Wondering how to grow your rental property business when temperatures (and bookings) drop? Winter in South Africa may bring cooler weather, but for savvy property owners, it’s the perfect time to rethink the short-term rental strategy. 

At Propr, we manage high-performing short-term rental properties across Cape Town, Joburg and Durban. Our goal? To make hosting completely hands-off while helping your rental property stay booked, optimised, and ahead of the curve.

Here’s how we help our hosts stay profitable during the off-season – and how you can too!

Rethink Your Guest Strategy

The first step in how to grow your rental property business is knowing your winter audience. While international tourism might be slow, winter brings in digital nomads, local staycationers, business travellers, and event-goers. By shifting your marketing to target these segments, you fill the gaps left by summer holidaymakers.

Consider incentives for longer stays, mid-week deals, or value-adds like breakfast vouchers or late check-out. These thoughtful extras can certainly tip the scale in your favour.

Use Dynamic Pricing to Keep Earnings Consistent

If you’re serious about how to make money with rental properties, winter requires flexibility. Pricing should adapt to match supply and demand.

At Propr, we use intelligent, dynamic pricing technology that tracks market trends in real time, adjusting rates daily based on occupancy, seasonality, competitor listings, and upcoming events. This ensures your property stays competitive, without undervaluing your space.

How to Market Your Vacation Rental Property in Winter

If you’re looking for how to market your vacation rental property effectively, it’s all about relevance, so seasonal messaging is key! Make sure your listings feel winter-specific, and not leftover from summer. Use words that emphasise warmth, cosiness, and indoor comfort. Update your titles and descriptions to include off-season appeal like “perfect winter escape,” “cosy and private,” or “ideal for remote work during winter.”

And don’t underestimate the power of great photos. Change the sunny pool shots to atmospheric indoor ones – candlelight, plush throws, warm lighting. The right visuals can really make a huge difference. 

Optimise for Off-Peak Events and Local Travel

Winter in South Africa still brings movement. Families planning school holiday trips, professionals attending conferences, and locals looking for a cosy weekend away. These moments might be shorter than peak summer stays, but they’re just as valuable.

Part of how to grow your rental property business is knowing when those spikes are coming, and being ready for them. That’s where Propr comes in. We track key events and travel patterns across Cape Town, Joburg, and Durban to help your listing stand out, stay competitive, and capture the right bookings at the right time.

Outsource to a Professional Property Management Team

You don’t need to manage it all alone… especially during the off-season. Propr offers full-service property management that’s built to perform year-round. We know exactly how to market your vacation rental property, adjust your pricing for the season, screen guests, manage cleanings, and keep your calendar fully optimised.

And because we’re local, we understand what guests want in winter, and what owners need to earn more with less hassle.

Ready to Grow, Even in Winter? 

Knowing how to grow your rental property business is one thing. Having the right partner to make it happen is another.

With Propr, we take the weight off your shoulders. Pricing, bookings, guest support, cleaning, maintenance, the whole lot. While others slow down in winter, our hosts keep earning – because we handle the details, properly. 

Ready to make winter your most rewarding season yet? Host with us and see what proper property management really means.