Expanding a short-term rental business can generate more revenue. But who will coordinate two cleanings on the same day or find a technician if something breaks down just before a guest arrives? According to the Global Host Report 2026 by PriceLabs, four in ten hosts plan to add more properties, while 85% do not rely exclusively on income from hospitality.
The survey collected responses from 1,203 hosts managing one to four listings, across 72 countries. For those looking to take the next step, the question is practical: what can they automate, which tasks are worth outsourcing, and how much will the additional workload cost?
Which hosts are planning to expand?
The intention to expand is strongest among hosts in their first year of operating short-term rentals. 53% say they plan to add more properties, compared with 28% of those with more than five years of experience. There is also a difference based on portfolio size: 45% of hosts managing two to four listings plan to expand, compared with 35% of those managing just one.
Portfolio size, however, tells only half the story. Two apartments in the same building can be serviced by the same cleaning team. Two properties in different areas may require separate trips and different service providers. Before calculating the potential revenue from another property, hosts need to determine which tasks their existing team can handle and which will involve additional costs.
What makes short-term rental management difficult?
According to the survey, 78% of respondents say that administrative tasks require effort, while 77% report the same for cleaning, preparing properties between bookings, and maintenance. Another 38% struggle to find reliable cleaning or maintenance professionals. Meanwhile, 14% spend more than 20 hours per week on hosting activities, up from 11% in the previous survey.
The pressure is not limited to time. Some 53% are concerned that changes to short-term rental regulations could reduce their income, compared with 48% in the previous survey. For anyone considering adding another property, this means that regulatory obligations and compliance costs should be included in the initial calculations alongside expected revenue, rather than addressed after operations begin.
What should hosts organize before adding another property?
Before taking on another property, hosts can start by examining one week of work at a property they already manage. How much time do repeated guest questions take? How often do they need to check prices? And who can handle cleaning if two departures happen at the same time? The answers reveal which tasks are worth automating, which should be outsourced, and which are best handled personally.
Automate repetitive tasks first. In the PriceLabs survey, 58% of hosts say they use AI tools to manage their listings, including responding to guests and monitoring market conditions. A practical first step is to prepare message templates for check-in instructions and frequently asked questions, while keeping personal communication for situations that require judgment or immediate intervention.
Organize your service providers before opening the new calendar. Automation can send a notification about a guest’s departure, but it cannot guarantee that a cleaning team will be available. A related article by Rental Scale-Up recommends outsourcing individual tasks, such as cleaning, linen changes, and maintenance, without having to hand over the entire property management operation. Before reaching an agreement, clarify exactly what the fee covers and who will handle simultaneous check-outs or urgent repairs.
Calculate the cost of the additional workload. PriceLabs reports that 37% of hosts planning to expand monitor their properties’ performance daily. When deciding whether to add another property, it is worth going a step further: calculate what remains after cleaning, maintenance, platform commissions, and any management fees. Compare that amount with the time you will need to invest. This will help you determine whether it makes financial sense to manage the property yourself, outsource specific tasks, or opt for full-service property management.
