Owner guide · Fees
Vacation rental management fees in Washington: what owners actually pay
We manage 29 short-term rentals in Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks, so we sit on the other side of this conversation every week. Here is how management pricing is normally structured on the Olympic Peninsula, what each model really includes, and the questions that expose the difference between a 15% quote and a 20% quote that costs you less.
The four structures
How managers price the work
Ranges below are what owners commonly see quoted in Washington. They are a comparison guide, not our rate card — we quote after we have seen the home.
Full-service management
commonly 15–30% of nightly revenue
Pricing, listing management on Airbnb and Vrbo, 24/7 guest communication, housekeeping coordination, linens, maintenance, hot tub care, lodging tax filing and monthly owner statements.
Whether the percentage is taken on gross booking revenue or on net after platform fees — the same headline number can mean very different money.
Co-hosting only
commonly 8–15% of nightly revenue
Listing setup, messaging and calendar work. The owner keeps cleaning, maintenance and taxes.
Who handles a 9pm plumbing failure. On the west end of the Peninsula, remote co-hosting falls apart fastest here.
Flat monthly fee
a fixed amount per home per month
A defined scope regardless of how the home performs.
The manager has no financial reason to raise your revenue. In a seasonal market like ours, that misalignment is expensive.
Guest-paid fees
cleaning and pet fees billed to the guest
Turnovers, linens and restocking, paid by the booking rather than by you.
Whether cleaning is billed at cost or marked up, and whether it is charged again to you at month end.
Our rate
25%
of nightly revenue · full service
One number, no tiers. It covers dynamic pricing, Airbnb and Vrbo listing management, 24/7 guest communication, housekeeping and linen coordination, maintenance and property care, lodging and sales tax filing, and a monthly owner statement that shows every line. Guest-paid cleaning fees are billed to the booking, not to you.
See what your home would earnBefore you sign
Six questions worth asking in writing
Is the percentage on gross or net revenue?
Gross means the fee is calculated before Airbnb and Vrbo take their cut. Ask for one sample month written both ways.
What is billed on top of the percentage?
Get a written list: onboarding, photography, linen replacement, supply restocking, maintenance markup, hot tub chemicals, snow or storm response, off-season checks.
Who pays for maintenance labor?
Some managers bill their own labor at an hourly rate on top of commission. Others include routine fixes. Both are fine — surprises are not.
Is lodging tax registration, collection and remittance included?
Washington state sales tax and local lodging tax apply to stays under 30 nights. Filing is either included or it lands on you in April.
How long is the contract and how do I leave?
Ask for the notice period and what happens to bookings already on the calendar when you exit.
What does the monthly statement actually show?
You should see every booking, every deduction and every expense line, not a single net number.
Common questions
- How much do vacation rental property managers charge in Washington?
- Full-service short-term rental management commonly runs 15–30% of nightly revenue, while listing-only co-hosting typically runs 8–15%. The spread depends on what is included: cleaning coordination, linens, maintenance labor, hot tub service, tax filing and how far the manager has to drive.
- What does ONP Vacation Rentals charge?
- 25% of nightly revenue, full service. That covers dynamic pricing, Airbnb and Vrbo listing management, 24/7 guest communication, housekeeping and linen coordination, maintenance and property care, lodging and sales tax filing, and monthly owner statements. Send us the address and we will return a written revenue projection so you can see the number in context.
- Is a management fee worth it compared with self-managing?
- It depends on your distance and your time. Owners who live off the Peninsula usually lose more to cancelled stays, bad reviews and flat pricing than the management fee costs. Owners who live nearby and enjoy the work can absolutely self-manage.
- Do management fees come out before or after platform fees?
- That varies by company, so it is the first question to ask. We show every deduction on the monthly statement so gross, platform fees, our fee and your payout are all visible.
Want the number for your home?
Send us the address. You get a written revenue projection, our fee stated plainly, and a candid list of what we would improve first — no obligation.