Comparing management proposals? Ask each provider the same questions, then compare the scope, evidence and responsibilities behind the answers. Use this checklist with any prospective manager, including Roava.
Start with the total cost, who looks after guests and the home, how you stay informed, and what happens if you leave. A clear written answer is more useful than a broad promise.
What does the management fee actually cover?
Ask for a written scope that separates work included in the fee, work coordinated for an extra charge, and work left to you. Guest messaging, pricing, listing updates, cleaning coordination and on-site response are separate responsibilities. A promise of full service is easier to evaluate when each responsibility has a named person or team.
Request: an itemized scope, support hours and a list of excluded services.
Which revenue is the fee calculated on?
Two identical percentages can produce different charges. Ask whether the fee applies to accommodation revenue only, or also to cleaning and other guest charges. Confirm how refunds, discounts, platform charges and canceled stays affect the calculation. Compare proposals using the same assumed bookings and expenses rather than comparing percentages alone.
Request: a worked example showing guest payment, each deduction and the resulting owner payout.
Who checks the home between stays?
Ask who confirms that cleaning is complete, checks access instructions, spots missing supplies and reports damage before the next guest arrives. Clarify what happens if the usual cleaner cannot attend. For a home with a pool, hot tub or large outdoor area, ask how those features fit into the turnover plan and which specialist services cost extra.
Request: a turnover checklist, an inspection process and the backup coverage plan.
How are pricing decisions made?
Ask how the manager chooses comparable properties and responds to seasonality, booking lead time and gaps in the calendar. An automated pricing tool is one part of the process; you also need to know who reviews its decisions. Discuss minimum acceptable rates, owner-use dates and how unusual demand or extended vacancies are handled.
Request: a sample pricing review with its assumptions, rather than an unsupported revenue promise.
What happens when a guest needs help?
Separate message response from help at the property. Ask who answers an evening lockout, who can attend a heating issue, and when you would be contacted. For a Michigan vacation home, discuss the arrangements relevant to the property, such as winter access, seasonal systems or a remote location. Do not assume that every manager offers the same local coverage.
Request: the escalation steps, response arrangements and spending approvals for urgent work.
What will I see in my owner statement?
Ask for an anonymized statement that connects reservations to income, fees, refunds, vendor bills and the amount paid to the owner. Confirm the reporting and payout schedule. Discuss how you can ask about an unfamiliar charge and how maintenance approvals are recorded. An occupancy figure alone does not explain what ownership costs or what you receive.
Request: a sample statement, a sample maintenance record and the reporting schedule.
What happens to listings and bookings if I switch?
Before making changes, establish who controls each listing, photography, calendar and account. List upcoming reservations and agree who will communicate with guests and service each stay during a handover. Platform rules and the existing agreement affect the available options; do not assume that listings, reviews or reservations can simply be transferred.
Request: an account-access inventory and a written handover plan before changing permissions or canceling services.
How will we decide whether the arrangement is working?
Agree which outcomes matter to you: clearer reporting, less coordination, better property care or a stronger approach to pricing. Ask how concerns are raised, how often the plan is reviewed and what information supports a proposed change. Discuss the agreement duration, notice requirements and end-of-service responsibilities with the provider before you commit.
Request: a review schedule, agreed priorities and the terms in writing.
BEFORE YOUR FIRST CONVERSATION
Bring three things.
Your property details or current listing, the tasks you want help with, and an example of what is not working today. If you already have a manager, have the current scope and fee schedule available for your own comparison. Avoid sharing guest personal information.
Roava starts with a property-specific review. Fees, local support and the final service scope are confirmed individually; there is no published standard management rate or guaranteed revenue outcome.
Request your free property review