Questions to Ask a Short-Term Rental Company

Performance & Pricing

• What is your historical occupancy by month for comparable units, and what is your vacancy pattern in shoulder seasons
• How do you set nightly rates and adjust for events, weather, or market shifts; do you use dynamic pricing software and human review
• What is your average length of stay and booking window for properties like mine

Fees, Pass-Throughs, and Owner Use

• What is your management fee and what does it include and exclude
• What guest fees are added at checkout that could impact conversion rates
• Do you charge additional fees for credit card processing, cleaning, linen service, or maintenance coordination
• What do you charge if a friend or relative rents my property at a reduced rate or owner rate
• Are there fees for owner blocks, last-minute owner stays, or restricted dates

Licensing, Taxes, and Compliance

• Do you obtain and maintain the required vacation rental license and handle lodging tax registration, filing, and remittance
• How do you track and document tax collections for owner statements

Marketing, Distribution, and Bookings

• Which channels do you use for exposure (company site, email, SEO, meta search, VRBO, Airbnb, direct partnerships), and how do you measure conversion
• Is there a centralized calendar and booking system that prevents double-booking and shows real-time availability to owners
• Do you run paid advertising or retargeting and who pays for those costs
• Do you refresh photos and listing copy seasonally and who pays for professional photography or video

Guest Policies & Risk Management

• What is the minimum age for the responsible renter and how is it verified
• How are security deposits, damage waivers, and incident claims handled and documented
• What is your policy for noise, overcrowding, smoking, and pet adherence; how is it enforced
• What is the protocol if a guest is locked out during or after business hours

Operations, Housekeeping, and Maintenance

• Do you use an in-house cleaning team or subcontractors; how are cleans scheduled, inspected, and scored
• Do you perform post-stay quality checks to ensure the property is not being abused and to catch small issues early
• Who supplies and launders linens and towels; do you provide kitchen essentials restock and how often
• Do you have on-staff handyman services; what are the labor rates and after-hours rates
• What is the response protocol if the air conditioning fails, plumbing backs up, or appliances stop during or after hours

Owner Portal, Reporting, and Payments

• Is there an owner portal with real-time bookings, statements, and year-end tax documents
• How quickly are owner payouts made and by what method
• Can I export data for my CPA and will I receive itemized invoices for maintenance and supplies