By Jennifer Russo

Travelers today are looking for more than just a place to sleep – they want a welcoming, beautiful home-away-from-home with great views, local attractions, amenities, an individualized touch, and consistency between their perception of the home and the home itself. And when it comes to vacation rentals, The 5-Star Co-Host in Holliston helps both homeowners and guests enjoy the best of what a rental has to offer. 

It all started when Holliston natives Dave and Kim Menapace purchased a Cape Cod vacation home back in 2019, with plans to turn it into an investment property and rent it out to other families. They later purchased another vacation home in Maine, quickly learning the best and most effective approaches to short-term rental management, understanding what renters are truly looking for and how to tackle common concerns.

With many years of experience in consulting, they took a leap of faith and decided to start the property management company a few years ago, helping other homeowners enjoy the same success that they found with their homes, through offering full-service property management. The couple has co-authored several books, such as Hospitable Host 2, and they run a learning podcast called Hassle Free RE about vacation rentals. Dave has also spoken across the country at coaching events for other property managers.

The team serves their property owners by helping to optimize and by educating their clients, showing them how to improve their listings, understand pricing, navigate booking trends, create virtual welcome guides, coordinate with cleaning companies, and more. This is great for those who want to rent out properties but may be busy with other parts of their lives or want to retire from working but still want to keep their property.

“With the World Cup coming here next Spring, if you have a home to rent, there may be an income opportunity. We excel in helping people with ideas and different ways of thinking about things – whether it’s a home on the Cape or one right here in town – there are always people traveling,” shares Dave.

Hiring a property management company like The 5-Star Co-Host also brings access to various levels of insurance in case of any property damage or broken items, and they can more easily keep a home safe and secure through specialized cameras on the doors, programmable locks, etc.

Now, The 5-Star Co-Host has over 40 properties that they manage, including single-family homes and boutique hotels across Maine and Massachusetts, with plans to expand into other parts of New England, working under the philosophy that each rental is more than just a stay; it should be a truly crafted experience where all needs are met, that inspires great memories for many years to come. 

“I have three obsessions that I work by in our business,” shares Dave. “First, I am obsessed with the homeowner’s experience in working with us. I am always seeking out new and innovative ways to continuously improve that experience and help guide them to better financial outcomes.”

“Secondly, I am always thinking about the experience of my team. I really want to be one of the Top 25 Places to Work, which gets me excited personally, and I am always trying to improve the company culture. We have an amazing and experienced team of people, and I want to be the best coach I can be for them.”

“Last, but certainly not least, is the guest experience. Regardless of whether the home is an 8-bedroom chalet up in ski country or a two-bedroom cottage on the Cape, they are going to have consistent, high-end service, with a welcoming space, thoughtful amenities, the same attention to detail, and responsive communication. It is my job to make sure that guests have an amazing stay,” Dave says.

If you are interested in experienced property management for your home or hotel, you can book a free analysis on their website: 5strcohost.com or email [email protected]. If you are interested in booking one of the properties they currently manage for your next trip, visit the site to view available rentals.

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