Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Cosby, Tennessee

Schedule a Call

Cosby, Tennessee Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Cosby, Tennessee presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic position as the "Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains" and proximity to Gatlinburg's 11+ million annual visitors who seek authentic mountain experiences away from crowded tourist corridors. Property owners in this market are capitalizing on average daily rates of $150-$250 during peak seasons, with occupancy rates consistently exceeding 70% year-round due to the area's appeal for both summer outdoor enthusiasts and winter cabin seekers. The location's unique value proposition—offering genuine Appalachian charm, direct access to hiking trails, and stunning mountain views while remaining 20 minutes from Dollywood and Gatlinburg attractions—positions properties to command premium pricing with lower operational costs than saturated markets. Current market analysis indicates Cosby short-term rentals generate 15-25% higher revenue per square foot compared to traditional long-term rentals, while the area's limited commercial development preserves the rustic appeal that drives repeat bookings and positive reviews. With Sevier County's tourism revenue growing 8% annually and increasing demand for authentic mountain retreats post-pandemic, property owners who establish quality short-term rentals in Cosby are positioned to achieve ROI of 12-18% while building long-term asset appreciation in Tennessee's tax-friendly environment.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Cosby, Tennessee, are governed by a complex web of local zoning ordinances, county permitting requirements, and state tax obligations that can change without notice, leaving property owners vulnerable to costly fines, legal action, or forced closure of their rental operations if they fail to maintain proper compliance. Sevier County's evolving regulations regarding occupancy limits, safety inspections, business licenses, and neighbor notification requirements create a minefield of potential violations that can result in thousands of dollars in penalties and permanent damage to your rental business reputation. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing requirements, permit renewals, tax filings, and regulatory compliance issues are handled by experienced professionals who stay current with every regulatory change, ensuring your property remains fully compliant while you enjoy the income without the stress of navigating the ever-changing legal landscape.
Occupancy Rates
Cosby, Tennessee experiences distinct seasonal patterns with peak occupancy rates occurring during fall foliage season (September through November) when visitors flock to witness the Great Smoky Mountains' spectacular autumn colors, and summer months (June through August) when families vacation and outdoor activities like hiking and fishing are most popular. Spring (March through May) represents a strong shoulder season with moderate occupancy as wildflowers bloom and weather becomes favorable for outdoor recreation, while winter months (December through February) typically see the lowest occupancy rates due to colder temperatures and limited outdoor activities, though holiday periods around Christmas and New Year's can provide brief spikes in demand. Professional revenue management and dynamic pricing strategies are crucial for Airbnb hosts in Cosby to maximize revenue throughout these fluctuating seasons by adjusting rates based on local events, weather patterns, and demand forecasting—increasing prices during peak fall and summer periods while offering competitive rates during slower winter months to attract budget-conscious travelers and maintain steady cash flow. Effective revenue management also involves monitoring local festivals, national park events, and regional tourism trends to capitalize on unexpected demand surges and ensure properties remain competitively priced against other accommodations in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge tourism corridor.
Vacation Rental Management
Managing a vacation rental in Cosby, Tennessee presents unique operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and damage their reputation. Guest turnover in this remote Smoky Mountain gateway town requires precise coordination between housekeeping teams who may be 30+ minutes away, maintenance crews familiar with mountain cabin systems, and property inspections that must account for wildlife encounters, seasonal weather damage, and the wear from outdoor adventure gear that guests frequently bring inside. The 24/7 communication demands are particularly intense given Cosby's position as a launching point for Great Smoky Mountains National Park activities, where guests need immediate responses about trail conditions, bear safety protocols, hot tub malfunctions during winter freezes, and power outages common in this mountainous terrain with limited cell coverage that can delay critical messages. Maintenance challenges multiply exponentially with septic systems that require specialized mountain expertise, HVAC units working overtime against humidity and elevation changes, decks and railings constantly battling Tennessee weather, and the need for rapid response to issues like frozen pipes or fallen trees that can instantly transform a 5-star experience into a one-star disaster. In Cosby's fiercely competitive vacation rental market where guests expect flawless mountain luxury experiences, these operational complexities make full-service property management not just a convenience but an absolute necessity for maintaining consistent 5-star ratings and protecting the passive income stream that initially attracted owners to this investment.
Attractions and Amenities
Cosby, Tennessee attracts visitors primarily to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's eastern entrance at Cosby Creek, the scenic Foothills Parkway offering panoramic mountain views, numerous hiking trails including the popular Hen Wallow Falls trail, and local moonshine distilleries and mountain craft shops that celebrate Appalachian heritage. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these specific attractions, properties must offer essential amenities including secure gear storage for hiking equipment and backpacks, outdoor shower facilities or mudrooms for cleaning after trail adventures, hot tubs or jacuzzis for muscle recovery after long hikes, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi for guests sharing their mountain photography and staying connected, spacious parking for larger vehicles and trailers common among national park visitors, and outdoor grilling areas where families can prepare meals while enjoying the mountain atmosphere. Additionally, properties should provide local trail maps, park passes information, and recommendations for distillery tours, while offering early check-in and late check-out flexibility to accommodate varying park schedules and travel times from major cities.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573