in San Jose and Sacramento, CA while practicing real estate sales and property management. Noah and Shawn met in a leasing office in Sacramento, forming a modest joint venture for AirBnB and VRBO Investment which eventually flowered into a vast enterprise.
