Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started is simple! Schedule a free consultation call where we’ll discuss your property and goals. If we’re a good fit, we’ll walk you through our onboarding process and can prepare an income projection for your property if you’d like one. Most properties are live within 2–3 weeks.

We manage a variety of vacation rental properties including single-family homes, cabins, condos, and townhouses. Our focus is on properties in Arkansas (Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, and Newton County), Missouri (Branson, St. Charles, and McDonald County), and Florida (Orlando area). If you’re unsure whether your property is a good fit, just ask!

Yes, vacation rentals should be fully furnished and guest-ready. However, we can provide guidance on furnishing and even help coordinate with local vendors if you’re setting up a new property—additional charges may apply for coordination services. We’ll advise on amenities that guests in your market expect.

Typically 2–3 weeks from signed agreement to going live. This includes professional photography, listing creation, pricing setup, and system integration. If your property is already operating as a short-term rental, we’re often able to get it ready and live within just a few days. We work efficiently to get your property earning as quickly as possible.

We charge a flat 25% management commission on your property’s nightly booking revenue (Base Rate)—you only pay when you earn. Cleaning fees are charged separately to guests at our actual cost (not as a profit center) and are retained by Weekender to cover turnover cleaning and consumable restocking. Our full-service management includes an in-house maintenance team at $50/hr, and outside vendor work is billed at cost plus a 10% coordination fee. See our Management Agreement for the full pricing details.

We believe in being upfront about costs. There is a one-time $500 onboarding fee that covers the time and effort involved in setting up your property. There is also an upfront deposit ($950 standard, or $100 if you’re coming from another management company) that covers out-of-pocket setup expenses like professional photography and smart locks—any unused portion is credited back to your account. If you elect our one-year term, the $950 deposit is waived entirely. Beyond that, our management fee is commission-based, so you only pay when you earn.

We initiate payouts weekly—faster than most property managers, who pay monthly. Earnings are deposited every week your account has a positive balance of funds you’ve already earned from completed stays. Some weeks your property may have a completed stay but also have expenses that offset those earnings—in that case, the payout waits until the balance is positive again. In all cases, payouts go out at least once per month.

Yes, cleaning fees are separate from the management commission and are not deducted from your nightly rental revenue. Each guest pays a cleaning fee as part of their booking, sized at our actual turnover cost rather than as a profit center. Weekender retains that fee to cover professional turnover cleaning and replenishing standard consumables between stays—so you never pay out of pocket for routine cleaning.

Yes! Our one-year term option waives the $950 startup deposit entirely. The standard $950 deposit is an advance against startup costs like your smart lock, storage lock, professional photography, and initial consumables—any unused balance is credited back to your account. With the one-year term, we cover those onboarding costs for you. Ask us about this option during your consultation.

We handle the collection, reporting, and remittance of all required occupancy taxes (sales, lodging, and tourist taxes) on your booking revenue for $20 per month per listing. You remain responsible for your own income taxes, property taxes, and any other taxes unrelated to booking revenue. We provide tax-ready financial statements to make filing easy.

We hold a $500 maintenance reserve per property to cover any maintenance or necessary expenses that arise between payouts. This ensures we can address issues promptly without waiting for funds. If your account balance dips below $500, your payout may be reduced to replenish it. Upon termination of your agreement, any remaining reserve funds are refunded within 90 days.

It’s your property! You get up to 30 calendar days and 8 weekend days per year at no additional management charge—just block off the dates in your owner portal. The standard cleaning fee applies after each owner stay. If you’d like unlimited personal use beyond the included days, we offer a $99/month option to cover ongoing platform management and guest inquiry handling. Many of our owners use their properties several times a year with no issues.

We coordinate professional cleaning after every guest checkout and conduct regular property inspections. For maintenance issues, we have an in-house maintenance team that handles most minor repairs and routine work. For specialized issues—HVAC, plumbing, electrical, appliance repair, and similar—we coordinate with trusted outside vendors. Either way, we keep you informed throughout.

