Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals

What Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals does

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals (SMLVR) is a privately-held, locally owned vacation rental property management company headquartered in Moneta, Virginia, operating exclusively in the Smith Mountain Lake market. The company manages a portfolio of approximately 49 individually owned lakefront vacation homes — ranging from two-bedroom cottages to five-bedroom estates with private docks, game rooms, fire pits, hot tubs, and pet-friendly options — and provides full-service short-term rental management including marketing, booking, guest support, cleaning coordination, and maintenance. The company also offers a long-term rental management service covering tenant placement, credit and background screening, advertising, and lease preparation.

Revenue is generated primarily through a commission-based managed services model: SMLVR markets and operates the properties on behalf of individual homeowners and retains a percentage of rental income. Ancillary fees include a mandatory $75 non-refundable damage protection fee, a $100 cancellation fee, optional linen service, cleaning fees, and pet fees, all subject to Virginia (5.3%) and county (7%) lodging taxes. Direct booking is incentivized through military discounts unavailable on third-party platforms.

The technology stack is intentionally lean and outsourced: the marketing website runs on Wix, while the booking engine, reservation management, availability calendars, and owner portal are powered by Hostaway. No proprietary technology, mobile application, public API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. Distribution occurs through the direct website, phone/email reservations, third-party vacation rental marketplaces, and a network of cross-referral partnerships with local marinas, watercraft rental providers, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, and Rental Guardian travel protection insurance. The company is led by Owner Tim Basham and Manager J. King, with a headcount of 1-10 employees, and has operated continuously for over 30 years under the same local brand.

Name

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals

Legal name

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals LLC

Website

https://smithmountainlakerentals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vacation Rental Property Management

NAICS

Rental and Leasing Services (532)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Vacation Rental Property Management (THAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Vacation Rental Property Management (BPAJAIAA), Beachfront & Lakefront Homes (THAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Vacation rental management
• Property management services
• Short-term rentals
• Lakefront vacation homes
• Rental property management

Headquarters

HQ city

Moneta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vacation Rental Management Commission: The company earns revenue by managing vacation rental properties for homeowners, taking a commission on rental income generated. Property owners are provided with marketing, guest booking, cleaning, maintenance, and financial management services in exchange for a share of rental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals manages a portfolio of approximately 49 privately owned lakefront vacation homes around Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, providing full-service property management including marketing, guest booking, cleaning, maintenance coordination, and 24/7 guest support. The company also offers long-term rental management with tenant placement, credit and background screening, advertising, and lease preparation. Reservations are taken directly through the company website, by phone/email, and on third-party booking platforms.

Product overview

Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals operates a vacation rental property management business offering lakefront homes for short-term stays. Their core offerings include a portfolio of approximately 49 individually owned vacation rental properties around Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, supported by short-term vacation rental management services for homeowners and long-term rental management services. The company provides an online booking platform (powered by Hostaway), an owner portal for property owners to manage reservations and view financials, and comprehensive guest services including 24/7 support, cleaning, and maintenance coordination. The property portfolio includes diverse homes ranging from 2-5 bedrooms with amenities such as private docks, game rooms, fire pits, hot tubs, swimming areas, and pet-friendly options, marketed primarily to families and groups seeking lake vacations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Short-term Vacation Rental Management
• Long-term Rental Management Services
• Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals Property Portfolio A managed portfolio of approximately 49 individually owned lakefront vacation homes at Smith Mountain Lake available for short-term booking, with amenities such as private docks, game rooms, fire pits, hot tubs, and pet-friendly options.
• Owner Portal Online portal for property owners to access monthly financial statements, monitor rental performance, and book family reservations within their own properties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 website hits per month
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HostawaycoreTechnology or IntegrationSmith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals uses Hostaway's booking and reservation management platform to power their property listings, availability calendars, and online booking engine. This technology platform enables real-time reservation management and calendar synchronization across their portfolio.
• Bridgewater MarinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended boat rental partner for guests of Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals, enabling guests to rent boats to enjoy the lake during their stay.
• Parkway MarinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended boat rental partner for guests, providing pontoon boats, fishing boats, and watercraft for lake activities.
• Smith Mountain Paddle Company LLC & SUPS2GOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended kayak and paddleboard rental partner for guests seeking non-motorized water activities on the lake.
• SML Boat RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended boat rental provider for guests needing watercraft during their vacation rental stay.
• Smith Mountain Lake State ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal attraction partner providing hiking trails and recreational activities near vacation rental properties.
• Rental GuardianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel protection insurance partner offering coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and property protection for vacation rental guests.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Vacasa: Largest full-service vacation rental property management company in North America. Operates in lake, beach, mountain, and ski markets with end-to-end owner services, marketing, and booking — directly overlapping with SMLVR's business model at greater scale.
• Evolve Vacation Rentals: National vacation rental manager combining a tech-enabled platform with local field teams. Manages lake and mountain properties for individual owners with marketing, booking, and cleaning support — competing for the same owner customer as SMLVR.
• TurnKey Vacation Rentals: Full-service vacation rental manager serving U.S. destinations including lake and mountain markets. Offers professional management, marketing, and 24/7 guest support — a directly comparable service model to SMLVR.
• Sonder: Tech-enabled short-term rental and apartment-hotel operator with professional management, cleaning, and a unified booking platform. While more urban-focused, it competes for managed short-stay demand and the same owner/investor customer.

Broad incumbents

• Marriott Vacations Worldwide: Large publicly traded vacation ownership and rental operator. While focused on timeshare resorts, it competes broadly for vacation-rental demand and partner with owners in regional markets.
• Hyatt Vacation Club: Hyatt's vacation ownership and rental brand operating resort-style accommodations in leisure destinations. Represents the scaled, branded end of the vacation accommodation market that SMLVR competes against for traveler dollars.
• Vrbo (Expedia Group): Major vacation rental marketplace owned by Expedia Group. SMLVR lists properties on Vrbo and similar OTAs; the platform sets competitive dynamics on visibility, fees, and guest expectations for the broader short-term rental ecosystem.
• Airbnb: Dominant global short-term rental marketplace. Drives substantial booking demand that SMLVR captures via third-party listings, but also sets commission economics and guest expectations that pressure direct-booking strategies.

Regional players

• Lake Homes Realty: Real estate brokerage and vacation rental platform focused on lakefront properties across the U.S. South and Midwest. Competes for the same lake-vacation audience and offers adjacent brokerage and rental services relevant to SMLVR's owner pipeline.

Others

• localiQ / Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA): Industry association and resource network for vacation rental property managers. Not a direct competitor, but a key industry body setting standards, vendor relationships, and benchmarking that shape SMLVR's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Smith-Mountain-Lake-Vacation-Rentals/100068598608162
• Instagraminstagram.com/smlvacationrentals
• Xx.com/smlrentals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-mountain-lake-vacation-rentals-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rentals