Tips & Tricks for Selling a Short-Term Rental in Atlanta
Selling a short-term rental (STR) property in Atlanta isn’t like selling a typical home. Whether you’ve been running a successful Airbnb or recently pivoted your investment strategy, getting top dollar while avoiding logistical headaches requires a little extra planning. Here are some real-world tips for navigating the process—especially in a city like Atlanta, where STR rules, investor interest, and neighborhood vibes vary widely.
1. Carefully Manage the Airbnb Calendar
One of the most common pitfalls when selling a short-term rental is mishandling the booking calendar. You don’t want to rack up Airbnb cancellation penalties or leave guests in the lurch. What we like to do is limit the calendar to only allow bookings about 30 days out. This gives you flexibility to schedule a closing and avoid scrambling to cancel reservations.
2. Be Smart About Furniture
A big part of the value in selling a short-term rental is the furnishings and setup. Many buyers—especially investors—want a turn-key property that’s ready to rent from Day 1.
But here’s the risk: if you end up selling to a traditional buyer they may want you to remove the furniture. If you liquidate or move all the furniture before closing and the buyer backs out, you’re left with a major problem. The safest route? Negotiate furniture as a separate bill of sale and move it after closing, or secure a strong earnest money deposit to protect yourself before disassembling anything.
3. Consider Selling Off Market
Selling a home while actively running it as an Airbnb can be tricky. Public listings on FMLS (or a For Sale sign in the yard) often conflict with guest expectations and can lead to negative reviews or lost bookings.
One solution? Work with an agent experienced in short-term rental sales who can market the property off-market to their network of investors or homeowners. This approach keeps operations running smoothly while quietly shopping the property to qualified buyers—minimizing tours, disruption, and awkward guest questions.
4. Market to Both Investors and Homeowners
When it’s time to sell, your buyer could be an investor—or a future homeowner who just loves the house. That means your listing needs to appeal to both audiences:
-
For investors: Include a clean summary of the property’s STR financials—average nightly rate, occupancy rate, gross and net income, cleaning fees, etc. Investor listings are also posted differently on MLS platforms, under "Residential Income" properties. If you're not posting the listing in this particular category, your listing isn't as visible to investors.
-
For traditional buyers: Highlight lifestyle benefits, neighborhood walkability, and thoughtful design, just like you would with any residential listing.
It’s important to know your audience. If your STR has top-tier performance, your best bet might be another investor. But if it’s in a desirable residential neighborhood (like Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, Kirkwood, or Grant Park), the most likely buyer may be someone who wants to live there—and maybe run a small part-time rental too.
Final Thoughts
Selling a short-term rental in Atlanta takes more than a sign in the yard. It’s about managing bookings, protecting your assets, and targeting the right buyers with the right message. If you do it right, you can maximize your return without blowing up your Airbnb rating—or your closing.
Need help selling your STR in Atlanta? I specialize in helping hosts and investors make smooth exits. Let’s talk.
Schedule a complimentary strategy call today
