Maximize your Dominican Republic Rental Property with strategic planning

Investing in real estate for short-term rentals in the Dominican Republic (DR) can be a highly profitable venture, especially given the country’s strong tourism industry, favorable laws for foreigners, and relatively low property prices.

While some property owners try to manage their rental units independently, it is highly recommended to hire a management company to take care of this on your behalf, especially if you will only be in the Dominican Republic part-time. Managing guests, maintenance, cleaning, and emergencies remotely is difficult without someone on the ground. The 15% to 25% management fee is well worth your peace of mind.

That said, you want to have some base knowledge about short-term rentals to intelligently interact and consult with your property manager about running your unit.

You and your manager should discuss these five points before renting out your unit:

1. Rental Platforms – Several rental platforms are available, such as VRBO and Booking.com, but Airbnb is the most popular in the Dominican Republic. If you plan to list your property on multiple platforms, you must invest in a calendar synchronization system to avoid double bookings—an added expense. However, with such a system, you significantly reduce the risk of incurring hefty cancellation fees from the platforms for overlapping reservations.

2. Rental Rate – Before setting your rental rate, you and your property manager should review the average rates for similar units in your market, so you’ll have a reasonable baseline price to start. Don’t forget seasonal pricing strategies.

3. Testing – Before renting the unit out, it’s a good idea for you or the property manager to stay a night or two to ensure it’s ready to go. How is the internet speed? Does the water get hot enough in the shower? Are the faucets functioning correctly? You want to make sure to receive positive reviews from your guests.

4. Maintenance Days – The goal is 100% occupancy; however, experienced property managers advise blocking three or four days out of the month for unit maintenance. You’ll want to do monthly checks and maintenance on your AC units, washer, and dryer. In some months, you may need to repair or paint a wall.

5. Pet Friendly or Not – Pet-friendly units tend to have higher occupancy rates, so it could make sense for you. Your policy must be clear that guests are responsible for any additional cleaning fees or any repairs for possible damage caused by their pets.

If you want your rental to perform well, it is important to stay involved and take a strategic approach—even if you’re managing from abroad. Make sure to regularly check in with your property manager about things like which platforms you’re listed on, how pricing is being set, whether any testing is being done, how often the place is being maintained, and whether pets are allowed. Staying on top of these details will help keep your property competitive and guest-friendly.