– My Experience: Lots of Leads… No monthly leases… Why?
Why couldn’t we rent it on Furnished Finder? Our former Airbnb seemed perfect for “listing by owner” to travel nurses…
We never planned to use Furnished Finder for our “furnished rental by owner” in New Orleans – I had never heard of it, actually.
Airbnb was perfect for us… until it wasn’t. The City of New Orleans short term rental policy has changed so many times in the past few years, I have given up trying to stay licensed.
Our adorable “Gardener’s Cottage,” lovingly brought to life when we bought our house in Fontainebleau, has evolved. From a once-favorite of Airbnb with hundreds of 5 star reviews, it is now best suited for monthly stays, and it’s been a journey!
As a corporate leasing specialist, I was so excited to dive into the vacation rental space, only to find that it’s a slippery slope here in NOLA. The licensing rules keep changing, and over time, Airbnb has actually changed the face of many neighborhoods. Locals hate it, and you will quickly find that out by searching any visitor forum – mention Airbnb and you’ll get an education in gentrification, the ruination of local culture, the unaffordable cost of living for native New Orleanians… and you won’t ask about Airbnb again.
Since 2008, I’ve focused on furnished corporate leasing as the mainstay of my real estate business; but our location in Uptown is not what I would have chosen if my intent had been corporate housing. We are near Tulane, but there’s not great walkability, we are not near downtown, and our quiet little neighborhood is off the beaten path.
So here we are with this little niche apartment, perfect for so many things, but no more Airbnb. What to do? Maybe a “furnished rental by owner” platform would work?
Furnished Finder seemed a great solution.
You can imagine my excitement when, within just hours of paying for a “furnished rental by owner” on Furnished Finder, I received two leads from travel nurses – my target audience for that ad!
I emailed both of them promptly, called the one that provided a phone number. I waited… and waited…
More leads came, each answered quickly and with special offers, since I was just getting started. Nothing. They were inquiring with so many properties, they didn’t respond to hosts who got back to them!
I was finally able to reach one by phone. Her budget was not even close. I was learning that the travel nurse housing allowance had really changed since I last hosted them.
Over the next year, I tried various methods… I allowed pets, against my better judgement; I added services, I answered each inquiry lightning fast.
Meanwhile, one of my property clients was trying the same thing. I manage her property, so she began to forward all of her leads to me for response. Most were the same people! Even though hers is a two bedroom house in the Garden District, mine is one bedroom Uptown… we were being funneled the same exact leads – and guess what? They weren’t responding to either of us.
In a year of advertising with Furnished Finder, I had zero rentals. It was an absolute fail for me.
What did work? My own website. I’ve been finding monthly furnished rentals since 2008, and I already had the right tenants coming to me. I was marketing differently, trying to leverage being near so many hospitals, close to Tulane, etc. I am currently hosting a nurse practitioner, on a contract with East Jefferson in Metairie. He found me in a Google search on this website.
I did try keeping my listing on Airbnb for monthly stays only. I’ve had a few stays booked that way, but the pricing is WAY off. By the time Airbnb charges the guest, and me, their booking fees and taxes (?? which do not apply to monthly stays, but they’re still charging them), the little one bedroom is unrealistically expensive.
Through a few requests for discounts, I tried to tweak the price to accomodate. From a $2500.00 rent, I ended up with $1600.00 and the guest, somehow, paid over $2700.00 The math just doesn’t work, so… back to what really works.
Many hosts in New Orleans are going through “growing pains,” and I’d love to help you find a better way. We’re soon to launch a “list-by-owner” service here on New Orleans Condo Leasing website.
You won’t get hundreds of leads. You’ll get the RIGHT leads. Your people, looking for YOU. And we guarantee it. We’ll be offering a free trial period so you can try it and love it first!
If you’re already a client for property management, don’t worry – you’ve already got all the benefits offered, and the cost is covered in my commission.
For those who love to manage their own properties and vet their own leads, we have a new and better solution for you. You can check it out on the “List My Property” tab on the website, or just give me a call at 504-812-4702 so I can help set your property up now.
Happy Hosting!
Anne Beck, Broker