What Data Should I Look at When Analyzing Vacation Rental Comps?

You're probably looking at average nightly rates or occupancy percentages and think that's enough to understand your market. But those numbers don't tell you anything about why a property performs well.

You need to understand what design features, amenities, and experiences are driving those rates. Otherwise, you're just copying surface level stuff without understanding the strategy behind it.

Entertaining lakefront deck designed for families and groups that want to getaway and connect.

Don't Just Look at What Comps Charge

Look at what they offer, how they position themselves, and what gaps exist in the market. The real opportunity isn't in what everyone else is already doing. It's in what's missing.

What are top performers offering that others aren't? What experiences are they highlighting in their listings? What do their hero shots focus on? That's the data that actually matters.

The Right Way to Analyze Your Competition

Pull up the top 5 rentals in your market. Don't just skim their rates. Study their listing photos, their descriptions, their reviews. Ask yourself:

• What are they doing that I'm not?

• What are they NOT doing that my ideal guest would pay for?

• What gaps exist that I could fill with strategic design?

  
  

That's how you find your edge.

Why This Matters for ROI

Understanding your competition isn't about copying them. It's about knowing the landscape well enough to position yourself above them. When you know what's already working and what's missing, you can design something that fills a need and commands a premium.

This is exactly the kind of market analysis I do before designing a single room. Because understanding your competition is how you beat them.

Mountain home vacation rental game room with a popcorn machine, wall mounted games, board games and pool table.

Comp analysis isn't about rates and occupancy. It's about understanding what drives performance so you can design strategically and differentiate your property.