Property Management
The day-to-day operational concepts of running short-term rentals: check-in flows, cleaning, maintenance, guest communication, and house rules.
Airport Transfer
An airport transfer is a pre-arranged transportation service for guests between an airport and a vacation rental property. It is offered as an ancillary…
Back-to-Back Booking
A back-to-back booking is a reservation schedule where a new guest checks in on the same day that the previous guest checks out. This strategy maximizes a…
Blackout Date
A blackout date is a specific day or range of days that a property owner or manager intentionally makes unavailable for booking, typically for personal use…
Booking Buffer
A booking buffer is a set period of unbookable time automatically blocked before and/or after a guest reservation. This practice ensures hosts and cleaning…
Check-in
Check-in is the process by which a guest arrives at a vacation rental and gains access to the property at the start of their reservation. It's a foundational…
Check-in Time
Check-in time is the designated time on the day of arrival from which guests are permitted to enter and occupy a vacation rental property. It is a critical…
Check-out
Check-out is the formal process of a guest concluding their stay and vacating a vacation rental property, which includes departure by a set time and the host's…
Check-out Time
Check-out time is the designated deadline by which a guest must vacate a vacation rental property on their final day, allowing hosts to prepare for the next…
Cleaning Checklist
A cleaning checklist is a room-by-room document that details all tasks required to prepare a vacation rental for guest arrival. It is a critical tool for…
Cleaning Company
A cleaning company is a third-party business that provides professional cleaning services for properties, including vacation rentals. Owners and property…
Cleaning Crew
A cleaning crew is a team of professional cleaners responsible for the cleaning, sanitation, and preparation of a vacation rental property between guest stays…
Cleaning Schedule
A cleaning schedule is a timetable that organizes and assigns cleaning tasks for a vacation rental, ensuring the property is consistently prepared for guest…
Co-Hosting
Co-hosting is a partnership model where a vacation rental owner shares hosting responsibilities and a percentage of the rental income with another person or…
Complaint Handling
Complaint handling is the systematic process hosts use to address and resolve guest issues. It involves receiving, evaluating, and providing solutions for…
Concierge Service
A concierge service offers personalized assistance to vacation rental guests, handling requests like booking tours, making restaurant reservations, and…
Contactless Check-in
Contactless check-in allows vacation rental guests to access a property using technology like smart locks or lockboxes, eliminating the need for in-person key…
Damage Report
A damage report is a formal document detailing any damage to a rental property or its contents found after a guest's stay. This report serves as critical…
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is a periodic, intensive cleaning process that goes beyond a standard turnover clean. It involves thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all areas of…
During-Stay Message
A during-stay message is a communication sent from a host or property manager to a guest partway through their stay. It serves as a proactive check-in to…
Early Check-in
Early check-in is the practice of allowing guests to access a vacation rental property before the standard, specified check-in time, often upon request and…
Essential Amenity
Essential amenities are the fundamental, non-negotiable items guests expect to find in a vacation rental for a functional and comfortable stay. These include…
Grocery Stocking
Grocery stocking is an ancillary service where a host or property manager arranges for groceries to be purchased and put away in the rental property before a…
Guest Screening
Guest screening is the process of verifying a potential guest's identity and background to assess the risk of property damage, fraud, or rule violations.
Handyman
A handyman is a skilled craftsperson responsible for performing a wide range of general repairs and maintenance tasks for a vacation rental property. Their…
Hot Tub Maintenance
Hot tub maintenance refers to the schedule of regular tasks required to keep a hot tub or spa clean, safe, and operational for guests. It encompasses water…
House Manual
A house manual is a guide for guests that explains how to use a property's features, appliances, and amenities, while also outlining important rules and…
House Rules
House rules are a set of guidelines and restrictions established by a host that guests must adhere to during their stay. They cover topics like parties, noise…
HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance involves the regular inspection, cleaning, and servicing of a property's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. For vacation…
ID Verification
ID verification is the process of confirming a guest's legal identity using official documents to enhance security, prevent fraud, and comply with local…
Inventory List
An inventory list is a detailed catalog of all items within a vacation rental property, from furniture and appliances to linens and kitchenware. It is used by…
Issue Resolution
Issue resolution in the vacation rental industry refers to the structured process of addressing and solving guest complaints, maintenance problems, or other…
Key Exchange
Key exchange is the process of transferring keys for a vacation rental from the host or property manager to the guest at the beginning of their stay, and back…
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry refers to any system that allows a guest to unlock a property without a traditional physical key, typically using a numeric code, a smartphone…
Kitchen Equipment
Kitchen equipment refers to the array of appliances, cookware, utensils, and dinnerware provided in a vacation rental for guests to prepare and consume meals…
Landscaping
Landscaping for a vacation rental involves the design, care, and maintenance of all outdoor areas to enhance curb appeal, improve guest experience, and…
Late Check-out
Late check-out is an arrangement that permits guests to vacate a vacation rental property after the standard, pre-set departure time. It can be offered as a…
Laundry Service
A laundry service for vacation rentals is the process of washing, drying, folding, and replenishing all property linens, such as sheets, towels, and duvet…
Linen Service
A linen service is a third-party company that supplies, launders, and manages bed linens, towels, and other textiles for vacation rentals. Outsourcing this…
Linens Provided
Linens provided is a standard vacation rental amenity indicating that the host supplies all necessary bed sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels for guests…
Local Recommendations
Local recommendations are curated suggestions provided by hosts about nearby attractions, restaurants, activities, and services. They help guests experience…
Lockbox
A lockbox is a small, secure container used in the vacation rental industry to store property keys, enabling contactless self-check-in for guests. Hosts…
Lost and Found Policy
A lost and found policy in the vacation rental industry refers to the established procedure for handling personal items that guests leave behind after their…
Maintenance Log
A maintenance log is a detailed record of all maintenance and repair activities performed on a vacation rental property. It helps owners and managers track…
Maintenance Request
A maintenance request is a communication from a guest or staff member alerting a property manager or owner to an issue at a rental property that requires…
Maximum Length of Stay
Maximum Length of Stay (Max LOS) is a booking rule dictating the longest consecutive period a guest can reserve a vacation rental, used by hosts to manage…
Maximum Occupancy
Maximum occupancy refers to the total number of guests, including adults, children, and infants, legally and safely permitted to stay in a vacation rental…
Minimum Length of Stay (MLOS)
A rule set by property managers requiring guests to book a specific number of consecutive nights to confirm a reservation.