We use dynamic pricing technology that analyzes market demand, local events, seasonality, and competitor rates in real time. Beyond the algorithm, our revenue team manually evaluates pricing and pacing on a daily basis and adjusts strategy where the data calls for it. This combination means your rates capture maximum revenue during high-demand periods while staying competitive during slower times.

We distribute your property across all major platforms including Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, and our own direct booking website. Multi-platform distribution maximizes your visibility and booking potential.

We coordinate supply restocking and can manage your linen program. Some owners prefer to provide their own linens while others opt for a linen service. When linens, towels, or similar items wear out and need to be replaced, the cost of the replacements is billed back to your account. We’ll discuss the best approach for your property during onboarding.

By default, we establish pet-friendly policies to maximize your property’s revenue potential and set appropriate pet fees. Industry data from Key Data shows pet-friendly listings earn higher average daily rates and capture stronger demand than non-pet listings. If you prefer not to allow pets, you can let us know when signing your agreement—but please be aware that restricting pets can significantly reduce booking volume and will void eligibility for our Income Guarantee. Service animals and assistance animals are accommodated in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

We handle all guest communication 24/7—from initial inquiries through checkout and beyond, including post-stay review follow-up. This includes answering questions, providing check-in instructions, resolving issues during stays, and following up for reviews. You never have to be on call.

Our team is available 24/7 to handle any issues. Most problems are resolved quickly by our guest support team, and for emergencies we dispatch the appropriate help and keep you informed. Your guests always have someone to call, and so do you.

We respond professionally to all reviews and work to resolve any issues that may have caused a negative experience. Our proactive communication style means most problems are addressed before they become review complaints. That said, occasional negative reviews are inevitable in this business—even for the best-run properties—so our goal is to minimize them and respond constructively when they happen. Our portfolio maintains consistently high ratings overall.

Your property is protected through booking-platform damage programs (such as Airbnb’s AirCover) and through our own Accidental Damage Protection Program, which provides up to $10,000/year in coverage (up to $2,500 per incident). Our program is not insurance—it’s a courtesy service we provide as part of our management offering, and we may modify or discontinue it at any time. We document your property’s condition regularly, and if damage occurs, we handle the entire claims process. For significant issues, we’ll coordinate repairs and keep you informed throughout. See Attachment C of our Management Agreement for full terms.

We typically utilize the damage protection programs offered by booking platforms rather than traditional security deposits. This provides broader coverage and a smoother booking experience for guests while still protecting your property.

Prevention starts with the booking platforms’ guest verification processes. We require agreement to clear house rules and enforce minimum stay requirements on peak dates that statistically attract party bookings. Owners may also choose to install noise monitoring devices at their property (where permitted by law), which we’ll work with to flag issues early. If a problem does occur, our house rules are clear about consequences and we don’t hesitate to involve local authorities when needed.

There’s no fixed term—after any initial commitment period, your agreement continues month to month. If you decide to move on, we ask for 90 days’ written notice. This period allows us to honor existing reservations, properly transition the property, and ensure a smooth handoff. We’re confident in our results, which is why we don’t lock you into multi-year commitments.

Our agreement covers all aspects of vacation rental management: listing creation, pricing optimization, guest communication, cleaning coordination, maintenance oversight, and financial reporting. Everything you need for hands-off ownership.

Yes, we manage all short-term rental bookings for properties in our portfolio. This ensures consistent quality, pricing optimization, and seamless guest experiences. You retain the right to use your property personally and can terminate with proper notice.

We’re confident in our ability to perform. If your property doesn’t meet the AirDNA-projected income during its first year with us, we’ll credit you the difference—up to $5,000—toward future management commissions. The guarantee applies to the first year only and requires that the property remain continuously available, allow pets, and not have a minimum nightly rate elected. Full details are in our Management Agreement.