Short Term Rental
Management

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

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Tucson, Arizona Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Tucson's short-term rental market presents exceptional revenue opportunities for property owners, with average daily rates ranging from $120-180 depending on property type and location, significantly outperforming traditional long-term rental yields by 40-60% annually. The city's strategic position as a winter destination for snowbirds, combined with its proximity to major attractions like Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and the University of Arizona, ensures consistent occupancy rates averaging 65-75% year-round, with peak winter months reaching 85-90% occupancy. Property owners benefit from Tucson's relatively affordable real estate prices compared to Phoenix or Scottsdale, allowing for faster ROI while capitalizing on the city's growing tourism infrastructure, including recent airport expansions and increased flight connectivity. The market shows particular strength in the foothills and central historic districts, where well-positioned properties generate gross revenues of $35,000-55,000 annually, with net profit margins of 25-35% after expenses, making Tucson an increasingly attractive alternative to saturated markets while offering the dual advantage of property appreciation in Arizona's robust real estate environment.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Tucson's short-term rental regulations are intricate and constantly evolving, with the city requiring specific permits, zoning compliance, and adherence to strict operational standards that vary by neighborhood and property type. Property owners face significant financial penalties, legal liability, and potential shutdown of their rental operations if they fail to navigate the complex web of city licensing requirements, state tax obligations, HOA restrictions, and changing municipal ordinances that can shift without warning. The risk of non-compliance is substantial, as violations can result in hefty fines, loss of rental income, and costly legal battles that far exceed any potential profits from your investment property. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing, permitting, tax collection and remittance, and ongoing legal compliance are handled expertly on your behalf, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of your investment while staying fully protected from the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Occupancy Rates
Tucson's Airbnb market experiences distinct seasonal patterns with peak occupancy rates occurring during the winter months from December through March when snowbirds and tourists escape colder climates to enjoy the desert's mild temperatures and abundant sunshine. Spring months of April and May also see strong demand as visitors come for hiking, outdoor activities, and events like the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Summer months from June through September represent the challenging shoulder season when extreme heat drives occupancy rates down significantly, often dropping 30-40% below peak levels, while fall months of October and November serve as a transitional period with moderate demand. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, requiring dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand winter periods while implementing competitive pricing and extended-stay discounts during the slower summer months to maintain cash flow and prevent extended vacancy periods. Successful Airbnb operators in Tucson must anticipate these seasonal shifts months in advance, adjusting their pricing calendars to capture premium rates during snowbird season while offering attractive packages and amenities like pools and air conditioning to draw the limited summer market, ensuring year-round profitability despite the market's inherent seasonality.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in Tucson presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and devastate their reputation. The desert climate creates unique maintenance demands, from HVAC systems working overtime against 115°F summer heat to pool equipment requiring constant chemical balancing and filter cleaning, while monsoon seasons bring sudden flooding risks and roof damage that demand immediate professional response. Guest turnover in Tucson's peak winter season means same-day cleanings between bookings with zero margin for error, as delayed check-ins result in immediate negative reviews and lost revenue, while the city's sprawling geography makes coordinating cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and guest services across vast distances both time-consuming and costly. Managing 24/7 communication becomes particularly challenging when dealing with international snowbird guests across multiple time zones who expect instant responses to everything from WiFi issues to air conditioning failures during scorching summer nights, while emergency situations like lockouts or plumbing failures require immediate local contractor relationships that take years to develop. In Tucson's fiercely competitive vacation rental market, where guests have hundreds of alternatives and a single maintenance delay or communication lapse can trigger devastating reviews, full-service property management transforms from a luxury into an absolute necessity for maintaining the 5-star standards and truly passive income that successful vacation rental investments demand.
Attractions and Amenities
Tucson's tourism centers around four major attractions that create specific accommodation needs: Saguaro National Park draws nature enthusiasts and hikers who require early morning access, secure gear storage for hiking equipment, and outdoor shower facilities to rinse off desert dust; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum attracts families and wildlife photographers needing refrigerated storage for packed lunches, binocular and camera equipment storage, and educational materials about local flora and fauna; Old Town Tucson and the historic downtown district bring history buffs and cultural tourists who value walkable proximity or shuttle services to these areas, along with local restaurant recommendations and cultural event information; and the numerous world-class golf courses and resorts draw golfers year-round who need secure golf club storage, early breakfast options to accommodate dawn tee times, and laundry facilities for golf attire. To maximize revenue, properties must offer desert-specific amenities including powerful air conditioning for the intense heat, UV-protective outdoor spaces, hiking trail maps and recommendations, golf course partnerships or discounted green fees, secure storage solutions for expensive outdoor and golf equipment, and concierge services familiar with booking desert tours and restaurant reservations, as guests visiting these attractions are willing to pay premium rates for accommodations that enhance their specific Tucson experience rather than generic hotel features.

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