How to choose the right property manager: the owner's checklist

Entrusting your home to a property manager is an act of trust: you hand over the keys, your guests and part of your income. The good news is that choosing well doesn't take intuition: it takes method. This is the checklist we'd use ourselves.

1. Check they're genuinely present in your area

Managing holiday homes is a local trade: turnovers, surprises, suppliers, keys. Ask how many properties they look after in your area (not in general) and who physically does the check-ins and cleaning: an in-house team or subcontractors? With what backup if someone falls ill at the peak of the summer?

2. Look at results, not promises

• Average occupancy of properties similar to yours, with numbers and not adjectives
• How they set prices: dynamic pricing tools or a fixed rate card?
• Reviews: those of the properties they manage (Airbnb/Booking) and those of the owners who chose them
• How long they've been doing this and how many homes they started with

3. Get the fee explained all the way down

Two property managers at 20% can cost you very different amounts. Is the fee calculated on the gross booking or net of OTA commissions? Who keeps the cleaning fee paid by the guest? Are there activation costs, monthly minimums, exit penalties? A serious professional puts it all in writing before you sign — we covered it in detail in the guide to fees.

4. The red flags

• Promises guaranteed occupancy or revenue without having seen the home
• Won't let you speak to any owner who's already a client
• A contract with long exclusivity and disproportionate exit penalties
• Vague reporting: if you don't understand how much you earn and why, don't sign
• No insurance cover for damage during stays

5. Compare at least three offers

The fastest way: on Keyo, property managers' profiles show the area served, included services, property types handled, stated fees and — the part that sets us apart — verified owner reviews, left only by real clients with an email-confirmed identity. Alternatively, post your request for free and let the property managers in your area come to you: applications arrive with profile and terms already visible.

Last rule, the most important: the lowest fee is rarely the best deal. A property manager who brings you 20% more revenue is worth more than one who costs you 3% less. Choose the professional, not the discount.