DoneRight Management Vs. Self-Management: Which is the Right Fit for Your Home?

Deciding whether to hire a professional service like DoneRight Management or handle your short-term rental yourself is a critical choice that impacts your time, profit, and peace of mind. Here is a breakdown to help you weigh the options:

DoneRight Property Management (Full Service)

DoneRight Management offers a comprehensive, hands-off approach, taking care of every operational detail so you don’t have to.

What DoneRight Handles:

Guest Operations: Full management of guest communication, check-ins, professional cleaning, and regular maintenance to keep your property consistently guest-ready.
Revenue Optimization: Utilizing dynamic pricing to constantly adjust rates based on demand, maximizing your occupancy and overall rental income.
Compliance & Support: Ensuring your property adheres to all local regulations and Airbnb standards, providing professional marketing for increased visibility, and offering 24/7 guest support and legal compliance assistance.
Care and Integrity: Your home is cared for by local employees & a territory manager

Photo Credit: Kmpzzz

The Cost: DoneRight Management services charge 30% of your rental income. While this percentage may seem substantial, it often includes value-added services like dynamic pricing, which can significantly boost your overall occupancy rates and revenue.

Pros of Hiring a Property Manager

Cons of Hiring a Property Manager

Expertise & Experience:

Professionals excel at guest screening, dynamic pricing, and marketing, often leading to higher occupancy and superior guest experiences.

Cost:

The 30% fee significantly reduces your direct profit margins.

Time Savings:

Outsourcing the 24/7 demands of hosting frees up valuable time, especially crucial for owners with multiple properties or other commitments.

Less Control:

You hand over day-to-day decision-making power, having less direct say in guest interactions and maintenance choices.

Higher Occupancy Rates:

Professional marketing and competitive pricing strategies typically lead to a greater number of bookings and increased revenue.

Photo Credit: ZoFot

Option 2: Self-Management (DIY Approach)

Choosing to self-manage means you are the host, manager, maintenance coordinator, and cleaner. You retain total control over every aspect of your operation.

What Self-Management Entails: You are responsible for the entire hosting cycle: initial guest screening, handling all communications, organizing check-ins, ensuring thorough cleaning, and setting prices. You must also manage all maintenance and repairs—meaning you are the one responding to late-night emergency calls.

The Major Advantage: The primary benefit is cost savings. By eliminating the 20-30% management fee, you keep a much larger share of your rental income, directly boosting your profits. Additionally, you can retain full control, allowing you to create a personalized, hands-on guest experience.

Pros of Self-Management

Cons of Self-Management

Maximum Profit:

Skipping the management fees significantly increases your net rental income, especially in high-demand areas.

Time-Consuming:

Hosting is a 24/7 job. The constant demands of communication, cleaning turnovers, and maintenance can quickly become overwhelming.

Full Control:

You oversee every detail, from the guest greeting process to property maintenance, ensuring the guest experience aligns perfectly with your vision.

Limited Expertise:

Managing crucial elements like dynamic pricing, maximizing occupancy, and keeping up with legal compliance can be challenging, and mistakes can be costly.

The Final Decision

The choice between DoneRight Management and self-management comes down to a trade-off between time/convenience and profit/control.

Choose a Property Manager (DoneRight) if: You value your time more than the management fee, own multiple properties, or want professional expertise to maximize revenue without any personal effort.
Choose Self-Management if: You are highly motivated by maximizing profit, enjoy being hands-on, or have the significant time required to handle a 24/7 operation and all guests’ needs personally.