Better Vacations started when David Malka purchased his first property in Downtown Los Angeles in 2012. He wanted to rent it out through Airbnb during his travels. The problem is that his property is owned by an HOA (Homeowner’s Association). Operating an Airbnb in this condition is a huge mistake as most HOAs do not permit tenants to stay for less than 30 days. That, of course, reduces the potential for nightly rates which are the trend among Airbnb renters. Still, David proceeded with his plan. He made the effort of sneaking these short-term rentals until the HOA pushed for the sale and exit of the property.
Instead of giving up, David used that value of the Airbnb model in venturing into a new business. By the end of 2013, he had purchased his first 2 homes in Las Vegas, targeting 4+ bedroom single family homes with pools and spas. He personally managed everything to ensure quality hospitality. He started using Guesty, a technology-driven solution to vacation rental management issues and boosted his income by 30%. With this automation tool and the use of different rental ads platforms, David’s sales skyrocketed in no time. In 2017, his revenue was already worth $90,000 - an admirable feat given his recent start and the humble size of his organization.