Short-term rentals have attracted apartment owners for several years with the promise of quick and often higher profits compared to long-term rentals. At first glance, everything seems simple: just post a listing on Airbnb, welcome guests, and regularly collect payments. Reality quickly challenges these expectations – many owners find that despite the huge amount of work involved in short-term rentals, actual revenues can be disappointingly low. What causes this? Below, I discuss the most common reasons why self-managed apartments do not reach their full potential.
Short-term renting is much more than just posting a listing. It requires immediate responses to inquiries, negotiating terms, flexible guest check-ins at various hours, cleaning after every stay, and ongoing monitoring of the apartment's condition. For someone with a job and family responsibilities, being available 24/7 is simply unrealistic. The result is delayed responses, worse ratings on booking platforms, and cancelled reservations – which translates into lost real income.
A fully booked calendar is every apartment owner's dream. Unfortunately, very few manage to fill it 100%. The low season is especially challenging — winter months in seaside resorts or weeks outside the holiday season in big cities. Without experience and market knowledge, attracting guests during periods of lower demand is difficult, causing the apartment to often remain vacant. And a vacant apartment generates costs but brings no profits.
Owners often set a single nightly rate and do not adjust it based on season, day of the week, or local events. Meanwhile, effective short-term rental management requires constant market analysis and flexible pricing. A lack of dynamic pricing means either prices are too high, scaring off guests, or too low – causing the owner to lose potential profit during periods of high demand.
Competition in the short-term rental market is fierce. Photos, descriptions, and reviews decide whether your apartment will be chosen among hundreds of others. Self-managed listings often have poor-quality photos, suboptimal titles, and descriptions that don’t stand out. This results in fewer clicks and bookings – and consequently, low revenues.
Short-term rentals operate on the principle that reviews are your currency. If guests encounter an unclean apartment, unprepared bedding, or slow communication with the owner, they won't hesitate to leave a low rating. Two or three negative reviews can lead others to choose competing offers, even if your apartment is objectively attractive. Providing top-level guest service requires time, experience, and constant oversight.
Apartment owners are often unprepared for sudden changes in demand – such as tourism crises, nearby street renovations, or unexpected restrictions. Lack of a backup plan and strategy for tougher periods can mean a drastic drop in occupancy. This again translates into lower revenue — even if the apartment is well-furnished and well-located.
The good news is that owners do not have to face this uphill battle alone. More and more people are deciding to cooperate with professional companies specializing in comprehensive short-term rental management. Such an operator takes over all responsibilities – from creating and optimizing listings, through dynamic pricing, constant marketing, to guest service and cleaning. Thanks to experience and the tools of management companies, occupancy can be effectively increased even in the low season and prices maximized during peak periods.
Moreover, the owner does not have to sacrifice their time or worry about every detail – they have the guarantee that their apartment works for them 365 days a year. This means real revenue growth and peace of mind.
So, if you feel your apartment isn’t earning as much as it could – consider entrusting it to professionals. You will gain not only higher revenues but also invaluable time and confidence that your investment is in good hands.
