Traditional Cottage Rental VS AirBnB; What’s Better?

In the good old days where AirBnB did not exist, property management companies would often rent out their client’s cottages through website, yellow-page, and billboard advertisements. Well things have changed ever since the introduction of websites like AirBnB, VRBO, and much more.

Seriously, which one is better?

Depends. It really is based on your specific cottage and what you’re looking to get out of renting out your cottage. Are you only wanting to rent out your cottage to help you pay for some of the expenses but mostly using this cottage for your own leisure? Or are you using the cottage as an investment opportunity that helps you generate cash-flow, where you won’t stay more than a month out of the year. Is your cottage an upscale luxury cottage by the lake or do you have a little cozy, countryside cabin?

If you have a small to medium sized cottage with average amenities, AirBNB is your best choice. Cottage markets are seriously hot and even if you don’t have the best and most comfortable amenities, you bet that it will get rented out fast on places like AirBnB where customers have direct access to your cottage information. However if you delegate your cottage in a traditional cottage rental manner where the property management company look for clients through ads, chances are they may not get you the best revenue through this method. If you are able to travel to your cottage on a weekly basis, you can manage the cottage through AirBnB by yourself. If not you can have a property management company help you manage your AirBnB for a slightly less management percentage compared to traditional cottage rentals.

If you have a large and Luxurious cottage, Traditional cottage rental is your best choice. For upscale stays, mostly come with upscale customers. These customers many time do not look through AirBnB websites for cottage rentals but look for established property management companies. You can still choose to post your cottage on AirBnB but what you’ll face is a higher chance of house parties, unwanted guests, and occasionally nightmare cleanups. Also with upscale vacation stays also means attention to details and extra amenities, meaning more work to maintain the rental, where owners usually will not have enough time and energy to cater to.

I would recommend to evaluate your current circumstances to determine your current energy and time as well as thoroughly evaluate what you’re looking for when you’re considering to rent out your cottage. These factors will help you determine what’s the best solution for you.

If you’re interested, we offer free advice and you can simply send me an email or give me a call.