Vacation-home owners live in other cities. They don't see your yard signs or local ads.
For short-term rental managers
Airbnb management clients, found by mail instead of Facebook groups.
Most vacation-home owners live somewhere else and manage their rental from a phone. Spur finds absentee owners in your vacation market, writes a letter about their property and its potential, and gets your proposal in front of them before the next bad review.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Emily Watson3340 Peachtree Rd NEAtlanta, GA 30326Scan for a free revenue estimate
Emily W. viewed her revenue estimate · 6 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
Absenteeowners in vacation-market zip codes
Revenueestimate offers that get scanned
Per-ownerQR codes and instant alerts
The problem
Your best clients don't live in your market.
Listing sites don't tell you who owns a property or how to reach them.
The owners juggling cleaners and guest messages themselves are the most likely to hire you, if they hear from you at the right time.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
The same five steps every time, set up for short-term rental managers.
app.usespur.com
Plays for STR Managers
STR plays you can run in Spur today
Self-managing STR ownersPermit registry outreach New vacation-home buyers Long-term to STR conversions Switching managers Mid-term rental owners
Owners handling guests and cleaners from out of town.
AbsenteeVacation zip
See the full play →Upload addresses from your local STR permit list.
Custom list
Recent buyers deciding how to run their property.
Sold < 6 mosAbsentee
Owners of long-term rentals in strong STR areas.
AbsenteeOwned 5+ yrs
Owners unhappy with their current manager.
AbsenteeVacation zip
Furnished rentals near hospitals and universities.
Zip codeAbsentee
See it in Spur
An STR manager's owner list in Spur
Sample results for out-of-area owners in a vacation market. Names are partly masked.
Gatlinburg, TNAbsentee ownerOut-of-state or 100+ mi awaySingle-family and cabins
- Emily W.Bear Creek Rd cabinOwner in Atlanta, GAOwned 3 yrs
- Ridge View Retreats LLC3 cabinsMailing in NashvilleMulti-property
- Tom & Lisa G.Skyline Dr chaletOwner in Columbus, OHBought this year
- Amit P.Wiley Oakley Dr cabinOwner in Charlotte, NCOwned 6 yrs
- Sandra & Ken H.Glades Rd condoOwner in Louisville, KYOwned 9 yrs
AI draft for Emily W. · Bear Creek Rd cabin
Hi Emily,
I'm Jake with Smoky Ridge Stays. I noticed you own the cabin on Bear Creek Road here in Gatlinburg and live in Atlanta.
Running a vacation rental from three hours away means coordinating cleaners, handling guest messages at all hours, and hoping nothing breaks on a Friday night. We manage 60 cabins within 15 minutes of yours, with local housekeeping, maintenance, and 24/7 guest support.
If you're curious what full-service management could look like, scan the code for a free revenue estimate for your cabin. No obligation.
Jake Morris · Smoky Ridge Stays · (865) 555-0138
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How short-term rental managers win new owners
Vacation-home owners are an unusual market: they own property in your town but live somewhere else, so local marketing barely reaches them. The best prospects are owners who are self-managing or unhappy with their current manager, and they're usually reachable at their home address.
Building the list starts with absentee and out-of-state owners in your vacation-market zip codes. Many towns publish short-term rental permit registries; uploading those addresses and enriching the owners gives you a list of active STR properties. Recent buyers of vacation homes are another strong group, since they're deciding how to operate the property.
Lead with the owner's outcome: revenue, reviews, and time back. A free revenue estimate is the most effective offer because it gives the owner something concrete and lets you start a conversation with data. Social proof matters too: how many homes you manage nearby, your average rating, and your response times.
Check local rules before you pitch. STR regulations vary widely by city and county, including permits, occupancy limits, and taxes. Owners will expect you to know them, and you should avoid promising revenue a property can't legally earn.
20×return on a year of Spur Team from one property with $60,000 in bookings
One new property can cover Spur many times over.
- Spur Team: $588/yr billed annually
- Example: $60,000 in annual bookings at a 20% management fee = $12,000
- One new property = 20× your subscription, renewing each year
Example math. Booking revenue and fees vary widely by market and property. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. how most STR managers find owners
What you needThe usual waySpur
Finding ownersFacebook groups, referrals✓ Built in
Owner contact infoNot available from listing sites✓ Built in
OutreachMessaging hosts on platforms✓ Built in
Revenue estimate offerWebsite form owners never find✓ Built in
Seasonal follow-upManual✓ Built in
FAQ
Questions from short-term rental managers
How do I find Airbnb owners in my area?
Filter for absentee and out-of-state owners in your vacation-market zip codes, and upload addresses from your local STR permit registry if one exists. Spur enriches each owner's contact info.
Can Spur tell which properties are short-term rentals?
Property records don't always show how a home is used. Combining absentee ownership in vacation areas with permit registry addresses gives you a strong list.
What offer works best for STR owners?
A free revenue estimate for their specific property. It gives owners something concrete and starts the conversation with data.
Is it OK to contact hosts through Airbnb?
Platform messaging is meant for bookings, and soliciting hosts through it can violate platform rules. Mailing the owner directly is a better route.
Does this work for mid-term rentals?
Yes. Target absentee owners near hospitals, universities, and major employers, and pitch furnished mid-term management.
Keep exploring
Related roles and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
The owner of your next managed property lives three hours away.
Find absentee owners in your vacation market and send your first revenue-estimate offer today.
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