Looking to tap into the short-term rental market here in Big Bear (or elsewhere)? Chances are that you’ve considered both platforms. Compare vs. property management here.
Platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb have gained in popularity in recent years as a way for Big Bear, CA, visitors to find alternative accommodation options to hotels — often at more affordable prices — and for local property owners and investors to earn additional income by offering their properties up for short term rentals.
If you own a property and are looking to tap into the short term rental market here in Big Bear (or elsewhere), chances are that you’ve heard of these name-brand platforms. If you’re looking to maximize your earning potential from hosting guests in your property, choosing the right one can make a world of a difference.
These two major players can provide excellent opportunities for you to generate additional income by renting out your vacation home. With minimal restrictions on when you can host, who you can host and how much you can charge, you have the advantage of flexibility to find a property rental balance that suits your lifestyle and financial goals.
In this guide, we explore some of the key differences between Vrbo and Airbnb to choose between the two and find the better platform for your needs and preferences.
Property Rental Management Services: A Better Alternative?
While Vrbo and Airbnb offer great opportunities to generate additional income through short term rentals, managing a property can quickly become a full time job. From cleaning to communicating with guests, hosting comes with significant responsibilities that can eat into your time and profits if not handled properly.
If you’re looking for an alternative to self-managing and personally hosting on these platforms – which can’t really be considered “passive income” by any means – professional property management services can be a game changer. By partnering with a reliable local property management company, you can offload the bulk of the daily responsibilities while continuing to earn a steady income from your rental.
For vacation rental owners here in Big Bear, the benefits of professional property management services can be a game changer, especially for owners who have full-time jobs, live out of town or own multiple properties.
Key Differences Between Vrbo and Airbnb
Vrbo and Airbnb are two of the most well established vacation home rental platforms that cater to the short term rental market, and they boast millions of users combined. While they generally provide the same functionalities, the way that they operate and the types of guests that they each attract can differ significantly.
Some of the key differences include:
Target Audience
In terms of target audience, Airbnb tends to have a wider reach and attracts a more diverse group of travelers. This can range from solo travelers and digital nomads to budget conscious guests and couples on vacation. On the other hand, Vrbo generally tends to attract families with children who are looking to rent entire vacation homes and larger groups such as reunions and couples traveling together.
This difference can be attributed in part to the fact that while Airbnb allows hosts to rent out shared spaces such as private rooms in their homes, Vrbo only permits listings for entire properties. As a result, the properties that one might find on Vrbo tend to be larger than those on Airbnb.
Listing Exposure and Reach
A factor that can affect your success in the short-term rental market is how many potential guests actually view your listing. Your listing exposure can be influenced not only by how many users there are on a particular platform but also how many competing listings there are in your area.
When it comes to reach, while both Airbnb and Vrbo have significant market share in the US, Airbnb’s global recognition far exceeds that of Vrbo. Airbnb has over 150 million users compared to Vrbo’s 48 million. This means that you are more likely to get bookings from international guests on Airbnb compared to Vrbo.
If your property meets the listing requirements of both Airbnb and Vrbo, it may be a good idea to test listing it on both platforms for maximum reach and exposure.
Booking Fees and Commission Structures
Another important difference that you should be aware of is the difference in the booking fees and commission structures for either platform as this can ultimately affect how much income you take home. This can also influence your pricing strategy and how you set your nightly rate.
Airbnb operates a split-fee model for hosts, with most hosts paying a 3% fee on the booking subtotal as well as a 14-16% fee on their payouts. On the other hand, Vrbo has a fixed total fee of 8% per booking, consisting of a 3% payment processing fee and a 5% commission.
Vrbo vs Airbnb: Which is Better for You?
Ultimately, choosing between Vrbo and Airbnb depends largely on your property type, location and long term goals.
Airbnb generally offers greater flexibility, allowing you to list not only entire homes but also shared spaces, making it a great option if you enjoy hosting guests in your own home. It also has greater reach that might help you attract more bookings – although this can come at the expense of higher fees.
In contrast, Vrbo focuses exclusively on entire vacation rentals that target larger groups and families. This focus often results in higher value bookings for longer durations and may be ideal if you own a property in vacation destinations such as beaches, mountain towns (like Big Bear!) and resort towns. It also has lower fees for hosts, allowing for higher earning potentials.
Sky High Cabins: Premier Property Management Services in Big Bear
If you own a vacation home or cabin in Big Bear that you aren’t using throughout the year, consider renting it out for short-term rentals with the help of a property management service to earn truly passive income. Sky High Cabins is the premier property management company in Big Bear, CA, and our dedicated team has decades of experience in the Big Bear Lake vacation rental market.
We offer:
- In-person check in service & 24/7 code service for self-managing owners
- Marketing & OTA listings on both Airbnb AND Vrbo
- Low management fee (we only make money when you do!)
- An amazing experience for each and every guest
With our expertise and experience, we’ll take care of everything from listing your property to ensuring that every guest is well cared for. If you’re ready to start increasing your bookings and maximizing your earning potential, leave us your details today for a free consultation!
