Courtesy of Peter Keane-Rivera
He enjoys the work that goes into managing a short-term rental. “It does allow you to provide a unique service and really to have control over the quality of that service,” he said, explaining that he is more interested in offering 30-plus day stays to create more consistent revenue during the slow season.
“In the summertime, it pulls in a lot — in June and July, I made almost $5,000 on a one-bedroom in the outskirts of Seattle, so I’m fairly satisfied with that — but in the wintertime, there are lower margins,” said Keane-Rivera. “I’d rather get something closer to market rent rates, not have to worry about it for four to five months during the slowest seasons, and then spin it back up for spring, summer, and fall to maximize the return.”
He believes the ability to toggle between short- and mid-term rentals “is a real asset,” he said, adding that if he expands to a second Airbnb unit, he’d use the same strategy: “For eight months out of the year I’d run it as an Airbnb and then during the low season, run it as a mid-term rental.”