It’s no secret that Short Term Rental companies charge fees to their guests. But, did you ever wonder exactly what all those fees are for?  I’m sure there are many people who think property managers charge unnecessary fees just to line their pockets.  The truth of the matter is it’s very expensive to operate a successful short term rental property management company.

At Saltwater Grande, the fees are always displayed during the entire booking process, so there is never a surprise when it comes to the bottom line.

Here is a look at some of the things Saltwater Grande’s fees pay for:

 

Cleaning Fee:

Bed Linens (cleaning, sanitizing and processing)

Terry Products (towels, washcloths, beach towels, hand towels, bath mats & kitchen towels)

Paper Products (trash can liners, paper towels, soaps, toilet paper, dishwasher tabs, dish soap)

Cleaner

Inspector

Cleaning Products

Gift bag & Contents

Laundering comforters, pillows, shower curtains, etc.

 

Accommodation Services Fee:

Damage Waiver Insurance

DACK (Concierge App)

Keyless Entry Monthly Lock Monitoring Fees

Guest Ranger (Virtual Check-in Fee for ID and Credit Card Verification)

Credit Card Processing Fee

 

Booking Fee:

Dynamic Pricing Fee (Beyond)

Booking Insight Fee (Airbnb and vrbo comparison tool on website)

Booking Software Fee (Streamline)

 

OTA Fee: 

Distribution Channel Fee (Airbnb, vrbo, Home2Go)

 

The short term rental  industry grows more competitive every year, and as you can see, a lot goes into making all the wheels turn in today’s vacation rental market.  Short term rental fees are a necessary part of giving guests a great experience.  However, there are ways to cut down on some of these types of fees.   Booking directly with a short term rental property management company that is local in the area you want to visit can eliminate both the service fee that distribution channels charge as well as the OTA fee charged by the rental company.  There are other advantages to booking direct.  Most importantly, you will have a live person who is familiar with the property and local area attractions to contact with questions.

So, if you find yourself wondering why short term rental companies charge so many fees, most reputable companies are happy to explain the added benefits that these fees allow them to provide their guests.  In most cases you actually do get what you pay for!