Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Phoenix, Arizona Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Phoenix's short-term rental market presents exceptional revenue opportunities for property owners, with average daily rates reaching $180-220 during peak season and occupancy rates consistently exceeding 75% year-round due to the city's diverse demand drivers. The market benefits from Phoenix's position as the fifth-largest U.S. city, generating substantial business travel, while its proximity to Scottsdale's luxury resorts and world-class golf courses attracts high-spending leisure travelers willing to pay premium rates for authentic local experiences. Winter months deliver particularly strong returns as snowbirds and tourists escape colder climates, often booking extended stays that maximize revenue per booking while minimizing turnover costs. Phoenix's relatively affordable real estate acquisition costs compared to coastal markets, combined with Arizona's landlord-friendly regulations and absence of restrictive short-term rental caps in most neighborhoods, create an optimal environment for cash flow generation. Properties in desirable areas like Central Phoenix, Arcadia, and near Sky Harbor Airport consistently outperform traditional long-term rentals by 40-60%, while the city's continued population growth and expanding corporate presence from companies relocating operations ensure sustained demand that supports premium pricing strategies and strong occupancy rates throughout economic cycles.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Phoenix's short-term rental regulations require property owners to obtain proper permits, comply with zoning restrictions, collect and remit city taxes, maintain liability insurance, and adhere to occupancy limits and noise ordinances—with violations potentially resulting in hefty fines, legal action, and forced closure of your rental operation. The city's regulatory landscape continues to evolve with frequent updates to licensing requirements, tax obligations, and operational restrictions that can be overwhelming to navigate independently, especially when non-compliance can jeopardize your investment and rental income. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these risks by ensuring your property maintains all necessary permits, stays current with changing regulations, handles tax collection and remittance, and maintains full legal compliance so you can focus on maximizing your returns without the stress of regulatory oversight.
Occupancy Rates
Phoenix Airbnb occupancy rates follow a distinct seasonal pattern driven by the desert climate, with peak tourist seasons occurring from January through April when snowbirds escape harsh northern winters and temperatures remain comfortable in the 70s and 80s, resulting in occupancy rates often exceeding 80-90% during these months. The shoulder seasons of November-December and May see moderate demand as temperatures become more tolerable, while the brutal summer months from June through October represent the slowest period with occupancy rates dropping to 40-60% as temperatures soar above 110°F and tourists avoid the extreme heat. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these dramatic seasonal swings, requiring hosts to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during the high-demand winter months while strategically lowering prices during the summer to attract heat-tolerant travelers, business guests, and locals seeking staycations, ensuring consistent cash flow and preventing extended vacancy periods that could devastate annual revenue performance.
Vacation Rental Management
Managing a vacation rental in Phoenix presents unique operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and damage their reputation. The desert climate creates relentless maintenance demands, from HVAC systems working overtime during 115°F summers to pool equipment requiring constant chemical balancing and cleaning, while monsoon seasons bring sudden flooding risks and property damage that demand immediate response. Guest turnover in this tourist-heavy market means coordinating cleaning, restocking, and property inspections between same-day bookings, often while you're unavailable or asleep, leading to rushed preparations and disappointed guests who leave scathing reviews. The 24/7 communication burden intensifies in Phoenix's vacation rental market, where guests expect instant responses about everything from air conditioning malfunctions during extreme heat to pool maintenance issues, emergency lockouts, and local recommendations, creating a constant stream of interruptions that eliminate any possibility of passive income. Without professional property management handling these operational complexities, owners find themselves trapped in a cycle of reactive maintenance, guest complaints, declining reviews, and lost bookings, making full-service management not just a convenience but an absolute necessity for maintaining the 5-star reputation and consistent revenue that Phoenix's competitive vacation rental market demands.
Attractions and Amenities
Phoenix's primary tourist attractions include the Desert Botanical Garden and Papago Park for outdoor enthusiasts, Old Town Scottsdale for shopping and nightlife, Camelback Mountain and South Mountain Park for hiking adventures, and Chase Field/Footprint Center for major league sports events, which means successful vacation rental properties must provide specific amenities that directly support these activities. Essential features include early morning coffee stations and packed lunch capabilities for hikers tackling the desert trails before sunrise, outdoor gear storage and drying areas for hiking equipment, high-quality air conditioning and pool access for post-hike recovery in the intense desert heat, secure bike storage for guests exploring the extensive trail systems, and flexible check-in/check-out times to accommodate early morning hikes or late-night games and concerts. Properties should also offer detailed local trail maps, sunscreen and water bottle stations, outdoor shower facilities for dusty hikers, and premium Wi-Fi for guests sharing their desert adventures on social media, while proximity to these attractions combined with these targeted amenities directly translates to higher occupancy rates, premium pricing, and repeat bookings from the active travelers who specifically choose Phoenix for its unique desert recreation opportunities.

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