Property Management FAQs

Our team genuinely loves managing short-term rental properties, and it shows in how we work. We’ve built strong relationships with owners of all kinds of personalities and properties, and we handle operations, guest services, marketing, and technology so you don’t have to. It’s all focused on protecting your investment and maximizing your home’s earning potential.

We build our owner relationships around clear communication, dependable service, and a genuine commitment to making your property feel cared for, whether you’re renting it out or enjoying it yourself. Guests feel that same commitment through consistent, high-quality stays that keep them coming back and referring friends and family.

At the heart of what we do is a commitment to experiential stays. By designing curated, memorable experiences for every guest, we go beyond standard hospitality to build strong guest loyalty and drive long-term value for your property.

Owners may end their agreement with 30 days’ written notice. The contract officially ends once all current guest reservations on the books have been completed. This protects owners and their guests from cancellation penalties and channel fines that booking platforms can charge when confirmed reservations are disrupted.

You can book your own stays directly through your owner portal, available anytime from a computer or phone. Owner reservations are not charged our management fee. You’re only responsible for the cost of cleaning after your stay, unless you decide to clean it yourself.

Every property is cleaned by our housekeeping team upon departure. Our team checks that appliances, amenities, and systems are working properly, and addresses any small issues before guests arrive so your home is presented at its best.

We offer two management models so you can choose the level of involvement that fits you best.

• Full ServiceWe handle guest communication, maintenance coordination, housekeeping, strategic pricing, listing updates, and marketing. This is our most hands-off option for owners who want the entire guest experience managed on their behalf.
• Lite ServiceOwners manage their own guest communication after arrival, along with their own housekeeping and maintenance. This model suits owners who want to stay closely involved with their property while still using our platform for bookings, listing management, and pricing support.

We handle routine, lower-cost repairs directly so small issues don’t turn into bigger ones. For repairs above our agreed cost threshold, we’ll contact you before any work begins. The one exception is a situation where a delay could cause further damage to the property or put a guest at risk. In those cases, we act first to prevent harm and keep you informed as quickly as possible. We get to know each owner personally so we can tailor our approach to your specific needs.

When an emergency repair need comes up, our priority is to stop further damage while keeping you informed. We work with owners in advance to agree on a comfortable spending threshold, so when something urgent happens, our team can act quickly and responsibly on your behalf.

Our Guest Services team messages guests during their stay to remind them to take the trash out ahead of collection day. Owners are responsible for arranging and paying for their trash and utility service, since requirements and providers vary by location.

Inspections are always conducted at no charge. We also handle light maintenance, like changing light bulbs and replacing filters, as part of our included services. Our team is equipped to take care of routine hot tub and pool maintenance as well.

Our Guest Services team is available 24/7 to answer questions before, during, and after a stay, from booking details to home-specific questions like amenities, sleeping arrangements, and nearby attractions. Having a dedicated team available around the clock helps create the kind of experience that brings guests back and earns strong reviews for your property. A guest arriving after midnight may just need a friendly voice to help them find their way in or troubleshoot a door code, and we’re there for that.

All guest payments are processed through our property management software, which accepts credit card and bank transfer payments directly from guests. Reservation balances are collected well in advance of arrival, and a reservation will not be honored if the balance hasn’t been paid.

Yes, under our Full Service model. Guests can reach our team 24/7 by phone, text, email, or online chat. Owners on our Lite Service model take over guest communication after arrival.

We do not allow parties, gatherings beyond the reserved occupancy, or the use of recreational substances at our properties. These terms are outlined in the guest rental agreement each guest signs before check-in.

Smoking and vaping of any kind are strictly prohibited inside all properties. Any evidence of smoking or vaping on the premises will result in additional deep-cleaning charges to remove smoke odors and residue, and potential removal from the property. These restrictions and enforcement terms are clearly defined in the guest rental agreement signed prior to check-in.

To ensure property safety and secure entry, we install exterior cameras on the front and back of properties on a case-by-case basis. We have the ability to detect guest occupancy through Wi-Fi monitoring. This allows us to monitor instances where the number of devices connected exceeds the booked occupancy, helping us ensure that all guests comply with the terms of their rental agreement.

You can choose to make your property pet-friendly by allowing dogs. Guests traveling with pets are required to sign our guest rental agreement, which outlines pet-specific terms and any applicable fees. A non-refundable pet fee is collected to cover the extra cleaning a pet stay requires, and a portion of that fee is shared with you at our agreed-upon management percentage.

Yes. You can choose the minimum booking age for your property, and that requirement is included in the guest rental agreement.

During onboarding, we install smart door locks and exterior cameras and walk every property through a 50-point checklist to confirm it’s ready for guests. We also invite our community of more than 100,000 past guests to book stays across our portfolio, so your property gets in front of travelers who already trust us.

