Frequently Asked Questions
Partnership & Services
Each situation is unique, and the most accurate assessment can be made by visiting the property in person. If an in-person visit isn’t possible, we can use the property’s address and layout to gather a general overview of the area through Airdna. However, please note that this may not provide a fully accurate picture, as every property has its own distinct features and condition.
First, you’ll need to prepare the essential furniture, appliances, and supplies for your short-term rental, as well as set up utilities such as water, electricity, gas, and internet. Next, arrange for a cleaning to ensure the property is guest-ready, including making the beds and placing necessary consumables. After that, book a photographer to capture high-quality images of the property. Finally, gather all the required materials for the ingoing process and list the property online. Once the listing is live, you’re all set to start running your short-term rental.
A quick reminder: If the property is located in New South Wales or Queensland, be sure to check with the strata before preparing the furniture and appliances, as they may have specific regulations or restrictions on short-term rentals.
Absolutely! You can use your own furniture.
Of course! Our styling team is happy to assist with designing, purchasing, and setting up your furniture and decor. The total styling cost generally includes the purchase price, design fee, and installation & transportation costs.
At the moment, our company does not offer furniture rental services. Homeowners can either purchase the items themselves using our essentials checklist or choose to have our styling department handle the purchasing for them.
In New South Wales and Queensland, there are clear regulations that require apartments and townhouses to comply with strata by-laws for short-term rental operations. Therefore, it’s important to adhere to these regulations. As a licensed agency, we are committed to following all legal requirements and cannot operate outside of these guidelines.
While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of property damage, short-term rentals generally offer better maintenance than long-term rentals. Since guests typically stay for just a few days or weeks, we have cleaners visit after each checkout to thoroughly clean and inspect the property. Any issues are usually identified and addressed promptly, helping to maintain the property’s condition more effectively than in long-term rentals.
The 180-day limit is a regulation specific to New South Wales (NSW). It applies to bookings of fewer than 21 days, with the total number of such bookings not exceeding 180 days in a calendar year. However, bookings longer than 21 days do not count toward this 180-day limit, so it’s not strictly limited to six months. Other states do not currently have any regulations regarding the number of rental days.
Earnings & Payments
The initial cleaning fee before the property is listed is covered by the homeowner, as the property needs to be prepared for its first guest. Once the property is listed, the cleaning fee is paid by the guests. We include the cleaning fee in the property listing, so when a guest makes a booking, the cleaning fee is collected along with the booking payment. After the guest checks out, we use the cleaning fee they paid to arrange for a cleaning service to prepare the property for the next guest.
Likehome provides a Monthly Statement, with earnings from the previous month settled by the 10th of each month.
The earnings from the property are influenced by factors such as the property type, condition, furniture setup, and location. Could you share the address and layout details? Alternatively, let us know a convenient time for us to visit the property in person—we can provide a more accurate assessment after seeing it firsthand.
Our Full Management service is charged at 18% + GST, while the Online Management option is 10% + GST. These are our standard rates, allowing you to select the management model that best fits your needs.
Short-term rental prices vary, making it challenging to assess value based on a single night’s rate. Instead, we typically use annual revenue estimates to provide a more accurate picture of the property’s earning potential.
Likehome does not have minimum contract requirement. So as long as there is no future reservation, Client can take the property back anytime for own use.
Guest Experience & Support
We recommend homeowners start by purchasing dedicated short-term rental insurance to provide extra protection against guest-related damages. Additionally, Airbnb offers its own platform-specific protection, AirCover, which helps compensate for damages caused by guests. Our team supports homeowners throughout the claims process, handling documentation and communication to ensure a smooth resolution.
Here’s how we manage the bins: if there are guests staying, we’ll remind them to take the bins out on collection day. If the property is vacant, we’ll arrange for our cleaners or on-site staff to handle it.
Lawn care and garden maintenance are the homeowner’s responsibility. You’re welcome to use your own gardener, or if you prefer, we can arrange for a professional to handle it regularly on your behalf.
Pool maintenance is the homeowner’s responsibility. You’re welcome to hire your own pool technician, or if preferred, we can arrange for a professional to handle it regularly on your behalf.
Utilities are the homeowner’s responsibility. Operating a short-term rental is similar to running a small hotel, requiring essential services such as water, electricity, gas, and internet to be provided for guests.
It depends on the platform the booking comes from. Airbnb bookings do not require a deposit, whereas bookings from platforms like Booking.com, Stayz, and others typically include a deposit. Generally, the deposit is $500 for 1-2 bedroom properties, $700 for 3-bedroom properties, and $1,000 to $1,500 for properties with 4 or more bedrooms.
Our short-term rentals are managed through Airbnb or other platforms. If a guest triggers the smoke alarm and incurs a fine, we will submit a request to Airbnb for the guest to cover the penalty. Once Airbnb approves, the amount will be deducted from the guest’s account. However, landlords must provide the fine invoice within 14 days of the guest’s checkout; otherwise, Airbnb will not process the fine claim.
Yes, arranging repairs for homeowners is one of the services included in our property management package.
Each time a guest checks out, our cleaning partners will clean and inspect the property, take photos, and report its condition to us. The property manager conducts a routine inspection every 3 months. If any special issues arise, the property manager will visit the property for an inspection, scheduled based on the specific situation.
