The things owners actually ask.
Including the uncomfortable ones. If something you need isn't here, call and ask.
Basics
What exactly is cohosting?
We run the property — listings, pricing, guests, turnovers and maintenance — while you keep ownership of the accounts and receive guest funds directly. We're a hospitality and marketing agent, not a property manager holding your money.
How is that different from a property manager?
A manager typically holds the accounts, collects the rents and applies one operating standard across a large portfolio. We do the opposite on all three counts, and we cap the book so the standard survives.
Where do you work?
Door County, Wisconsin. Realistically the southern and central peninsula, because we visit every property personally.
How many properties will you take?
Five in this first year. It's a real ceiling, not a marketing device.
Money
What does it cost?
20% of gross rents plus a $199 monthly retainer — $22,388 a year on a property grossing $100,000. On-site work beyond the included scope is $45 an hour with travel. See pricing.
Who pays for cleaning?
Cleaning is charged to the guest as a separate fee, as it is on almost every listing. You're not out of pocket for guest turnovers.Confirm
When do I get paid?
Airbnb and Vrbo pay you directly on their own schedules. We invoice you monthly, by the 5th, for the prior month.Confirm
Who pays for repairs?
You do — it's your asset. We never spend more than $500 on your behalf without your approval, and preventive inspection work is inside the retainer.Confirm
Is there a setup fee?
$995 once, covering cohost setup, the listing rebuild, your direct booking site and sales page, and installation of the guest technology. Hardware is billed at cost with no markup and belongs to you. Waived entirely for the five founding properties, hardware included.
What's the retainer actually paying for?
The StayReady maintenance layer — the same 200-point protocol a self-managing owner buys at $159 a month, plus priority response and the annual Property Fresh service. It's charged separately so the preventive work can't quietly stop happening in a slow season.
Your property
Can I still use my own cottage?
Yes, whenever you want — and you don't have to ask us. Your OwnerRez owner portal shows your calendar, bookings and statements, and you can block your own dates from it directly. We'll tell you honestly what a peak-season block costs in revenue, and then it's your call.Confirm
Do I need to change anything before we start?
Usually a few things — the baseline assessment finds them. Most are small and most pay for themselves inside a season.
Who owns the direct-booking site and the brand?
You do. If you leave, it goes with you, along with the domain and the guest list.Confirm
What about hardware you install?
Locks, sensors and similar equipment installed at your cost belong to you and stay with the property.Confirm
Guests
Who screens guests?
We do, on every booking, using platform verification plus our own rules on party risk, local bookings and group composition.Confirm
Is there anything binding the guest beyond the platform's terms?
Yes. Every guest signs a rental agreement through OwnerRez before arrival, on top of Airbnb's or Vrbo's terms. Platform terms are an agreement between the guest and the platform; this one is between the guest and you, which is what you want if a stay goes wrong.Confirm
What happens if a guest damages something?
We document it, file the platform claim, and manage the repair. Recovery beyond the platform's cover depends on the deposit and insurance arrangements set out in your agreement.Confirm
Do you allow pets?
Your call, per property. Pet fees are revenue to you and pet stays are billed a higher clean.Confirm
Who answers a guest at 11pm?
We do — a person, not an autoresponder. The booking flow, guidebook and door code are all digital because guests prefer it that way, but when something is actually wrong a human answers.
Where will my property be listed?
Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Google Vacation Rentals and its own direct booking site, kept in sync. All of it under your accounts.
Care and maintenance
What is StayReady?
Our sister operation — the preventive maintenance and inspection system that runs the 200-point checklist. It's the reason we can perform maintenance rather than only coordinate it.
How often is the property inspected?
On a scheduled cadence through the season plus a full inspection at open and close, with a photographic record you can see.Confirm
What if something breaks mid-stay?
We handle it, on site, usually the same day. That's the point of being local.
Door County rules
Do I need a licence?
Yes — Wisconsin requires a tourist rooming house licence, and most Door County municipalities add their own short-term rental permit. We track both.
What about room tax?
Door County levies room tax, and Wisconsin sales tax applies. Platforms collect some of it and not all of it; we keep the calendar straight.Confirm
Are there occupancy limits?
Frequently, and they vary by municipality. We check yours before setting the listing capacity.
Starting and leaving
How long does it take to start?
About 21 days from signing to an open calendar. See how it works.
Is there a contract term?
Month to month, 30 days' notice either way.Confirm
What if you take on my competitor down the road?
With a five-property cap and a deliberate spread across the county, direct comp-set overlap is something we manage rather than pretend away. We'll tell you before it happens.
What happens if I sell the property?
The agreement ends with the sale. The brand and site transfer with the home if the buyer wants them.Confirm
Answers marked Confirm reflect our intended policy and are being finalised in the written service agreement. Ask before you rely on one.
