Driving Growth in Minnesota’s Vacation Rental Market with PriceLabs

In Minnesota’s competitive vacation rental market, where demand fluctuates between bustling Twin Cities getaways and serene lakeside escapes, success depends on more than beautiful homes. It requires smart operations, local expertise, and forward-looking strategies like automated pricing for short-term rentals.

Above & Beyond Homes, based in Crosslake on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes and part of RE/MAX Results, has embraced this combination to fuel rapid growth and deliver consistently high-quality guest experiences.

What started as an extension of years of experience in real estate brokerage and resort operations has grown into a thriving management company with a diverse portfolio of properties. From rustic cabins for intimate escapes to sprawling lakefront lodges and modern resort-style homes, Above & Beyond Homes ensures every stay reflects the warmth of Minnesota hospitality. Their mission is clear: provide “above and beyond” service to both guests and property owners, while creating sustainable revenue growth across their portfolio.

Operating within the RE/MAX Results network, one of the largest RE/MAX organisations worldwide, gives the company access to industry-leading resources and credibility. Yet what makes them stand out is their hands-on approach, deep local knowledge, and commitment to innovation.

Before PriceLabs: Manual Work and Missed Opportunities

As the portfolio expanded, pricing became one of the most pressing challenges. Early on, nightly rates were determined manually using spreadsheets and competitor research. This approach came with several limitations:

• Time-consuming: Hours each week were spent updating spreadsheets and monitoring competitors.
• Reactive: Adjustments were made after market shifts, often leaving money on the table.
• Scalability issues: As new properties were added, managing them all manually became unrealistic.
• OTA dependence: Without strategic pricing, most bookings came through third-party platforms with higher costs.

“Manual spreadsheets worked when we had just a few properties, but as we grew, it became clear we needed something smarter. We were spending too much time reacting to the market instead of shaping our own strategy.”

It was evident that to scale effectively and maintain high standards of service, a new approach was needed.

Discovering PriceLabs: A Shift to Automation

Through industry peers, the team learned about PriceLabs and immediately saw potential. The platform’s ability to provide automated pricing for short-term rentals promised to transform how Above & Beyond Homes managed revenue.

PriceLabs offered three things the team had been missing: automation, flexibility, and real-time insights. By adopting it, they could cut hours of manual work, implement consistent strategies across the portfolio, and ensure every property’s rates reflected market demand.

Experience with PriceLabs

The transition to PriceLabs was smooth, and the results were visible almost immediately. The team quickly identified the features that made the biggest difference:

• Custom rules to set minimum stays, fill orphan gaps, and establish seasonal pricing floors.
• Market insights dashboards that gave visibility into demand trends across both the Brainerd Lakes and Twin Cities markets.
• Daily automated updates that ensured rates stayed competitive at all times.

“What I find most valuable about PriceLabs is the flexibility to set rules that align with our business strategy. In many ways, it feels like having a dedicated revenue manager working 24/7.”

The platform didn’t just save time—it enhanced strategy. With automation handling repetitive tasks, the team could focus on building guest relationships, supporting owners, and refining their market approach.

Results: Efficiency, Revenue, and Growth

Since adopting PriceLabs, Above & Beyond Homes has seen measurable success across several key areas:

• Summer occupancy up by 12% compared to prior seasons.
• Higher revenue per available night thanks to smarter, data-driven pricing.
• Hours saved each week by eliminating manual pricing updates, freeing staff to focus on guest service.
• Reduced risk of double bookings due to automated availability syncing.
• More direct reservations captured, improving profitability and creating stronger guest relationships.

“The results speak for themselves. Occupancy is up, revenue is higher, and our team has more time to do what really matters—supporting guests and owners.”

These improvements highlight how automated pricing for short-term rentals can act as a growth multiplier. By combining automation with local expertise, Above & Beyond Homes scaled without sacrificing quality.

Advice for Other Property Managers

Above & Beyond Homes believes automation should be a foundation, not a shortcut. Their advice to other vacation rental managers is simple:

• Adopt automation early: Don’t wait until manual processes overwhelm you.
• Tailor your settings: PriceLabs is most effective when aligned with your market knowledge.
• Focus on guests and owners: Let automation handle repetitive tasks so you can prioritise relationships.

“Embrace automation, but take the time to tailor your settings. PriceLabs is powerful on its own, but the best results come when you align it with your market knowledge and strategy.”

Looking Ahead with Vacation Rental Revenue Management

With PriceLabs powering their pricing strategy, Above & Beyond Homes is preparing for the next stage of growth. Their goal is to continue expanding across Minnesota while setting a new benchmark for professional short-term rental management.

By making automated pricing for short-term rentals the cornerstone of their operations, they have built a sustainable model that benefits property owners, delights guests, and positions the business for long-term success.

“PriceLabs hasn’t just helped us grow—it’s helped us grow smarter. That’s what makes the difference.”

Discover how PriceLabs and Webready help vacation rental managers boost occupancy, increase revenue, and simplify daily operations — explore the full PriceLabs and Webready integration story here and more customer success stories.