Most property management companies give you a vague "we'll take care of everything." Here's the actual 90-day process we follow — every step, every timeline, and exactly what you need to do versus what we handle for you.
The onboarding process is most efficient when you come prepared. None of these are hard requirements — we'll help you gather anything missing — but having this ready on day one cuts 1–2 weeks off your timeline.
From your first consultation to a fully optimized listing — here's the realistic timeline. Most properties go live within 3–4 weeks. The remaining weeks are about optimization, not setup.
What you do: Attend the consultation. Share strata rules, existing LTR rent, and any relevant documents.
What you do: Be available for the photo shoot. Ensure the unit is furnished and staged to show condition.
What you do: Review and approve the listing before it goes live. Confirm your owner-block calendar dates.
What you do: Review monthly reports. Flag any owner-block dates for the coming month.
The most common question from new owners is: "What do I actually need to do once we're live?" Here's the honest answer.
Onboarding ends at Month 3. But there are a few milestones in your first year worth knowing about.
The one-time $1,000 setup fee is waived for clients who pay co-host fees on time for the first 12 months. This is automatic — no application required. If you've been a reliable partner, you simply won't see the setup fee charged at Month 12. It's our way of saying the relationship works both ways.
At the 12-month mark, we schedule a full annual review — comparing your Year 1 performance against your LTR baseline and the revenue guarantee. If we're on track (we always aim to exceed the 50% guarantee), we'll discuss any property improvements that could further lift your rate in Year 2. If for any reason we've missed the target, we activate the fee-free continuation clause in your service agreement.
STR licences in Metro Vancouver (Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, etc.) must be renewed annually. We track renewal dates and will remind you 60 days before expiry. Licence renewal is the owner's responsibility — we provide the reminders and the paperwork checklist, but the licence is in your name and you must submit the renewal. Failure to renew means your listing must be paused until the new licence is active.
Straight answers to the questions we hear most often from owners considering SereneHost.
For well-priced properties in Metro Vancouver's active neighbourhoods (East Vancouver, Kitsilano, Downtown, North Shore), first bookings typically arrive within 24–72 hours of going live. Properties in lower-demand areas (outer suburbs, new municipalities) may take 1–2 weeks. We configure pricing aggressively at launch to build review history quickly, then adjust rates upward as the listing gains social proof.
Owner blocks are a standard part of the service. You tell us dates you want — via the shared calendar or email — and we block them before accepting any new bookings. We ask for at least 72 hours notice for short blocks (1–2 nights) and 2 weeks for longer owner stays. There's no limit on how many nights you can block per year, but the more you block, the lower your average occupancy — which we'll discuss with you if it affects the revenue guarantee.
Minor damage (broken glasses, worn linens) is handled from a small operational reserve and deducted from the booking payout. Significant damage is reported to Airbnb's AirCover or Vrbo's property protection program, which both provide up to $3M USD in property damage protection for hosts. We handle the claim documentation and follow-up. For damage outside platform coverage, we coordinate with your property insurer. This is why we also strongly recommend an STR insurance rider on top of your standard home insurance — see our Insurance Guide.
No. Many of our owners are overseas investors or BC residents who live outside Metro Vancouver. As long as you're reachable by email for major decisions (and we can reach you within 24 hours), physical presence is never required. Your monthly report is emailed, payouts are deposited directly, and we handle all on-the-ground coordination.
Our service agreements run 12 months, which reflects the time required to ramp up a listing's review history and occupancy curve. If you need to exit early (e.g., property sale, change in circumstances), we ask for 60 days written notice. The $1,000 setup fee is non-refundable if you exit before 12 months (the waiver applies only to owners who complete the full year).
⚠ Note: This page describes SereneHost's standard onboarding process. Timelines are typical and may vary based on property condition, municipal licensing requirements, and seasonal demand. Revenue guarantee terms are defined in your individual service agreement. SereneHost operates as a co-host under applicable provincial and municipal regulations.