The onboarding journey

From signed agreement to your first booking, often in about 21 days.

A clear, honest walkthrough of what happens once you say yes. No surprises, no fine print, no late-night phone calls. Just a small team of Vancouver locals doing the work — with you involved exactly where it matters.

~21 daystypical, from yes to first guest
~90 minof your time, total
40+owners onboarded
10 citiesacross Metro Vancouver
At a glance

Four phases, often three weeks, one calm process.

Here's the bird's-eye view. Scroll past to drill into each phase — what we do, what you do, and what to expect at each step.

1
DAY 0

The 30-minute call

We meet, you walk us through the property, we share market estimates and answer questions.

2
WEEK 1

Licensing & shopping list

We hand you a shopping list, brief you on exactly what your licensing applications will need, and start booking the photographer.

3
WEEK 2

Install & shoot

We install your smart lock and essentials (free), shoot the listing, write the copy, set dynamic pricing.

4
WEEK 3

Live & first guest

Listing goes live across platforms. First booking lands. Welcome to passive income.

In depth

What actually happens, step by step.

Each phase below shows what we do behind the scenes, what's on your plate, and what to expect.

Day 0 · the call

The 30-minute kickoff

30 minutes · video or in-person · free

A real conversation, not a sales pitch. We learn your property, you learn how we operate, and by the end you'll have a written revenue estimate and a clear next step. About 80% of owners decide on this call.

What we cover
  • Your propertyBedrooms, location, amenities, parking, any quirks
  • Your goalsIncome target, hands-off vs hands-on, blackout dates
  • ConstraintsStrata bylaws, HOA rules, neighbours, mortgage clauses
  • Market estimateA concrete revenue range based on real bookings nearby
  • Plan fitWhether Self-Serve (9%) or Premium (13%) makes sense
What to have ready (optional)
  • Recent property tax assessment or address
  • Strata bylaws (if applicable)
  • A list of questions — really, ask anything
Week 1 · paperwork

Licensing applications & the shopping list

~3 hours of your time, spread over a week

This is where our 40+ onboarding muscle memory matters. We know exactly which forms your municipality wants, what the provincial STR registration will ask for, and where strata typically push back — and we brief you on all of it before you apply. The applications themselves are filed by you, as the property owner; we're on call for questions the whole way through.

We prepare
  • A checklist of exactly what your municipal STR licence application will require
  • Guidance on the provincial STR registration steps
  • Strata notification letter (if applicable)
  • The personalised shopping list (next section)
  • Photographer scheduled for week 2
You do
  • Complete, sign, and file the municipal licence application and provincial STR registration yourself, as owner
  • Purchase items from the shopping list (we install)
  • Notify mortgage holder if your contract requires it
What actually affects your timeline
  • Principal residence, 1+ years: usually the most straightforward case — most of this week's paperwork moves quickly.
  • Recently moved into the property: some municipalities want proof of residency history, which can add time.
  • You're a tenant, not the owner: landlord consent and additional documentation are typically required first.
  • Strata involved: notification and any strata approval process run on the strata's schedule, not ours.
Week 2 · install & shoot

Hardware, photography, listing copy

One on-site day · we handle it

One day on-site for our team. We install your smart lock, set up the essentials you purchased, run a deep clean, and the photographer shoots everything in natural light. The listing copy is written that evening and ready for your review the next morning.

On-site day (we come to you)
  • Smart lock install + Airbnb sync configuration
  • Welcome book + house rules printed and placed
  • Essentials staged (linens, toiletries, coffee, etc.)
  • Deep clean before photography
  • Professional photo shoot (2–3 hours)
Following 48 hours (remote)
  • Listing copy written for each platform
  • Dynamic pricing engine calibrated to your market
  • Draft listing sent to you for review
  • One round of revisions, then we go live
Week 3 · go live

Listing live, first booking, you're in

~21 days from kickoff, when licensing goes smoothly

Listing publishes across Airbnb (and VRBO, Booking.com, direct-booking on the Premium Plan). Bookings start landing in days, sometimes hours. We handle every inquiry; you watch the dashboard fill up. Most owners book their first guest within 7 days of going live.

Day 1 live
  • Listing publishes on Airbnb (and other platforms for the Premium Plan)
  • Initial pricing strategy: aggressive to build reviews fast
  • Dashboard credentials emailed to you (Premium Plan)
First 30 days
  • AI + human comms handling every inquiry within 5 minutes
  • First booking typically within 7 days
  • Weekly check-in email from your dedicated owner manager
  • First monthly statement at day 30 (clean accounting, ready for your accountant)
The shopping list

What you'll buy, what it costs, what we install free.

