Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Morristown, Tennessee Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Morristown, Tennessee presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic location at the intersection of major tourist corridors and robust year-round demand fundamentals. Property owners can capitalize on the city's proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Norris Dam State Park, and Cherokee Lake, which generates consistent occupancy rates averaging 65-75% annually with daily rates ranging from $120-180 for well-positioned properties. The market benefits from diverse revenue streams including outdoor recreation tourists, business travelers accessing the regional medical and manufacturing sectors, and visitors to nearby attractions like Dollywood and Gatlinburg who seek more affordable accommodations outside premium tourist zones. Morristown's lower property acquisition costs compared to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge—typically 40-60% less per square foot—combined with Tennessee's favorable tax environment and absence of state income tax, create compelling cash-on-cash returns often exceeding 12-18% for optimized properties. The city's ongoing downtown revitalization, expanding tourism infrastructure, and limited short-term rental supply relative to demand position early investors to capture significant market share while benefiting from property appreciation in an emerging destination market.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Morristown, Tennessee involve a complex web of local zoning ordinances, business licensing requirements, and 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. The city's zoning laws may restrict where short-term rentals can operate, while business license requirements, occupancy permits, safety inspections, and local tax collection responsibilities create an ongoing administrative burden that many owners struggle to navigate independently. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these compliance risks entirely, as experienced managers stay current with all local regulations, handle business licensing and permit renewals, ensure proper tax collection and remittance, and maintain all necessary documentation to keep your property operating legally and profitably without the stress of managing complex regulatory requirements yourself.
Occupancy Rates
Morristown, Tennessee experiences distinct seasonal patterns in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring during late spring through early fall (May-September) when visitors flock to nearby Cherokee Lake, Panther Creek State Park, and the greater Smoky Mountains region for outdoor recreation, fishing, and hiking activities. The summer months of June through August typically see the highest occupancy rates, often reaching 75-85%, while the shoulder seasons of March-April and October-November experience moderate demand at 50-65% occupancy as travelers seek milder weather for outdoor activities. Winter months (December-February) represent the slowest period with occupancy rates dropping to 30-45% due to reduced outdoor tourism and fewer lake-related activities. Professional revenue management and dynamic pricing strategies are crucial for Morristown Airbnb operators to maximize revenue throughout these seasonal fluctuations by adjusting rates based on local events, weather patterns, and demand forecasting—increasing prices during peak summer weekends and lake season while offering competitive rates during slower winter months to attract extended stays, business travelers, and budget-conscious guests, ultimately maintaining higher year-round occupancy rates and revenue optimization.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Morristown, Tennessee presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and devastate their investment returns. The relentless cycle of guest turnover demands precise coordination of cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and supply restocking within tight 2-4 hour windows between bookings, while Morristown's growing tourism market means any delays result in immediate revenue loss and negative reviews that spread rapidly across booking platforms. The 24/7 communication burden becomes particularly taxing when managing guests from different time zones who expect instant responses to everything from WiFi passwords to emergency situations, often occurring during weekends or holidays when local service providers are unavailable. Maintenance issues in East Tennessee's humid climate and seasonal weather extremes—from HVAC failures during sweltering summers to plumbing problems in freezing winters—require immediate professional attention that self-managing owners struggle to coordinate while juggling their primary careers and personal lives. Without the infrastructure, local vendor relationships, and round-the-clock staffing that full-service property management provides, even minor operational hiccups cascade into guest complaints, reduced occupancy rates, and declining property rankings that can permanently damage earning potential in Morristown's increasingly competitive short-term rental market where travelers have abundant alternatives.
Attractions and Amenities
Morristown, Tennessee's primary tourism draws center around Panther Creek State Park with its pristine lake access and extensive hiking trails, the historic downtown district featuring antique shops and local restaurants, Cove Lake State Park offering fishing and boating opportunities, and Cherokee Lake which attracts water sports enthusiasts and anglers year-round. To effectively serve guests visiting these attractions, rental properties must provide outdoor gear storage for fishing equipment, hiking boots, and water sports accessories, along with mudroom facilities and outdoor shower access for cleaning up after lake and trail activities. Essential amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi for guests researching local fishing spots and trail conditions, spacious kitchens with large refrigerators and freezers for storing fresh catches and packed lunches, outdoor grilling areas and fire pits for evening entertainment after full days exploring, and comfortable outdoor seating areas where visitors can plan their next day's adventures while enjoying the mountain views. Properties should also offer laundry facilities for extended stays focused on outdoor activities, ample parking for boats and trailers, and early check-in/late check-out flexibility to accommodate fishing schedules and park operating hours, as guests visiting these natural attractions typically require more storage, cleaning, and preparation space than standard leisure travelers.

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