Off-Limits Area
An off-limits area is a space within a vacation rental property, such as a closet, room, or garage, that is secured and made inaccessible to guests to store…
Online Check-in
Online check-in is a digital process that allows guests to complete pre-arrival formalities, such as identification submission, rental agreement signatures…
Pest Control
Pest control is the process of managing, preventing, and eliminating pests from a vacation rental property to ensure guest safety, comfort, and property…
Pool Maintenance
Pool maintenance involves the regular upkeep and cleaning of a swimming pool at a vacation rental property. This includes cleaning, chemical balancing, and…
Post-Departure Inspection
A post-departure inspection is the process of thoroughly checking a vacation rental property for damage, missing items, and cleanliness after a guest checks…
Post-Stay Message
A post-stay message is a communication sent to guests after their departure. It primarily serves to thank them, request feedback or a public review, and…
Pre-Arrival Inspection
A pre-arrival inspection is a final quality control check of a vacation rental property, conducted shortly before a new guest checks in. This process ensures…
Pre-Stay Message
A pre-stay message is a communication sent to guests after they book but before they arrive, containing essential information for their upcoming stay, such as…
Premium Amenity
A premium amenity is a non-essential but highly desirable feature or service in a vacation rental that enhances the guest experience and allows hosts to…
Preparation Time Before Arrival (PTBA)
Preparation Time Before Arrival (PTBA) is a calendar setting that automatically blocks a specific period of time immediately before a guest's check-in. This…
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is the practice of regularly and proactively servicing property assets, systems, and equipment to prevent failures, reduce costly…
Property Inspection
A property inspection is a systematic check of a vacation rental to assess its condition, identify maintenance needs, and ensure it's ready for guests or has…
Property Onboarding
Property onboarding is the systematic process a vacation rental manager uses to integrate a new property into their management portfolio, preparing it for…
Property Walk-Through
A property walk-through is a guided tour provided by a host or property manager to a guest upon arrival. Its purpose is to familiarize the guest with the…
Quiet Hours
A defined period during which guests are required to minimize noise to avoid disturbing neighbors. Quiet hours are a standard part of house rules, crucial for…
Reactive Maintenance
Reactive maintenance, also known as breakdown or corrective maintenance, is the practice of repairing assets and equipment only after they have failed. In…
Restocking Checklist
A restocking checklist is a document used by vacation rental hosts, managers, or cleaning crews to ensure all consumable items in a property are replenished to…
Same-Day Turnover
Same-day turnover refers to the process where one guest checks out and another checks in on the same calendar day. This practice maximizes occupancy and…
Self Check-in
Self check-in is a process that allows guests to access a vacation rental property upon arrival without needing to meet the host or a staff member in person.
Smart Lock
A smart lock is an electromechanical lock that allows keyless entry to a property using a smartphone, keypad code, or other digital credential.
Special Request
A special request is a non-standard service or item asked for by a vacation rental guest to enhance their stay. These requests can range from simple inquiries…
Standard Amenity
Standard amenities are the essential items and services that guests expect to be included in a vacation rental for a comfortable stay. These foundational…
Standard Cleaning
Standard cleaning refers to the essential cleaning tasks performed in a vacation rental between guest stays. This routine process ensures the property is…
Toiletries
Toiletries are the personal hygiene and grooming products provided by hosts for guest use in a vacation rental. Supplying these items is a fundamental aspect…
Turnover
Turnover is the comprehensive process of preparing a vacation rental property for a new guest immediately after a previous guest has departed. This includes…
Turnover Cleaning
Turnover cleaning refers to the comprehensive cleaning and preparation process of a vacation rental property that takes place between the departure of one…
Turnover Day
A turnover day is the period between one guest checking out and the next guest checking in, during which the vacation rental property is cleaned, restocked…
Turnover Day Buffer
A turnover day buffer is a setting that automatically blocks one or more empty nights on a rental calendar before and/or after a booking, ensuring adequate…
Vendor Management
Vendor management is the process of sourcing, managing, and paying third-party service providers who maintain and operate a vacation rental property. This…
Welcome Basket
A welcome basket is a curated collection of items provided by a host to greet guests upon arrival at a vacation rental. This thoughtful gesture is designed to…
Welcome Letter
A welcome letter is a personalized document left in a vacation rental for guests upon their arrival. It provides a warm greeting, essential property…
Welcome Package
A welcome package is a collection of items provided to guests upon their arrival at a vacation rental. It's a gesture of hospitality intended to enhance the…
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