We hand you this list at the start of Week 1. You order the items (we send Amazon-style links if you want them); we install everything during the on-site day. No labour costs to you.

🔐

Smart access

Wi-Fi smart lock + integration. Eliminates lockboxes and physical key handoffs. Syncs with Airbnb to auto-issue codes per guest.

  • Wi-Fi smart deadbolt (Airbnb-compatible)$180–$250
  • Wi-Fi extender (if signal weak at door)$40–$70
  • Backup mechanical key & lockbox$30–$50
Category total$250–$370
🛏️

Linens & bedding

Hotel-grade white linens — easy to bleach, easy to replace, always look fresh in photos and to guests.

  • White duvet covers (2 sets per bed)$60–$90/set
  • White fitted sheets + pillowcases (3 sets)$45–$70/set
  • Mattress + pillow protectors$60–$100
  • White bath towels (4 per guest)$80–$140
Per bedroom + bath$400–$650
☕

Guest essentials

The "amenities" Airbnb scores you on. Influences your search ranking and your reviews — worth doing properly the first time.

  • Coffee maker + Nespresso/pods$120–$200
  • Kitchen starter (oils, spices, salt, pepper)$50–$80
  • Bath amenities (shampoo, soap, lotion)$60–$100
  • Welcome basket + house manual$40–$70
  • First aid kit + emergency supplies$30–$50
Category total$300–$500
📺

Tech & comfort

The basics guests expect in 2026. Skipping any of these costs you reviews and ranking.

  • High-speed Wi-Fi (200+ Mbps plan)$60–$90/mo
  • Smart TV with streaming setup$300–$500
  • USB-C bedside charging stations$60–$100
  • Iron + small portable steamer$60–$100
One-time + Wi-Fi monthly$420–$700
🧹

Cleaning supplies

Stocked once during onboarding; our cleaning team replenishes from your stock between turnovers. No need to re-buy frequently.

  • Vacuum cleaner (cordless preferred)$200–$400
  • Cleaning products & laundry detergent$80–$120
  • Mop, broom, dustpan$40–$70
Initial stock$320–$590
🛡️

Safety & compliance

Required for licensing in most municipalities. Cheap, fast to install, and you only do this once.

  • Smoke + CO detectors (battery-backed)$40–$80
  • Fire extinguisher (kitchen + main)$50–$80
  • Carbon monoxide detector (kitchen)$30–$50
  • Posted emergency contact card$5–$10
Category total$125–$220
Typical total investment: $1,800–$3,000 for a 2-bedroom property. You own everything; we install for free during onboarding. Most owners recoup the shopping list in the first 2 months of bookings. ≈ $1,800–$3,000
Who does what

You, us, together — line by line.

Three columns, zero ambiguity. Every onboarding task is sorted into who handles it. The middle column ("Together") is the small set of things that need both signatures or both eyes.

TASK
YOU DO
TOGETHER
WE DO
Initial property assessment
YouWalk us through during the 30-min call
—
WeInspect, document, photograph mentally
Revenue estimate
—
—
WePull comparable data, build a written estimate
Municipal STR licence
YouComplete, sign, and file the application yourself, as legal owner
—
WeBrief you on exactly what the City will ask for beforehand, answer questions as you go
Provincial STR registration
YouComplete, sign, and submit it yourself (BC requires identity verification)
—
WeWalk you through the BC STR portal and what it will ask for, answer questions
Strata notification
YouSend the letter we draft (your name is on the strata)
—
WeDraft the letter, advise on any strata response
Mortgage / insurance review
YouNotify your lender and insurer if your policy requires it
—
WeAdvise on what to ask, provide our group insurance certificate
Shopping list items
YouPurchase items, ship to property or hold for install day
BothWalk through the list together; we customise to your budget
WeBuild the list, send links, install everything free on-site
Smart lock setup
—
—
WeInstall hardware, configure Wi-Fi, sync to Airbnb auto-codes
Professional photography
—
—
We2–3 hour shoot, professional edit, no charge
Listing copy & SEO
—
BothYou review the draft, suggest tweaks (one round)
WeWrite per-platform copy tuned to search algorithms
Dynamic pricing setup
—
—
WeCalibrate to your market, events, season; tune monthly
Guest communication (live)
YouSelf-Serve plan: you respond to guest messages
—
WePremium Plan: AI + human team, 24/7, under 5-min median reply
Cleaning coordination
—
—
WeBoth plans: we book and manage cleaners between every stay
True emergencies
YouWe loop you in for fire, structural, medical (rare)
BothTriage on a call together
WeHandle 99%+ of everything else
Licensing by municipality

The rules in each city we operate in.