Every stay includes accidental damage protection for minor incidents. For damages that exceed this coverage, we charge the guest’s card on file following a post-checkout inspection. For bookings made through external platforms, we manage the collection process by submitting the necessary reconciliation documentation on your behalf. Recovering and remitting damage fees in line with our established policies is something we take seriously.

We provide a starter set of guest supplies, including paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry and dishwasher packets, and hand soap, at no cost to you. Owners are responsible for providing cleaning supplies and equipment such as a vacuum, mop, broom, and dustpan.

Our Guest Services team is available 24/7. For a medical emergency, guests are instructed to call 911 immediately. For any other urgent matter, guests have access to a dedicated emergency line that connects them directly to a member of our management team at any time of day or night.

Guests agree in writing to abide by all property and location rules. If a violation occurs, our team contacts the guest directly to address it and issues a warning that further violations may result in removal from the property without refund. Serious or repeated violations are escalated to management, and local law enforcement is involved if necessary.

• Management feeThis is our commission for managing your property, covering guest communication, reservation handling, marketing, and the support services outlined in our agreement.
• Guest-paid feesThese are fees charged directly to guests to cover specific costs, such as cleaning, pets, hot tubs, late check-outs, or booking and processing services. They’re collected from the guest and never come out of your rental proceeds.
• Owner-responsible costsAs the owner, you remain responsible for costs tied to property ownership, such as utilities (electric, water, internet, and so on), routine maintenance, repairs, property insurance, and taxes.

We encourage you to compare our model with other property management companies so you can see exactly what’s included. Our commission is straightforward and fully covers all core services, including guest communication, marketing, and reservation management, so there are no surprises when it comes to your property’s performance.

Yes. Following an owner stay, a cleaning fee is charged to return the property to guest-ready condition, at the same rate applied to guest bookings.

No. Guests are charged for housekeeping, and we support you with a network of contracted housekeepers.

No, we provide a starter set of these supplies for every guest reservation at no cost to you.

There are a variety of ways we can work with existing reservations, and we’re happy to walk through the options with you. We can also help migrate reviews from your privately run Airbnb, VRBO, or other listing sites.

Yes. Your policy should reflect appropriate liability limits and coverage, and name us as an additional insured. Check with your provider to confirm whether any additional coverage is recommended for short-term rental use.

No.

Not necessarily. To qualify, we look for homes capable of generating more than $50,000 in annual revenue. Unique amenities, views, waterfront access, and proximity to dining and entertainment are strong benefits, though they aren’t requirements on their own. Reach out and we’ll put together a property performance estimate for you.

Popular amenities include hot tubs, private pools, high-speed Wi-Fi, dedicated workspaces, TVs in bedrooms, pickleball courts, EV chargers, gourmet kitchens, kid-friendly play areas, spacious outdoor fire pits, and proximity to lakes, rivers, scenic hiking trails, or e-bike rentals.

Allowing pets is entirely your choice. Pet-friendly homes appeal to a wider range of travelers, and we charge a non-refundable pet fee to guests bringing an animal, which helps cover the extra cleaning required after their stay.

Our pricing approach is powered by enterprise-grade software that our in-house team fine-tunes for each property, drawing on real-time market data, comparable properties, and historical demand trends to set fair, competitive nightly rates. This lets us automatically adjust rates as demand shifts, so your property stays priced to maximize revenue. We review rates regularly and talk through strategy, including any minimum or maximum thresholds, with you so expectations are clear from the start.

All expenses are tracked and available for your review in your owner portal at any time.

Owner payments are processed by the 10th of each month. The timing of when funds arrive after that can vary slightly depending on your bank’s processing times.

No, unless you’d like to arrange special advertising beyond our standard marketing efforts.

Our marketing highlights what makes each property genuinely unique, from standout amenities to its surrounding area. Our marketing team actively promotes properties through targeted digital advertising and strategic social media outreach to make sure your home stands out to the right guests. This ties directly into our unique spaces initiative, which helps owners showcase the distinct character of their home and drive more direct bookings.

Your property is listed on our direct booking website, along with Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. Qualifying properties are also featured on Inspired Retreats’ premier websites at no additional charge.

We stay in touch with past guests through marketing emails and use in-property advertising that encourages guests to book directly with us on their next visit.

We coordinate professional photography for your property to make sure it makes a strong first impression. The cost of the session is the owner’s responsibility, but we handle the entire process to guarantee high-quality results, including giving our photographers detailed standards for every shoot. We also perform post-production touches, like optimizing lighting, adding a virtual flame to a fire pit shot, or correcting for a gray sky, so your property looks its best year-round.