Quick answer
Managing a property involves specific tasks: the listing, calendar, communication, access, cleaning, maintenance and owner updates. Before choosing a partner, ask for a description of who handles each task and how completion is demonstrated.
“Full management” is insufficient for comparing proposals. You need a common service scope, understandable charges and a procedure for cases where something does not go as planned.
Start with an inventory of responsibilities
Record what you do today and where you struggle. One owner may mainly need local presence, while another needs help coordinating different bookings and teams.
For each task, record the responsible person, backup and deliverable. Assigning cleaning, for example, requires a handover time, checklist and a way to report missing items.
- Listing: who approves photographs, descriptions and amenity changes?
- Bookings: who checks the calendar, changes and owner-use blocks?
- Arrival: who handles failed access?
- Faults: who calls a technician and informs the guest?
- Reporting: who gathers receipts, expenses and outstanding issues?
Tax tasks need a separate, clear assignment and accounting review in accordance with AADE guidance. Do not assume they are automatically included in a guest communication service.
Ask for procedures for real incidents
Describe a specific scenario: a guest arrives and the key does not work. Ask the prospective partner to explain who answers, who attends the property and how the resolution is recorded.
Do the same for a leak, late checkout and insufficient linen. The answer should show a sequence of actions and responsibilities rather than simply assuring you that “everything gets resolved”.
Agree expense approval limits and a separate emergency procedure. The owner needs to know when they receive updates and what evidence accompanies a repair. For consumables, agree the items and a cost limit in advance; no repeated approval is required within that limit.
Read the charges alongside the exclusions
Check the fee calculation basis, which services cost extra and how refunds, cancellations and third-party expenses appear. Request a hypothetical report with its assumptions clearly identified.
A lower fee may cover a different scope. For a meaningful comparison, use the same task list and review the collaboration fees alongside what will be agreed in writing.
Hostions charges 14% of net rental income, after platform fees and the cleaning charge are deducted. Management is paid at the close of each calendar month, while platforms pay directly into your account.
The guest covers cleaning through the booking. The amount is paid to you and the corresponding cost is charged to your card 3 days before the scheduled work. Additional work requires a quotation and approval. There is no minimum collaboration period or exit penalty.
Airbnb holds hosts responsible for partners who help with hosting. Delegation therefore requires appropriate access and oversight rather than sharing personal passwords.
Agree reporting and an exit procedure
Detailed monthly reports should connect stays, receipts, charges and expenses to a clear period. Add maintenance issues and decisions awaiting approval.
Before the collaboration starts, clarify who controls the accounts, presentation files and calendar. Also define how keys, materials and active bookings are handed over if the agreement ends.
At Hostions, the discussion can begin with cleaning and access needs and lead to a specific collaboration scope through the assessment form.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to delegate everything?
Not necessarily. Partial delegation may suit you better, provided there is one person responsible for coordinating the tasks you share.
How do I assess the partner after starting?
Check agreed deliverables, expense documentation, outstanding issues and incident handling. Bookings are influenced by many factors and do not by themselves provide a complete assessment of operations.
What does the first meeting need?
An accurate view of the property, an available calendar and a list of the tasks you want covered. This allows the proposal to become specific.
