Property basics
- Write down the city, county, and exact property type.
- List bedroom count, guest count, and whether the home is already active.
- Note HOA, condo, or community rules that affect rentals.
- Gather recent listing links, photos, and any house manuals already in use.
Day-to-day pain points
- List the top three things that keep breaking down.
- Be honest about whether the problem is pricing, cleanings, maintenance, or guest communication.
- Write down which vendors are dependable and which ones are not.
- Note any recurring complaints from guests or issues between bookings.
Numbers to pull together
- Average nightly rate or target rate range.
- Occupancy pattern by season.
- Cleaning cost per turnover.
- Known maintenance expenses or repeat repair issues.
Questions to ask a manager
- Who handles guest issues after hours?
- How are turnovers checked before the next arrival?
- How are maintenance issues documented and followed through?
- How often will I hear from you as the owner?
- What usually has to be fixed first when a new home comes on?
Florida-specific checks
- Confirm local rules for the city and county.
- Review insurance with the property’s real rental use in mind.
- Think through storm prep, vendor backup, and guest communication during weather events.
- Check whether the market behaves more like a beach, urban, resort, or residential stay.
Before the first call
The goal is not to create paperwork. The goal is to walk into the conversation with enough clarity to tell whether a manager is actually the right fit for your home.