How does Vrbo Work

Vrbo (Vacation Rental By Owner) is a service where people rent out an entire house travelers for single days up to several weeks.

Vrbo it has been around for a long time, over 25 years. There are over 500,000 bookings every day on Vrbo in over 190 countries. According to travelwithaplan.com, VRBO boasts over 2 million rentals worldwide as compared to Airbnb’s 5.6 million listings

Vrbo as a Real Estate Investment

Wherever you are in the world, chances are you can start making money as an Vrbo Host. 

  • Availability: Works in 190 Countries đźŚŽ
  • Income Potential: Medium – High
  • Time investment: Medium – High
  • Upfront capital: High
  • Difficulty: Medium
Vrbo Vacation Home with renters

Getting Start with Vrbo

Millions of people make money renting their home to travelers on Vrbo. The process to list your house is simple

  • Estimate your income – Use a tool like AirDNA Calculator to calculate how much income your property can make. Consider seasonality and your time in the equation.
  • Create a Vrbo account
  • Create a great listing for your vacation rental – Vrbo walks you through the entire process 
  • Receive bookings – Set your calendar, price, and availability
  • Accept booking – Select renters with good scores.
  • Welcome your guest – Clean and prepare the property for guests
  • Be available – Have your phone available just in cases there are issues (lost keys, broken items) that have to be resolved.
  • Get paid – Once your guest finishes their stay you automatically get paid! Vrbo keeps 8%. 
  • Prepare for the next guests – Clean and restock property. Fix any issues that may have occurred.

Can I be an Vrbo Host if I don’t own property?

Yes, you don’t need to own a property to be a Vrbo host. Here are some options:

  • Start an Vrbo management company and manage other peoples properties
  • Buy a new rental property to list on Vrbo
  • Rent a new rental property to list on Vrbo – Get permission from the owner first.
  • Rent out your primary home while you are travelling/not at home

Vrbo offers vacation homes only. It does not allowed “shared” spaces like private rooms options such as a couch or campsites

What are the Pros and Cons of Vrbo

Pros of Vrbo

  • Potential for high earnings
  • Management can be outsourced to a property management company and set up for passive income
  • Vrbo offers protection for property owners
  • No professional experience required  

Cons of Vrbo

  • More difficult if you don’t own a home or cannot rent out your primary resident.
  • Requires substantial setup before becoming a passive business
  • Takes a lot of effort and time to earn good reviews 
  • Income potential differs based upon property and seasonality
  • Some neighborhoods do not allow Vrbo or Airbnb. Ask your Home owner association or read your CC&Rs before signing-up for Vrbo

How to Get Started with Vrbo

Click here to Sign-up with Vrbo

Looking to invest in short-term rentals and not sure where to start? We recommend reading AirDNA’s recent report on best places to invest. if you’re looking for hidden gems — the off-the-beaten-path spots that have flown under the radar until just recently, these markets currently host between 25 and 100 active properties, but likely won’t stay so for long.


The report also hones in on large markets worth the investment. Give it a look and subscribe to MarketMinder to get additional city insights to take your investment game to the next level. 


Best Places to Invest in Vacation Rentals 2021

More: Create an Empire on Airbnb without Owning a Home. See how!