We’ve Collected $9.5 Million in Short-Term Rental Revenue: Here’s What We’ve Learned
After more than a decade operating vacation homes, boutique hotels, waterfront villas, and everything in between, Over Sea has officially crossed $9.5 million in short-term rental revenue collected on behalf of property owners.
It’s a milestone that reflects not just strong demand for Nova Scotia stays, but also the depth of our systems, our technology stack, and our relentless commitment to operational excellence.
Managing short-term rentals at scale, while maintaining highly-rated guest experiences, isn’t luck. It’s a discipline. And along the way, we’ve learned a few things worth sharing.
Below are the insights that have shaped how we operate, grow, and continually outperform the market.
1. Occupancy Isn’t Everything - Profitability Is
A packed calendar doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable one. What matters is revenue per available night, the cleaning model, fees strategy, and how efficiently the property is operated. Annual overall revenue trumps seasonal fluctuations.
Key takeaway:
We optimize profit, not occupancy. This includes day-by-day dynamic pricing, revenue pacing, fee optimization, and seasonal packaging designed to boost average booking value.
2. Direct Bookings Are No Longer Optional
Online travel agencies are powerful, but dependency on them is risky. Fees increase. Policy changes happen overnight. Support can be limited.
Our direct booking engine makes up a large portion of a our booking volume, powered by SEO, social media, retargeting and more.
Key takeaway:
Every operator needs a dual strategy: OTAs for exposure, direct bookings for control, higher margins, and long-term resilience.
3. Technology and AI Are the New Competitive Advantage
We’ve learned that technology isn’t just a convenience, it’s a multiplier, and it’s required.
Our tech includes these and more:
Automated communication touch points
Smart locks with access scheduling
Mysa-based energy management
AI-powered revenue analysis
Digital inspections
Maintenance automations
Owner dashboards
Internal AI tools that flag anomalies before they become problems
Key takeaway:
If you're not building a tech-enabled ecosystem, you’re falling behind.
4. Housekeeping Will Make or Break You
You can have the best marketing and the most expensive home, but if a guest walks into a dirty property, nothing else matters.
After years of trial, error, and rebuilding, we created a hybrid model:
Elite in-house cleaning leads
Vetted subcontractors
Property-specific checklists
Photo verification for every clean
Automated audits
A quality score system
Key takeaway:
Cleaning isn’t a service. It’s an infrastructure.
5. Maintenance Needs a Proactive, Not Reactive, Approach
A reactive maintenance approach destroys margins.
We now track:
Seasonal maintenance cycles
Hot tub chemistry logs
HVAC efficiency*
Smart alerts for furnace, water pumps, and power outages*
Predictive maintenance schedules
Vehicle readiness for remote properties
Key takeaway:
The most profitable homes are the ones with the least surprises, and that only happens with a proactive framework.
*At individual properties enrolled in these programs.
6. Guests Want More Than a House - They Want a Nova Scotia Experience
Our inventory spans oceans, lakes, coves, islands, and wine country. What we learned is simple:
People book homes. But they remember experiences.
Make yourself stand out.
Key takeaway:
Experiences drive repeat guests, and repeat guests drive word of mouth referrals.
7. Revenue Peaks When the Product Is Treated Like a Business
The properties that earn the most share common traits:
Professional photography, updated seasonally and as things change
High quality, reliable linens that dry fast and wrinkle-free
Intelligent pricing that is closely monitored
Strong brand presence
Clear guest rules, policies, and procedures
A maintenance budget
A defined service level
The homes that struggle? They’re usually missing 2–3 of these fundamentals.
Key takeaway:
Short-term rentals don’t succeed when treated like a side hustle. They succeed when treated like a hospitality business.
8. Regulations Matter Much More Than People Think
Over Sea has been advocating for fair, balanced, and sustainable regulations since 2018. We’ve learned that the managers and owners who stay informed and compliant thrive under new legislation, because the industry gets more professional as a result.
Key takeaway:
Regulation doesn’t kill the industry. Poor preparation does.
9. The Best Owners Are Partners, Not Customers
The homes we are most proud of, and the ones with the strongest performance, are owned by people who treat us as strategic partners.
They listen to data.
They invest in improvements.
They take a long-term view.
They understand hospitality and value consistency.
Key takeaway:
When the owner and manager operate as one team, the results compound.
10. A Strong Brand Outperforms Individual Listings
A branded collection of homes builds:
Trust
Recognition
SEO power
Repeat guests
Stronger OTA performance
Higher conversion on direct bookings
Key takeaway:
Brand equity is a revenue driver.
Looking Ahead
Crossing $9.5 million in revenue is not the finish line, it’s simply a checkpoint.
The next phase of hospitality is tech-forward, AI-assisted, experience-driven, and grounded in operational discipline.
At Over Sea, we’re ready for what’s next.
If you're a property owner interested in partnering with a proven, data-driven management team, or exploring how AI can streamline your operations, reach out to us anytime.
oversea.ca | 1-866-890-4920