Self-Managing vs. Hiring a Property Manager: Which Is Right for Your Vacation Rental?

So you just purchased your first investment property and you’re considering operating it as a vacation rental. Naturally, one of the first questions you’ll ask is whether you should manage it yourself or hire a property manager.

Today, we’re going to break down the pros and cons of both approaches. Spoiler alert: there isn’t a right or wrong answer. The important thing is understanding what works for you, your investment, and your lifestyle.

Before we launched a property management business 7 years ago, we owned one investment property that we managed ourselves and operated as a vacation rental. That period in our lives was a masterclass in property management. While we genuinely enjoyed being involved in every aspect of the property, we know that it isn’t for everyone. We know many investors would rather focus on the investment and leave the day to day operations to someone else.

What Does Self-Managing Actually Mean?

Before we started in managing vacation rentals professionally, we pictured answering a few guest messages, scheduling a cleaner, and laying out a box of curated snacks. The reality quickly became much broader. Self-managing means you’re responsible for the entire guest experience.

That includes: 

• Responding to inquiries
• Coordinating cleaners
• Scheduling maintenance
• Adjusting pricing
• Restocking supplies
• Resolving guest issues
• Reviewing properties after storms
• Handling emergency calls
• Managing reviews
• Preparing for the next guest

Launching a Vacation Rental Also Includes:

• Initial design and furnishing
• Furniture replacement over time
• Setting up utilities and technology
• Professional photography
• Creating listings on Airbnb and VRBO

Self-Management May Be a Good Fit if…

• You live locally
• You truly enjoy hospitality
• You have flexible time
• You want complete control over every decision

Challenges Owners Don’t Always Expect

When we first started out, our biggest surprise wasn’t the workload, the design, or the set up. It was the consistency. Guests don’t just need help Mondays through Fridays. Questions come in during evenings, weekends, and holidays. Cleaners occasionally call in sick. Air conditioners stop working on the hottest day of the year. Smart locks need batteries. Storms disrupt plans. We quickly learned, the biggest part of running a vacation rental is being prepared for the unexpected.

I still remember getting notified that a hot water pipe freezing during a rare Florida freeze which caused our guests to lose hot water and caused a major water overflow. We delivered so many towels that days while trying to fix the pipe. Or when the A/C broke down during a heat wave and we had to deliver 7 tower fans just to keep a room cool. That’s when it clicked for us: vacation rentals don’t operate on your schedule, they operate on your guests’ schedule and when you least expect it.

When Hiring a Property Manager Makes Sense

Hiring a property manager isn’t about avoiding work, it’s about deciding where you want to spend your time and what creates the most value for you.

What is a Property Manager?

A property manager is an individual or company that oversees the day-to-day operation of your investment property. Whether it’s a long-term rental or a vacation rental, their role is to help protect your investment while creating a great experience for your guests.

• Guest communication
• Revenue management
• Cleaning coordination
• Maintenance oversight
• Property inspections
• Vendor management (cleaners, maintenance professionals, landscapers, and other service providers)
• Owner reporting

Some management companies, like Nomad Hospitality, also provide additional services such as:

• Vacation rental design
• Furniture selection
• Property setup
• Photography
• Listing creation
• Direct booking website
• Marketing support

Advantages of Property Management

Instead of coordinating cleaners, responding to guest messages, troubleshooting maintenance issues, and keeping your calendar optimized, owners can focus on growing their portfolio or simply enjoying the investment.

Challenges You Might Not Expect

If you decide to hire a property management company, you’ll likely have additional costs, including management fees and, in some cases, a higher upfront investment for professional setup.

You’ll also give up some day-to-day control. Depending on the company, you may not be as involved in guest selection, pricing decisions, or operational details as you would be if you managed the property yourself.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Before deciding which route to go, ask yourself:

• Do I live close enough to respond quickly?
• Do I enjoy solving guest problems?
• Do I have reliable cleaners and contractors?
• Can I answer guest messages every day?
• What is my time worth?

Sometimes the best decision isn’t based on money. It’s based on lifestyle.

The Bottom Line

Owning a vacation rental is an investment.

Managing one is running a hospitality business.

Neither approach is right or wrong. It simply depends on your goals, your availability, your personality, and how involved you want to be in the day-to-day operation of your property.

The best decision isn’t always the one that saves the most money. It’s the one that fits your lifestyle and allows you to enjoy the investment you’ve worked so hard to build.

Want a number for your own property? Run it through our free rental calculator for a real projection based on comparable local homes.