Top 12 Mistakes Owners Make When Starting Short-Term Rentals — And How to Avoid Them
An expanded, evidence‑based guide by MIRO Rooms Rentals for property owners who want to launch a successful, low‑stress and profitable short‑term rental. Now with real‑world examples, expert quotes, and industry insights.
Introduction
Starting a short‑term rental often looks deceptively simple: take a few photos, upload a listing, hand over the keys, and wait for “passive income”. In reality, the launch phase is where most owners lose money, reputation, and motivation.
At MIRO Rooms Rentals, we’ve helped many owners in Riga turn ordinary apartments into hospitality products that guests love and that perform financially. Along the way, we keep seeing the same patterns of mistakes — some small but expensive, some strategic and hard to fix later.
This extended guide:
Breaks down the 12 most common mistakes new owners make
Explains why they happen and what they cost
Adds real‑world examples, quotes from industry experts, and practical recommendations you can apply immediately
1. Underestimating Setup Costs
Many owners think: “The apartment is already furnished, so it’s basically ready.” In hospitality, “ready” means something completely different from everyday living.
Typical hidden costs include:
Hotel‑grade linens and towels (at least 2–3 full sets per bed)
Professional cleaning tools and chemicals for frequent turnovers
Cosmetic repairs guests spot instantly (marks on walls, old silicone, loose handles)
Décor, textiles and lighting that look good on photos
Professional photography and staging
Industry checklists often list “not using professional photos” and “buying cheap furniture for your rental” as top mistakes that reduce both bookings and reviews.
Example:
One owner started with single sets of bedding and towels “to test the market”. After the first back‑to‑back bookings, cleaners simply didn’t have time to wash and dry everything. Result: delays, stressed guests, and a negative review about “chaotic check‑in and unprepared apartment”.
How to avoid:
Treat your launch as a small investment phase. Create a realistic setup budget and work from a readiness checklist based on hospitality standards. MIRO Rooms provides such a checklist and helps owners see the full picture before they go live.
2. Using Personal‑Style Interior Instead of Guest‑Friendly Design
What feels cozy, sentimental, or stylish for the owner can feel cluttered, dark, or impractical for guests.
Common issues we see:
Dark walls and heavy curtains that visually shrink the space
Too many decorative items that complicate cleaning
Fragile or sentimental objects that are one accident away from emotional damage
DIY furniture “hacks” that look unprofessional or break quickly
A number of professional management blogs warn against “going overboard with your theme” — highly personal interiors often turn off mainstream guests and limit your audience.
Real example:
A two‑bedroom apartment in the city centre had heavy wooden furniture, thick dark curtains and many personal items on display. The listing looked cramped and outdated. After redesigning with lighter textiles, neutral paint, and a simplified layout, the conversion rate from views to bookings grew by around 30%, and the average nightly rate increased as reviews started mentioning “bright” and “spacious”.
How to avoid:
Use light, neutral color palettes that reflect daylight
Prioritise durable, easy‑to‑clean materials over delicate or textured surfaces
Keep décor minimal and cohesive rather than busy and personal
Remove anything you would be upset to lose or replace
Hospitality design is not an exercise in self‑expression; it is about creating a space that 80–90% of your target guests will find comfortable and calming — and that photographs beautifully.
3. Ignoring the Importance of Professional Photography
Photography is not decoration; it is your primary sales channel. Guests often decide in seconds whether they will even click your listing.
Why amateur photos hurt performance:
Poor lighting makes rooms feel small and gloomy
Crooked angles distort the sense of space
Evening photos and yellow light create a “tired” look
Cluttered frames make it hard to understand the layout
Vacation rental experts frequently rank “not using professional photos” among the most damaging mistakes for new hosts, because it directly reduces click‑through rates and booking conversion.
Example:
One owner first listed with sunset smartphone photos and no staging. The listing got impressions but very few bookings. A re‑shoot with a professional photographer, daytime lighting and minimal staging increased bookings within a month — with no change in price.
How to avoid:
Always shoot in daylight with rooms fully prepared
Use a professional real‑estate photographer who understands composition and lenses
Stage the apartment: fluff pillows, remove visual noise, add a few lifestyle details
MIRO Rooms coordinates staging and photography specifically to maximise perceived brightness, space, and comfort in images.
4. Not Defining a Clear Target Audience
Trying to be “for everyone” usually means the apartment is not truly ideal for anyone.
Different guest types need different things:
Families — safety, space, full kitchen, washing machine, baby chair/crib, proximity to playgrounds
Business travellers — reliable Wi‑Fi, proper desk and chair, power sockets, self check‑in, quiet bedroom
Couples — atmosphere, lighting, privacy, comfortable bed, good bathroom
Tourists — easy access to key attractions, clear local tips, flexible check‑in and luggage options
Many professional articles highlight “not knowing your ideal guest” as a core strategic mistake: the amenities, copy, photography, and pricing all become too generic.
