If youre a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead ofsellingit. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and theyre an investment thats gained popularity in recent years.
While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead ofsellingit.
A Short-Term Rental Comes with Responsibilities
Successfully managing your house as a short-term rental takes a lot of time and effort. Youll have to juggle tasks like dealing with reservations, organizing check-ins, and tackling cleaning, landscape, and maintenance duties. Any one of those can feel demanding, but all together its a lot to handle.
Short-term rentals experience high turnover rates, as new guests check in and out frequently.This home traffic can lead to increased wear and tear on your propertymeaning you may need to make more frequent repairs or replace your furniture, fixtures, and appliances more often.
Think through your ability to make that level of commitment, especially if you plan to use a platform that advertises your rental listing. Most of them have specific requirements hosts must meet. An article fromBankrateexplains:
Managing a rental property can be time-consuming and challenging. Are you handy and able to make some repairs yourself? If not, do you have a network of affordable contractors you can reach out to in a pinch? Consider whether you want to take on the added responsibility of being a landlord, which means screening tenants and fielding issues, among other responsibilities, or paying for a third party to take care of things instead.
Theres a lot to consider before taking the leap and converting your house into a short-term rental. If you arent ready for the work it takes, it could be wise tosellinstead.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
As the short-term rental industry continues to grow, regulations have increased. Legal restrictions commonly include limits on the number of vacation rentals in a particular location. This is especially true in larger cities and tourist destinations where there may be concerns about overcrowding or housing shortages for permanent residents. Restrictions may also apply to the type of property that can be used for short-term rentals.
Many cities also require homeowners to obtain a license or permit before renting out their properties.Nick Del Pego, CEO atDeckard Technologies,explains:
Renting short-term rentals is considered a business by most local governments, andowners must comply with specific workplace regulations and business licensing rules established in their local communities.
It is important to thoroughly check whether short-term rentals are regulated or prohibited by the local government and your homeowners association (HOA) before even considering renting out your home.
Bottom Line
Converting your home into a short-term rental isnt a decision you should make without doing your research. To decide if selling your house is a better alternative, call me and let me help you! Marie McLaughlin, 727-858-7569.
Source:https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/07/12/renting-or-selling-your-house-whats-the-best-move/
