Author:
Ciara Alarcon
There’s a moment every STR founder hits, the moment when you realize you can’t do it all anymore.
But even after you’ve accepted that it’s time to delegate, the next roadblock shows up fast:
“How do I find the right person to trust with my business?”
I’ve been there. I’ve made the hiring mistakes. I’ve worked with virtual assistants who looked great on paper but didn’t understand the pace or the stakes of short-term rentals.
However, not all VAs are built for STR.
You need someone who can manage chaos, communicate clearly with guests, and keep operations humming behind the scenes, all without you micromanaging.
Let’s break down how to find that person.
Most VAs can answer emails or manage a calendar. But short-term rental operations require a hybrid skill set:
✅ Customer service that’s friendly but firm
✅ Tools like Hospitable, Hostaway, iCal, or Guesty
✅ Familiarity with cleaning turnover timing and dynamic calendars
✅ Fast, clear decision-making under pressure
This isn’t your average inbox. It’s a real-time, guest-facing, time-sensitive machine—and the VA managing it has to get it.
1. Experience in Short-Term Rental Operations
It doesn’t have to be 10 years, but your VA should understand the STR flow. They should know what a turnover day is, what OTAs are, and why response time matters for Superhost status.
If they’ve worked with other STR clients, that’s a huge plus.
2. Strong Written Communication
Let’s face it: guest messaging is half of your brand. A well-worded response can calm an angry guest or turn a 4-star into a 5-star.
Your VA should know how to:
✅ Match your tone
✅ Be polite but firm when needed
✅ Stay cool under pressure
Bonus: Look for someone who writes like a human, not a robot.
3. Tool Fluency
Your VA doesn’t need to be a software engineer, but they should know their way around:
✅ Hospitable
✅ Guesty
✅ Hostaway
✅ iCal
✅ Slack
✅ Notion or Asana (for backend ops)
If they’ve never touched any of these, be prepared for a learning curve.
4. Timezone Compatibility
If your bookings are in the U.S., your VA should be able to cover guest-heavy hours. Many STR issues happen in the evening or early morning, not during a 9-to-5 schedule.
A good VA will offer flexible coverage or staggered hours to match guest behavior.
5. Proactive Thinking & SOP Following
You want someone who can follow your processes and think for themselves. That means:
✅ Notifying you if a guest hasn’t responded
✅ Escalating issues before they blow up
✅ Spotting trends or inefficiencies in your process
Your ideal VA isn’t just task-driven, they’re outcome-focused.
At Delegate, we’ve built a system for matching STR founders with VAs who already get it.
We screen for:
✅ STR experience
✅ Real-life guest communication examples
✅ Tech familiarity
✅ Problem-solving ability
Then we train them even further, so when you onboard, it’s not a gamble. It’s a step forward.
Hiring a VA shouldn’t feel like roulette.
It should feel like finally having backup.
Someone who can protect your time, improve your guest experience, and give you the breathing room to grow.
You don’t just need help. You need the right help.
And when you find that person?
Your entire business changes.
The wrong VA creates more work. The right one makes you feel like you’re finally not alone.
Our STR-trained VAs speak your language, literally.
Want access to the free guide that shows you how to find and onboard them?
👉 Contact us at www.delegate.co
© 2024 Delegate BPO LLC All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
For Clients
For Top Talents