How to avoid:
Decide: Who is my primary guest? Family, couple, business, remote worker?
Check if the location, layout and budget really fit that audience
Optimise everything — from layout and décor to photos and listing text — for this one main group
MIRO Rooms helps owners match each property to the guest profile that offers the best balance between demand, pricing, and wear‑and‑tear.
5. Incorrect Pricing Strategy
Pricing is one of the most complex — and most expensive — areas to get wrong.
Typical beginner approaches:
One fixed nightly rate “that feels right”
Copying a few neighbouring listings without deeper analysis
Never changing prices after going live
Industry guides point out that mispricing leads either to vacancies (too high) or lost revenue (too low), especially during high‑demand periods like holidays, events or weekends.
Why static pricing fails:
Demand changes by day of week (weekend vs weekday)
Seasonality: summer vs winter, holidays, school breaks
Local events: concerts, conferences, sports
Lead time: bookings last‑minute vs far in advance
Example:
An owner kept one flat rate throughout the year. In low season, they still didn’t get enough bookings because the price was uncompetitive. In high season, they were fully booked far in advance — a clear signal that they were leaving money on the table.
How to avoid:
Use dynamic pricing tools or a professional management company that adjusts prices daily
Track ADR (Average Daily Rate) and occupancy instead of “feelings”
Monitor city events and seasonality; adapt your pricing calendar ahead of time
MIRO Rooms uses data‑driven pricing models tailored to Riga’s market and your specific apartment type.
6. Poor Cleaning and Turnover Processes
Cleaning is the backbone of your operation. Most guest complaints, refunds and bad reviews are either directly or indirectly caused by cleaning and turnover issues.
Common mistakes:
Hiring cleaners with no hospitality experience
No checklists or clear standards (every cleaner “does it their way”)
Not enough linens/towels to support back‑to‑back stays
Rushed turnovers without inspection
Many expert articles list “failing to maintain excellent cleaning standards” as a top reason for rating drops and platform penalties.
Example:
A host relied on a friend to clean “when she is available”. After a busy weekend, one stay was left with a missed bathroom clean and unemptied bin. The guest left a long, detailed negative review that dropped the average rating below a key threshold — and the listing’s visibility suffered for months.
How to avoid:
Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cleaning with step‑by‑step tasks and photos
Use a checklist for each turnover and require confirmation
Add a quick final inspection (in person or via photo reports)
MIRO Rooms operates with structured cleaning workflows, trained cleaners, and quality control, so owners don’t have to manage this manually.
7. Not Understanding Local Laws and Tax Requirements
Short‑term rentals sit at the intersection of housing rules, municipal regulations, and tax law. Many owners simply assume “everyone is doing it, so it must be fine”. That’s risky.
Professional management resources repeatedly mention compliance issues — licensing, zoning, registration, tourist taxes, safety rules — as a painful area for DIY hosts.
Potential risks:
Fines or legal warnings from authorities
Conflicts with building management or neighbours
Mandatory shutdown or limitations on operations
Tax penalties or back‑payments
Example:
A host started renting out an apartment in a building whose management company explicitly restricted short‑term rentals. After neighbour complaints, they were forced to stop, despite having invested in furniture and photos.
How to avoid:
Clarify building rules and local regulations before you invest heavily
Register and structure your activity properly for tax and reporting
Keep documentation organised and transparent
MIRO Rooms supports owners with local context, communication with house management and a clearly structured financial flow, so the legal side is handled proactively, not reactively.
8. Poor Guest Communication
Communication style, speed and clarity directly impact guest experience, review scores, and platform ranking.
Industry blogs often highlight slow or unclear communication as one of the biggest and most common host mistakes. Guests now expect near‑instant responses and detailed, proactive information.
Typical communication problems:
Late replies, especially in the evenings or at night
Short, unhelpful messages that don’t answer the real question
Missing or confusing check‑in instructions
No follow‑up during the stay (“Is everything OK?”)
Example:
A guest arrived late at night and couldn’t find the entrance. The host’s phone was on silent. By the time the issue was resolved, the guests were angry and exhausted; the review mentioned both the stressful arrival and “poor communication”.
How to avoid:
Set up automated but personalised message flows (booking confirmation, pre‑arrival, check‑in, mid‑stay, check‑out)
Provide a welcome guide with photos, maps and FAQs
Offer 24/7 contact for urgent issues
MIRO Rooms runs multilingual, round‑the‑clock guest communication with structured templates and clear information, improving both guest satisfaction and ratings.
9. Low‑Quality Amenities That Wear Out Quickly
Trying to save money on towels, bedding, cookware and furniture often leads to higher costs and worse reviews in the medium term.
