As the vacation rental landscape matures in 2025, many hosts are asking the big question: how do you actually make money with short-term rentals today? The industry has shifted post-pandemic, with rising costs, saturated markets, and new guest expectations. But with the right tools and strategy, short-term rentals still offer real potential.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to adapt, stand out, and thrive in this evolving market.
1. Embrace Technology to Automate and Save
With rising labor costs and increasing complexity, the hosts earning real income in 2025 are leaning into smart automation. It’s no longer just a convenience—it’s a necessity.
Smart Home Devices
Smart thermostats, locks, light switches and water valves can be connected to your rental calendar. This means they turn on when a guest is scheduled and shut off when the property is vacant
Using a system like Rental Home Automator, you can automate your short-term rental without relying on routines or motion detection. The system uses booking data from Airbnb or Vrbo, so everything—locks, lights, water, temperature—works exactly when it needs to.
This avoids wasting energy between stays, prevents water damage with automatic shutoffs, and ensures that guests always walk into a welcoming, climate-controlled environment.
Cleaning and Turnover Coordination
Automating the guest side is just the beginning. You can also automate cleaning schedules using tools like Breezeway, which sync with your booking calendar to automatically assign cleanings and alert your team.
No more texts or phone calls to remind your cleaner—you can even build automations that confirm the unit is vacant before unlocking a smart lock for them.
Dynamic Pricing for Maximum Profit
Static pricing is a fast way to leave money on the table. Use tools like Wheelhouse or PriceLabs to automatically adjust your nightly rate based on demand, seasonality, and competitor pricing.
These tools integrate with your listing platform, letting you set parameters like minimum stay length, base pricing, and peak season multipliers. They’ll handle the math so you’re never underpriced—or overpriced when demand is low.
2. Make Your Property Stand Out in Search and in Real Life
To attract bookings (and justify higher prices), your rental needs to shine. This isn’t just about a clean space—it’s about market positioning.
Professional-Grade Photos
A professionally shot cover photo can dramatically boost click-through rates. Use wide-angle shots, natural light, and highlight your best feature first—whether that’s a hot tub, waterfront view, or luxury kitchen.
Lifestyle photography (guests enjoying the space) also helps travelers imagine themselves there.
Differentiated Amenities
Offer what others can’t. In 2025, guests look for amenities like:
- Pet-friendliness
- Dedicated workspaces with fast Wi-Fi
- Smart entertainment systems
- Outdoor fire pits
- EV chargers
Make sure these features are not just available, but prominently highlighted in your listing title, description, and photos.
Design that Matches Your Target Guest
If your area attracts weekend couples, your decor should appeal to them. If it’s family-focused, offer kid-friendly furniture and safety features.
Don’t blend in—stand out with a design theme or a niche audience in mind (e.g., wellness retreats, digital nomads, outdoor adventure basecamps).
3. Optimize Your Airbnb or Vrbo Listing for Maximum Visibility
Your listing is more than just a digital brochure—it’s the most important marketing asset you have. Here’s how to ensure it converts:
Craft a High-Converting Title
Titles that include top amenities and experiences perform best. Instead of “Modern 2BR in Town,” try: “Cozy 2BR w/ Hot Tub, Fast Wi-Fi & Walk to Downtown”.
Build an SEO-Friendly Description
Structure your listing description like a landing page:
- Bullet points of key amenities
- Automation and tech perks
- Distance to attractions or local experiences
- Special touches you provide (coffee bar, gear closet, etc.)
Accumulate Reviews Early and Often
Follow up with guests and encourage reviews. Personal notes and clear, timely communication can turn a 4-star stay into a 5-star review.
The algorithm favors active, positively-reviewed listings—so staying engaged pays off.
4. Build Long-Term Profitability into Your Systems
Short-term rentals are a business, and long-term profit comes from reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency.
Plan for Vacancies
Expect dips in bookings. Use the downtime to maintain your property, upgrade systems, or switch to medium-term stays. Automation systems can keep utilities off during these gaps, saving money.
Monitor Utility Use and Maintenance
Over time, smart devices that detect water leaks, optimize heating/cooling, or control lighting can save thousands in repairs and energy bills.
Add in maintenance alerts, battery level monitoring, and cleaning logs to avoid last-minute emergencies.
Scale Your Time
The more properties you manage, the more time savings matter. Investing in automation early sets the foundation for scaling later—without burning out.
Making money with short-term rentals in 2025 isn’t about luck or location alone. It’s about:
- Smarter operations with automation
- Thoughtful upgrades that make your property memorable
- Intentional listing strategies that maximize exposure and conversion
With the right systems in place, your short-term rental can become a reliable income source—even as the market evolves.
Rental Home Automator helps you tie your entire smart home system to your calendar, so you can run a hands-off, guest-ready rental that works on autopilot.
