Welcome to Airkey, a full-service resource for information and development in short-term rental investing. Airkey takes the guesswork out of identifying, purchasing, creating and managing a viable, welcoming and unique short-term rental. Airkey will provide you with a strong investment and a place you will want to own and use for yourself. When it comes to the nuances of a short-term rental, we have all the answers.
Whether you are an experienced investor, new to the short-term rental universe, or if you already have a short-term rental and are looking for a property manager, search no more.
We take the guesswork out of identifying, purchasing, creating and managing your short-term rental. We pride ourselves on creating unique and unforgettable experiences. From conception to creation, Airkey helps you shoulder the complete process and delivers an income-generating one-of-a-kind short-term rental that will stand out. Dawn Cromer, Kristina Sefter and D. Francesca Conte, Airkey’s co-founders, are short-term rental owners, creators, designers and managers: their 14 year combined experience, market knowledge and connections streamlines the process and caters to the needs and wants of guests. Airkey locates, invests, designs, educates and manages.
Why Airkey?
We give you the answers you cannot find anywhere else. The process of purchasing, outfitting and setting up a short-term rental is complicated. It includes many nuances that are difficult to navigate and the involvement of countless separate parties. Not knowing the steps required might cost you time and money: with Airkey, you will find all the resources needed to implement your short-term rental vision.
The Airkey difference
The quality of Airkey’s short-term rentals is extraordinary. The success of a short-term rental depends on the style, atmosphere and comfort provided to the guest, in addition to excellent customer service. If excellency is your goal, Airkey provides it.
What is a short-term rental?
A short-term rental is an investment property that generates rental income. Short-term rentals are defined as rentals of 30-days or less. Hence, short-term rentals do not host long-term tenants: instead they welcome guests who might stay for just a few nights. Short-term rentals are advertised through popular platforms such as AirBnB and VRBO.
How is a short-term rental different from a hotel?
Great short-term rentals should feel like a memorable vacation, independently on where they are located. The added amenities of a kitchen or living room, their uniqueness and comfort are the reason why many people choose STRs over hotels. In addition, the one-on-one interaction between a host and a guest adds to the enjoyment of the experience.
What properties make great short-term rentals?
The criteria needed to own a short-term rental depend on the location, your goals and local regulations. Not every City, County or neighborhood approves shot-term rentals: assuring the viability of your short-term rental is the first step, before even beginning your search. Once that’s established, a successful purchase, renovation when needed and outfitting of your short-term rental depends on your budget and target.
Purchase your short-term rental
The first step in owning a viable short-term rental is locating the right property in the right market: Airkey can help you discern the difference between a great house and a great short-term rental. Viability depends not only on location, but also on local laws and regulations, access and investment needed. Dawn Cromer and The Cromer Team’s experience goes beyond one of a realtor: Dawn has lived, explored and studied the piedmont of the Blue Ridge for over 20 years, for business and recreation. The Cromer Team will help you locate the type of property you are looking for that matches your budget and meets all the viability requirements for a short-term rental.
Bring to compliance, renovate and decorate your short-term rental
Before you purchase the property, we will guide you into obtaining the necessary permits and bringing the property into compliance with any local regulations and tax laws. All counties, cities and neighborhoods are different: it is crucial to be familiar with all local regulations before purchasing the property, or you might find yourself limited or prevented from renting.
Our goal is to guide you through the renovation and decoration of a short-term rental guests will love and will want to come back to. Our philosophy is the creation of a space that is calming, well balanced, welcoming and warm, free of superfluous decorations that clutter the space and the mind.
Once you have identified and purchased your property, we will create a portfolio detailing our vision. The portfolio will include any renovations we deem useful for the creation of a viable short-term rental, contacts for vetted builders, contractors and subcontractors. It will include an extensive list, photos and layout of the furniture needed to bring the space to life, plus the details to create the best experience guests can expect with our Airkey package. The spaces we have created for our own short-term rentals speak of our style and attention to details.
The portfolio will be a step-by-step and all-inclusive guide. On a case to case basis, we will be happy to be more or less involved in the renovation and decoration process, including ordering and staging the furniture and accessories.
Listing and Education
Once your short-term rental is ready, we will take professional photos and set up the listing on the major booking sites. The listing will be accompanied by a well-crafted and attention-grabbing description. Our experience distinguishes us, because we know and understand the needs and wants of guests.
Our property management services can then take over and fully manage the rental process for you. However, if you wish to manage your own property, we will provide the education needed to successfully manage it.
About Dawn Cromer and The Cromer Team.
Dawn has been a licensed Realtor since 2007 and teams up with Investors (rookies and veterans) to help them begin and continue their short term investment pursuits. Dawn started her journey with short term rentals when she finished the carriage house space above their garage in 2017 after realizing the little town she lived in had no hotels and the community was in need of a nightly stay space. She has a strong design sense for creating spaces guests feel welcomed, pampered and wanting to become repeat guests while she continuously earns Superhost status. Dawn manages two of her own short term rentals while being a full time Realtor leading The Cromer Team at Nest Realty.
About Kristina Sefter
Kristina joined The Cromer Team in 2018 working alongside Dawn Cromer as her transaction and client care coordinator. She then transitioned to a realtor on the team and loves working closely with her clients, helping them find a place to call home. Her strengths stem from her experience as a Landlord and Short Term rental owner over the past seven years. She owns properties in Charlottesville, Afton, and Colorado Springs. Kristina is attentive, detail oriented, organized, and deeply cares about giving her guests the best experience possible when staying at one of her properties. When she’s not working with The Cromer Team or Airkey, you can find her with her husband and three kids, working on her fixer upper in Ivy, or exploring the many trails, slopes and wineries that the Charlottesville area has to offer!
About Dr. Francesca Conte
Francesca has been a short-term rental owner and manager for several years, remodeling and designing all her properties in Charlottesville, Virginia and Breckenridge, Colorado. Born and raised in the Italian Alps, Francesca’s style reflects her love for the outdoors and natural elements. She graduated from the University in Virginia with a PhD in Biology and now owns a company that produces running events. Attention to details and project management are Francesca’s favorite hobbies, after long-distance running. She loves spending any time she has running or snowboarding in the tall mountains, going back to the Alps whenever she can.