Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Monteagle, Tennessee Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Monteagle, Tennessee presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic position along Interstate 24 between Nashville and Chattanooga, creating consistent year-round demand from both leisure and business travelers. The town's proximity to South Cumberland State Park, Sewanee University, and the scenic Cumberland Plateau generates premium nightly rates averaging 15-25% higher than comparable rural markets, with peak summer and fall foliage seasons commanding rates of $150-300 per night for well-appointed properties. Property owners benefit from Monteagle's limited hotel inventory, forcing travelers toward short-term rentals and enabling occupancy rates of 65-80% for optimized listings, while the area's growing reputation as a weekend retreat destination for Nashville and Atlanta residents has increased booking frequency by approximately 30% over the past two years. The combination of relatively low property acquisition costs compared to major metropolitan areas, strong seasonal demand patterns, and Tennessee's favorable tax environment for rental income creates an investment scenario where properly managed short-term rental properties can generate annual returns of 12-18%, significantly outperforming traditional long-term rental yields in the region.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Monteagle, Tennessee involve a complex web of local zoning ordinances, permitting requirements, and tax obligations that can change without warning, leaving property owners vulnerable to costly fines, legal action, or forced closure of their rental operations if they fail to maintain proper compliance. The city may require specific business licenses, safety inspections, occupancy limits, parking restrictions, and adherence to noise ordinances, while the state mandates collection and remittance of various taxes including sales tax and occupancy taxes that must be filed correctly and on time. Navigating these ever-evolving regulations while staying current with new ordinances, permit renewals, and changing tax codes can be overwhelming for individual property owners who risk significant financial penalties and legal consequences for even minor oversights. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing requirements, permit applications, tax collection and remittance, and ongoing legal compliance are handled expertly on your behalf, protecting your investment and ensuring your property operates within all applicable laws and regulations.
Occupancy Rates
Monteagle, Tennessee experiences distinct seasonal patterns in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring during summer months (June through August) when families visit nearby attractions like Sewanee and South Cumberland State Park, and during fall foliage season (September through October) when visitors flock to witness the spectacular autumn colors along the Cumberland Plateau. Winter months (December through February) represent the slowest shoulder season with significantly reduced demand, while spring (March through May) shows moderate occupancy as outdoor enthusiasts return for hiking and camping activities. Professional revenue management becomes essential during these fluctuations, requiring hosts to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand periods while strategically lowering prices during shoulder seasons to maintain competitive occupancy levels. Effective revenue management in Monteagle involves adjusting nightly rates based on local events, weather patterns, and regional tourism trends, while also offering extended-stay discounts during slower periods and premium pricing during peak weekends and holidays to optimize annual revenue despite the market's inherent seasonality.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Monteagle, Tennessee presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and damage their investment returns. The mountainous terrain and rural location create significant logistical hurdles for same-day guest turnover, as cleaning crews and maintenance teams often face extended travel times from nearby cities like Chattanooga or Nashville, making it nearly impossible to coordinate rapid property flips between guests during peak seasons when every booking counts. The area's spotty cellular coverage and frequent weather-related power outages complicate 24/7 guest communication, leaving owners scrambling to respond to urgent requests about everything from Wi-Fi passwords to emergency situations while potentially being unreachable for hours at critical moments. Maintenance issues become particularly problematic in Monteagle's harsh mountain climate, where HVAC systems work overtime, pipes freeze unexpectedly, and seasonal storms can cause sudden damage that requires immediate professional attention—all while local contractors are scarce and often booked weeks in advance. These operational nightmares compound quickly in today's hyper-competitive vacation rental market where a single negative review about unresponsive hosts, dirty properties, or unresolved maintenance issues can devastate occupancy rates and revenue, making full-service property management not just a luxury but an absolute necessity for maintaining the consistent 5-star guest experience and truly passive income that successful Monteagle vacation rental investments demand.
Attractions and Amenities
Monteagle's tourism centers around four primary attractions: the South Cumberland State Park with its extensive hiking trails and waterfalls, the historic Monteagle Assembly grounds that hosts educational and cultural programs, the scenic Monteagle Mountain offering panoramic views and outdoor recreation, and the charming downtown area featuring local shops and the famous Monteagle Wine Trail. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these specific attractions, properties must offer essential amenities including secure gear storage and drying areas for hiking equipment returning from muddy trails, early breakfast options or kitchenette facilities for guests departing on dawn hikes, high-speed Wi-Fi for Assembly attendees who often blend work with leisure during extended stays, comfortable outdoor seating areas like porches or patios where visitors can relax after long days exploring the mountain, ample parking for guests bringing bikes or kayaks, and detailed local trail maps and attraction information to help visitors maximize their outdoor adventures. Properties that align these specific features with Monteagle's nature-focused and culturally-rich tourism will command higher rates and occupancy from the hikers, Assembly participants, and wine trail enthusiasts who specifically choose this destination for its unique combination of natural beauty and cultural offerings.

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

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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