Short, concrete summaries of what each City requires. We've guided owners through applications in all 10 municipalities and know the quirks of each licensing department — what they want, what they ask twice, what trips applications up. Tap "Read the playbook" for the deep dive.

Vancouver

STRICT
  • Business licence + STR licence (annual)
  • Principal residence rule: property must be your primary home
  • Provincial STR registration also required
  • Maximum 30 nights/year for non-principal-residence rentals
The strictest in the region. We screen this on the kickoff call — if your property isn't your principal residence, we'll suggest medium-term (28+ nights) which is fully legal here.

Burnaby

MODERATE
  • STR business licence required (annual renewal)
  • Must operate in a principal residence in most zones
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Strata bylaw check is critical here
Burnaby strata corporations tend to be active. We draft the proper notification letter, and owners we've advised here have a strong approval history.

Richmond

STRICT
  • Bed & breakfast licence required (strict definition)
  • Owner-occupied requirement is enforced
  • Only 2 guest rooms permitted in most zones
  • Provincial registration also required
Richmond is the most nuanced in the region. We've found legal paths for ~70% of properties we assess — the rest we re-route to medium-term.

Coquitlam

MODERATE
  • Home occupation licence required
  • Principal residence requirement
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Single-family and townhouse only in many zones
Coquitlam is straightforward but slow — applications can take 4–6 weeks. We recommend you start your application as early as Week 1 so timing isn't an issue.

North Vancouver (City & District)

MODERATE
  • Different rules for City of NV vs District of NV
  • STR business licence required in both
  • Principal residence requirement
  • Some areas restrict to specific zones
Many owners don't realise their property is in the District, not the City — different rules. We verify the jurisdiction first.

West Vancouver

STRICT
  • STR is heavily restricted in most residential zones
  • Bed & breakfast option only (with owner present)
  • Provincial registration required
  • Strata bylaws often prohibit STR entirely
West Van is the toughest — we'll honestly tell you if STR isn't viable here. Many West Van properties end up better suited to medium-term furnished rental.

New Westminster

EASIER
  • STR business licence required
  • Principal residence preferred but exceptions exist
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Generally faster approval (~2–3 weeks)
New West is one of the friendlier municipalities. Approval is usually quick and the licensing department is responsive.

Surrey

EASIER
  • Home-based business licence required
  • Principal residence requirement (mostly)
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Zoning matters — not all areas permit STR
Surrey's licensing is approachable. The bigger question is the zoning — we verify first. Newer townhouse developments often work well.

Delta

EASIER
  • STR business licence (annual)
  • Principal residence requirement
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Tsawwassen and Ladner have slightly different rules
Delta is approachable and growing fast as a STR market thanks to the ferry terminal and the new Tsawwassen Mills traffic.

Port Moody

MODERATE
  • Home-based business licence required
  • Principal residence requirement
  • Provincial STR registration required
  • Strata commonly active — must notify
Port Moody is solid. The Evergreen Line + Brewer's Row draws strong weekend demand, which is great for nightly rates.
Read the full licence playbook →
After day 21

What to expect once you're live.

Onboarding ends; the operating relationship begins. Here's what arrives in your inbox and how you keep tabs.

📊

Owner dashboard (Premium Plan)

Real-time view of bookings, revenue, occupancy, upcoming check-ins. Mobile-friendly. Credentials emailed on go-live day.

📬

Weekly check-in email

Your dedicated owner manager sends a Monday email: last week's bookings, this week's outlook, anything that needs your attention.

🧾

Monthly statement

Arrives by the 5th of each month. Booking-by-booking gross, fees and net to you, with one invoice for our fee. Accountant-ready.

📞

Quarterly strategy call

30-minute review: how the property's performing, pricing tweaks, what's coming up next quarter, any optimisations to discuss.

🛠️

Maintenance & alerts

Anything that needs spending over a pre-agreed threshold gets your approval first. Below the threshold, we just handle it and itemise it on the next statement.

🛡️

Incident reports

Any property issue (rare) gets a same-day report with photos, action taken, and insurance status. You're always in the loop.

Onboarding FAQs

What people ask before signing.

Anything we haven't covered? Email [email protected] and we'll add it.

Ready to start?

Book your 30-minute kickoff call.

Tell us about your property. We'll send a written revenue estimate within 24 hours and walk you through a realistic timeline for your specific situation. No commitment, no pressure.