Owner FAQ

Rates and fees are based on the services required, but our typical STR management commission rates range between 25-30% of gross revenue. We also charge on average a $499 start-up fee and split the cost of the $599 annual VRBO listing subscription with the owner. For services that go above and beyond what we would consider to be within the normal scope of STR management, we charge a rate of $45 per hour and mark up maintenance, remodeling, or handyman invoices by 10%.

We are a full-service company that offers customized services tailored to each property’s specific needs. Generally, the following items are included: online listing management, general marketing, pricing and length of stay adjustments, all guest communications, guest check-in and check-outs, coordination of cleaners, maintaining basic inventory, processing guest damage claims, record keeping, monthly financial statements, 1099 document preparation, emergency contact/local agent designation and 24 hour “on call” customer care, routine and emergency maintenance coordination, STR ordinance compliance, use of technologies/systems and software to coordinate the listing across multiple platforms, non-professional photos, bi-annual inspection, occasional cleanliness spot checks, etc.

We partner with local cleaning companies to service each individual property. Since cleaning is one of the most important aspects of the guest experience, we try to pair each property with a cleaner that is best suited to the needs of that unit. We have relationships with big corporate companies as well as smaller, independently owned cleaning companies and find both offer different advantages. We provide a cleaning guide and contract as well as training and feedback to all our cleaners as they become an extension of our team. We rely on them to follow our protocols, report back on damages, update us on supplies that may be needed soon, and provide photos after their clean. Cleaning rates are established by the cleaning company and paid for by the guest. The owner is responsible for “deep clean” fees which may include: carpet cleaning, dry cleaning comforters, walls, windows, blinds, fans, registers, grills, baseboards, and any “add-on” cleaning fee that may be charged by the cleaner.

Yes, all licensed real estate agents can receive $350 for each short-term rental property they refer to RMO that signs with us.

Streamline OwnerX App gives owners easy access to their calendars and statements and is the easiest way to make owner reservations or blocks as needed.
PriceLabs Revenue Management and Dynamic Pricing Tool is used in conjunction with our own market expertise and our owner’s input to establish a pricing strategy that fits the needs of each property, track market changes, and automatically adjust pricing in real time to adjust to market trends and give our properties a competitive advantage.
Safely STR Insurance is force damage insurance that is paid for by the guest which provides up to $5,000 of damage coverage per reservation for up to 119 nights. Safely also provides guest screening and identification services. Note: Guest screening and identification verification are not required for a guest to rent our property. We do at least ask each guest to complete it, which helps to further safeguard your investment.

Thuro Accounting is the company we use to help audit and send out owners’ statements, make distributions, send owner 1099s, and manage our other day-to-day financial recording needs.

AirDNA is another tool that we use to track current and historical data for booking trends in each region.

Rentometer is a database of long-term rental market trends in each area and is used to help determine possible rental rates given the type of property, size of property, and property location.

No! Simply log into Streamline’s OwnerX app and block whatever dates you wish to reserve for personal time. We do ask that owners keep us informed of their plans to stay at the property and require all visits to be scheduled.

It is up to the owner whether they have the home professionally cleaned or clean it themselves at the end of their stay. That being said, we hold owners to the same standards we hold our cleaning crews to and require them to follow our cleaning guide.

Most of our properties follow one of these two cancellation policies. Additionally, if a guest cancels within 48 hours of booking we will typically honor a 100% refund.  

If your property is located in Grand Traverse, Benzie, or Antrim County we are required to collect and pay a 5% lodging tax to Traverse City Tourism. We pass this fee on to the guest to be paid when they book their reservation.

We currently market our listings on Airbnb, VRBO and its affiliates, vacationrmo.com, and Facebook. We also direct market listings to our extensive network of local brokers and real estate professionals. Each property is evaluated for additional marketing opportunities that are unique to that specific unit like adding the listing to Furnished Finders, doing a print advertisement, or creating a Google Business page.

Many of our owners have spaces in their homes set aside and secured for their own personal or the cleaner’s use. This may be a cupboard, closet, garage, or an entire room.

In regard to short-term rentals amenities, décor, and updated furnishing mean everything and help to create the overall draw which causes guests to book. The more amenities you can offer, the better your listing will be positioned for success. Here are the top searchable amenities offered by all the big-name OTAs: Wireless Internet, Air Conditioning, Central Heat, Pet-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Kitchen, Parking, Washer, Dryer, Cable TV, Hot Tub, and Pool. We highly recommend installing keyless entry that can be controlled remotely by an app as well.