Resources
Co-Hosting Onboarding Guide
Everything you need to know about partnering with Porch Light Reserve — from first conversation to your first booking.
The 6-Step Journey at a Glance
Initial Conversation & Discovery
Week 1
Agreement & Onboarding
Week 1
Property Setup & Photography
Weeks 1–2
Platform Configuration & Pricing Strategy
Weeks 2–3
Owner Review & Final Approval
Week 3
Go Live
Weeks 3–4
Initial Conversation & Discovery
The process starts with a simple conversation. There's no commitment required at this stage — we just want to learn about your property and make sure we're a great fit for each other.
What You Handle
- Property address and approximate square footage
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Rough idea of how many nights per year you'd like to rent
- Any existing Airbnb or VRBO accounts
What We Handle
- Learn your property details, location, size, and unique features
- Discuss your goals — income targets, availability, and restrictions
- Walk through our co-hosting fee structure and what's included
- Determine if we're a great fit to move forward together
Agreement & Onboarding
Once we've agreed to move forward, we'll send you our Co-Hosting Agreement for review and signature. This is a straightforward document that protects both parties and clearly defines the scope of our work together.
What You Handle
- Review and sign the co-hosting agreement
- Share property access code or key arrangement
- Provide WiFi name and password for the listing
- Share contact info for your cleaner (or we can recommend one)
- Share any upcoming blocked dates or personal-use windows
What We Handle
- Prepare and send the co-hosting agreement
- Set up your property profile in our systems
- Store all credentials securely — never shared with third parties
- Confirm next steps and photography scheduling
Agreement Highlights
Property Setup & Photography
A great listing starts with great presentation. We'll work with you to ensure your property is set up to attract guests and earn top reviews from day one.
What You Handle
- Stock all standard guest amenities (see our Amenity Checklist)
- Ensure the property is clean and show-ready for photos
- Confirm WiFi, utilities, and all appliances are working
- Remove personal items you don't want photographed
What We Handle
- Coordinate professional photography (or guide your own photos)
- Write the full listing description, title, and highlights
- Document property features, amenities, and house rules
- Create your guest welcome guide and house manual
Photography Tip
Professional photos typically increase booking rates by 20–40%. We strongly recommend investing in a professional photographer. We can provide referrals in your area. If you prefer to take your own photos, we'll send you a shot list and lighting guide.
Platform Configuration & Pricing Strategy
With photos and content ready, we configure everything on the booking platforms. This is where the operational infrastructure gets built — so the listing runs smoothly from the moment it goes live.
What You Handle
- Approve listing title and description draft before publishing
- Review and sign off on nightly rate ranges and minimum stay rules
- Share any personal-use dates or long-term blocks needed
- Review automated message templates before they go live
- Provide access code, WiFi credentials, and utility instructions
What We Handle
- Build full Airbnb listing, upload photos, set amenities, configure details
- Build dynamic pricing strategy with base rates, weekend premiums, and event-specific pricing
- Configure availability rules, minimum stays, and gap-night logic in Hostaway
- Set up automated messaging: booking confirmations, pre-arrival info, check-in instructions
- Enter all access and utility info; verify guest-facing instructions are accurate
About Hostaway
We use Hostaway as our channel manager to sync your calendar and rates across Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms simultaneously. This prevents double bookings and keeps everything consistent. You will receive a read-only dashboard link so you can monitor bookings and performance at any time.
Owner Review & Final Approval
Before we publish anything, you get to review and approve everything. We'll send you a complete preview of your listing and walk through it together to make sure it's exactly right.
What You Handle
- Review listing title & description for accuracy
- Approve photos and photo order
- Confirm amenities list is complete and correct
- Verify house rules reflect your expectations
- Sign off on nightly rates, weekend rates, and minimum stays
- Confirm all personal-use dates are correctly blocked
- Review automated message tone and content
- Verify check-in instructions and access codes are accurate
What We Handle
- Send complete listing preview for your review
- Walk through every detail together on a call
- Make any revisions at no extra charge
- Confirm all systems and automations are tested and ready
Revision Policy
We want you to feel 100% confident before going live. We'll make any revisions you request at no extra charge. Most reviews are completed in one round; more complex changes may take 1–2 additional business days.
Go Live — Your Listing Is Open for Bookings!
Once you give us the green light, we publish your listing on all configured platforms. From this point forward, we handle the day-to-day operations so you don't have to.
What You Handle
- Maintain the property in good condition between stays
- Restock guest supplies as needed (we'll notify you when levels are low)
- Address any maintenance or repair issues promptly
- Keep us informed of any planned personal-use blocks in advance
What We Handle
- Publish listing on Airbnb and VRBO
- Activate dynamic pricing engine
- Manage all guest communication 24/7
- Coordinate cleaning and turnovers
- Handle booking modifications and cancellations
- Monitor reviews and respond to all guest feedback
- Send you monthly performance reports
Communication & Reporting
Transparency is central to how we work. You'll never be left wondering how your property is performing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the full onboarding process take?
Most properties go live within 2–4 weeks from the time we receive your signed agreement and access. The timeline depends primarily on photography scheduling and how quickly we receive approvals from you.
Do I need existing accounts on Airbnb or VRBO?
No. We can create new accounts on your behalf, or we can work with your existing ones by adding us as a co-host. Either approach works.
Can I still use my property personally?
Absolutely. You block any dates you want for personal use through the owner portal or by letting us know. Those dates will never be available for guest bookings.
What happens if there is property damage?
Airbnb provides AirCover, which covers up to $3 million in host damage protection. VRBO has a similar damage program. We document the property condition and handle all claims on your behalf. You will also need to acquire your own short-term rental insurance.
How and when do I get paid?
Airbnb pays out directly to the bank account on file, typically 24 hours after guest check-in. Our management fee is deducted from the payout before it reaches you, so there's nothing extra to pay. VRBO and direct bookings are settled monthly.
What if I want to end the co-hosting arrangement?
Either party may terminate the agreement with 60 days' written notice. We'll help transition your listing back to self-management and provide full documentation of all accounts and settings.
Ready to Get Started?
Reach out today and let's schedule your free discovery call. No commitment — just a conversation.