How It Works
From your first call to your first booking — and every month after — here is exactly what working with PillowHosts looks like.
01
Onboarding
Every property is different. We begin with a discovery call to understand your home, your timeline, your income goals, and how involved you want to be. From there we build a plan that fits — not a one-size-fits-all package.
What this includes
02
Day-to-Day Management
Once your property is live, we take over the operational side completely. Guest communication, cleaning coordination, maintenance oversight, dynamic pricing — all of it runs through us so your home stays in great shape and your reviews stay strong.
What this includes
03
Reporting & Transparency
No surprises. We send regular owner reports covering bookings, revenue, expenses, and any property notes. You have full visibility into your calendar and earnings — and we are always reachable when you have questions.
What this includes
Typical Timeline
Week 1
Discovery call, property assessment, permit review
Week 1–2
Photography, listing creation, platform setup
Week 2–3
Pricing strategy, cleaning team onboarded, go live
Ongoing
Bookings, guest management, monthly reporting
Common Questions
Most properties are live within 2 to 3 weeks of our first call. The timeline depends on permit status, photography scheduling, and any prep work the property needs.
Not necessarily. We can help you navigate the permit process for Santa Cruz County — it is one of the services we offer as part of onboarding.
Very. Most of our homeowners are fully hands-off once onboarding is complete. We handle everything and loop you in only when a decision requires your input.
We list on Airbnb and VRBO by default, and can set up direct booking as well. We manage all platforms from one system so pricing and availability stay in sync.
Our full-service management fee is 15 to 20% of gross revenue depending on property type and services needed. We also offer a-la-carte options. See our Services page for full details.
Schedule a free property review and we will walk you through exactly what the process looks like for your home.