Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Portland, Tennessee Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Portland, Tennessee presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic proximity to Nashville's booming tourism market while maintaining significantly lower property acquisition costs and operational expenses. The city's location along the Cumberland River, just 30 minutes from downtown Nashville, positions properties to capture overflow demand from Music City's 15+ million annual visitors who seek authentic Tennessee experiences at competitive rates. Current market data indicates Portland Airbnb properties achieve average daily rates 15-20% higher than traditional long-term rentals while maintaining occupancy rates exceeding 70% during peak seasons, translating to gross rental yields often surpassing 12-15% annually. The area's growing reputation as a recreational destination, bolstered by Bledsoe Creek State Park and premium fishing opportunities, creates consistent demand from both leisure travelers and corporate guests seeking extended stays outside Nashville's premium hotel market. Property owners benefit from Tennessee's favorable tax environment with no state income tax, while Portland's emerging market status means less saturation compared to Nashville proper, allowing well-positioned properties to command premium rates with lower competitive pressure and operational costs that are 25-30% below metropolitan Nashville levels.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Portland, Tennessee involve a complex web of local zoning ordinances, business licensing 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's permitting process requires navigating multiple departments, understanding specific occupancy limits, parking requirements, and neighbor notification procedures, while also ensuring adherence to state tax collection mandates and local business registration protocols that many owners find overwhelming and time-consuming to manage independently. Professional short-term rental management services eliminate this compliance risk entirely by handling all licensing applications, permit renewals, tax filings, and regulatory updates on your behalf, providing peace of mind that your investment remains legally compliant and profitable while you focus on other priorities, knowing that experienced professionals are monitoring the ever-changing regulatory landscape and maintaining your property's good standing with all relevant authorities.
Occupancy Rates
Portland, Tennessee experiences distinct seasonal fluctuations in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring during late spring through early fall (May-September) when visitors flock to nearby Old Hickory Lake for boating, fishing, and water recreation, as well as during major local events and festivals. The shoulder seasons of late fall and winter (November-February) typically see significantly lower occupancy rates as outdoor activities diminish and tourism slows, while early spring (March-April) represents a transitional period with moderate demand. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these cyclical patterns, requiring hosts to implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand summer months while strategically lowering prices during slower periods to maintain competitiveness and attract budget-conscious travelers. Effective revenue management involves analyzing local event calendars, weather patterns, and competitor pricing to adjust rates in real-time, ensuring properties remain attractive to guests year-round while optimizing revenue per available night, ultimately allowing hosts to achieve sustainable occupancy levels even during Portland's traditionally quieter tourism periods.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Portland, Tennessee presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and damage their investment returns. Guest turnover in this lakeside community requires precise coordination between cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and new arrivals, often with same-day turnarounds during peak Cumberland River and Kentucky Lake seasons, leaving zero margin for error when guests expect spotless accommodations upon arrival. The 24/7 communication demands are particularly brutal, as guests don't limit their questions, complaints, or emergencies to business hours—whether it's a malfunctioning hot tub at 11 PM, confusion about boat dock access at dawn, or urgent requests for local restaurant recommendations during busy weekends when response time directly impacts reviews. Maintenance issues in Portland's humid climate and seasonal weather patterns create constant headaches, from HVAC systems struggling during sweltering Tennessee summers to plumbing problems that can't wait until Monday morning, requiring an extensive network of reliable, vetted contractors who can respond immediately to protect both property value and guest satisfaction. In this increasingly competitive short-term rental market where a single negative review can devastate booking rates and revenue, full-service property management isn't a luxury—it's an absolute necessity for maintaining the consistent 5-star experience that generates premium rates and truly passive income, allowing owners to enjoy their investment returns rather than being enslaved by endless operational demands.
Attractions and Amenities
Portland, Tennessee's primary tourist attractions center around Old Hickory Lake with its expansive waterfront recreation areas, the historic Bledsoe Creek State Park offering hiking trails and camping facilities, the Tennessee Central Railway Museum showcasing the region's railroad heritage, and the charming downtown antique district along Main Street that draws collectors and history enthusiasts. To effectively serve guests visiting these specific attractions, rental properties must provide water recreation amenities including kayak or paddleboard storage, fishing gear cleaning stations, and outdoor drying areas for wet equipment from lake activities, while also offering secure bike storage and trail maps for state park visitors, high-speed Wi-Fi and comfortable seating areas for guests researching antique finds and planning shopping routes, and flexible check-in/check-out times to accommodate early morning fishing trips or late-night returns from exploring the railway museum's special events. Properties that align their amenities with these specific local draws—such as providing coolers for lake excursions, detailed local attraction guides, and outdoor spaces for cleaning and storing recreational equipment—will capture higher occupancy rates and command premium pricing by directly addressing the practical needs of visitors engaging with Portland's unique combination of outdoor recreation, historical tourism, and antique hunting.

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