FAQ

What services does First Stay provide?
Can I still use the property myself?
Which platforms do you list on?

We list where the buyers are. Our priority is securing prime placement on the industry’s dominant marketplaces—Airbnb and Booking.com—which drive the vast majority of global traffic. We also monitor niche platforms and syndicate your listing elsewhere if the data suggests it will drive actual revenue, not just vanity views.
Do you screen the guests?

We filter by price, not permission. While we can manually vet every guest, we advise against it. In the modern market, guests want “Instant Book.” Making them wait for approval sends them to your competitors. Instead, we use a premium pricing strategy. High rates naturally attract a more respectful demographic, allowing us to maximize occupancy without sacrificing guest quality.

How do I get paid?
What are your management fees?

We charge a flat 20% management fee on the nightly rental rate.

We don’t believe in “menu pricing.” Beyond your initial Onboarding Fee and specific hardware costs (such as smart locks or noise detectors), there are no other charges.

Unlike agencies that quote a lower base rate (e.g., 15%) but then add monthly “admin fees,” “marketing levies,” or mark up your maintenance invoices, our 20% fee is all-inclusive. It covers the entire scope of operations—guest communication, marketing, pricing strategy, and coordination—so you aren’t surprised by hidden costs on your monthly statement.

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Why is there an Early Termination Fee?

We view this as a long-term partnership. We absorb significant costs upfront—including professional onboarding, dynamic pricing calibration, and ranking strategies—that are not covered by the initial setup fee. The Early Termination Fee simply recovers this investment if the agreement ends within the first 12 months.
Why do I pay tradespeople directly?

We operate on a “Zero Markup” model. We do not hold an Owner Trust Account. This ensures 100% transparency. When a plumber or electrician is needed, you see the original invoice from the tradesperson, not a marked-up line item from us. You maintain full visibility over your asset’s expenses.

Who pays for the cleaning?

Technically, the guest pays. However, we use a strategic approach to maximize your profit. To rank your property higher in search algorithms, we sometimes charge the guest a lower “visible” cleaning fee. If the actual cost of the cleaner is higher than what the guest paid, we invoice you for the shortfall. While this creates a small expense, the increase in booking volume and search visibility typically outweighs this cost significantly.
How do you handle linens?
What happens if something breaks?

We handle the headache; you handle the approval. For minor repairs (under our agreed limit), we organize the fix immediately to ensure the guest experience isn’t impacted. For larger repairs, we contact you for approval first. We coordinate the access and the trade, and you pay the invoice directly.

Do I need specific insurance?
Doesn't Airbnb "AirCover" protect me?
Who owns the photography?

First Stay retains the copyright to all media created during onboarding. We curate these assets to match our specific brand aesthetic. The Onboarding Fee covers the logistics of the launch, but the intellectual property remains with us. If we part ways, the media remains with First Stay to ensure brand consistency across our portfolio.

Privacy Policy Summary At First Stay, we are committed to protecting your data.