Many hosting guides explicitly call out “buying cheap furniture and amenities” as a classic mistake: guests notice low quality, and cheap items tend to break or look tired very quickly.
Examples of false savings:
Thin towels that lose shape and colour after a few washes
Low‑quality pans that warp or peel
Flimsy dining chairs and side tables that become wobbly
Ultra‑cheap kettles, irons or hairdryers that fail in a few months
Example:
A host bought the cheapest white towels available. After multiple washes they became greyish and hard. Guests started mentioning “worn‑out towels” in reviews — small detail, big impact on perception.
How to avoid:
Choose mid‑range hotel‑grade textiles designed for frequent laundering
Invest in sturdy, simple furniture instead of decorative but fragile pieces
Buy appliances from reliable brands with good service and warranties
The small upfront difference in cost often pays for itself in longevity, fewer complaints, and an overall “premium feel”.
10. Not Optimizing for Long Stays in Low Season
Low‑demand seasons are a fact of life in most cities. In winter or between holidays, relying only on short city‑break guests can leave your calendar half‑empty.
Professional hosts increasingly treat longer stays (14–30+ nights) as a stabiliser during slow periods. Remote workers, people between homes, or guests doing a course or project in the city can fill otherwise empty weeks.
Guides for hosts emphasise the importance of adjusting strategy by season and promoting longer stays as a way to smooth out revenue.
How to avoid empty low seasons:
Offer tiered discounts for stays of 14, 21 and 30+ nights
Optimise the apartment for comfortable living, not just short breaks (desk, good chair, storage, proper kitchen)
Adapt copy and photos to explicitly mention “perfect for remote work / long stays”
MIRO Rooms helps owners reposition their listing for long‑stay guests in low season while maintaining healthy rates during peak months.
11. Trying to Manage Everything Alone
On paper, managing one apartment might look easy. In real life, it often means being permanently on call — at night, on weekends, on holidays.
Expert articles about hosting mistakes repeatedly mention not automating operations and trying to do everything manually as major traps. Burnout is real.
Operational tasks you must handle if you do it alone:
Pricing and calendar management
Messaging guests across multiple platforms
Coordinating cleaning and laundry
Handling maintenance and emergencies
Restocking supplies
Monitoring reviews and adjusting strategy
Example:
An owner managed everything personally for the first six months. Every trip or family event was overshadowed by incoming messages, cleaners’ questions and booking issues. Eventually, they either had to accept worse service — or delegate.
How to avoid:
Either create a small “team” (cleaners + handyman + someone to help with communication)
Or partner with a full‑service management company that already has systems and staff
MIRO Rooms Rentals takes over day‑to‑day operations while keeping owners fully informed through clear reports and communication.
12. Focusing Only on Occupancy, Not Profitability
A full calendar looks great in the app — but it doesn’t automatically mean strong financial performance. If your prices are too low, you can be very busy and still earn less than a more optimised neighbour.
Professional revenue‑management sources encourage hosts to track profitability metrics, not just occupancy:
ADR (Average Daily Rate) — your average price per booked night
RevPAR (Revenue per Available Night) — total revenue divided by all nights in period
Net revenue after cleaning, utilities, platform fees, and management
Seasonal trends in both prices and costs
Example:
Two similar apartments each had 90% occupancy. One earned significantly more because it raised prices during high‑demand events and kept a strong ADR, while the other simply “stayed cheap and full”.
How to avoid:
Track numbers monthly, not just “gut feeling”
Regularly analyse: Are you growing ADR and RevPAR year‑over‑year?
Adjust strategy based on data: target audience, minimum stay, channel mix, pricing rules
MIRO Rooms provides owners with clear financial reporting and recommendations, so the focus is on sustainable profit, not just on “being always booked”.
Final Thoughts — Starting Smart with MIRO Rooms Rentals
Short‑term rentals are a real business. Like any business, they reward owners who plan, invest wisely, and manage systematically — and punish those who improvise, underinvest or rely on luck.
The good news: most truly painful mistakes are predictable and therefore avoidable.
With MIRO Rooms Rentals you get:
A readiness checklist and clear plan for preparing your apartment
Advice on interior choices and guest‑friendly design
Professional photography and listing setup
Dynamic pricing based on market data, not guesswork
Structured cleaning and turnover processes with quality control
24/7 guest communication and multilingual support
Transparent monthly reports on revenue, costs and profitability
If you’re thinking about launching your apartment into the short‑term rental market — or want to fix an underperforming listing — MIRO Rooms can help you start (or restart) without these 12 common mistakes.
You bring the apartment. We bring the systems, expertise and daily operations.
Let’s turn your property into a hospitality product that guests remember — and that you’re proud of.
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Top Mistakes New Hosts Make — And How to Avoid Them | MIRO Rooms Rentals | MIRO Rooms Rentals