This is a common question—and a smart one to ask. The short answer? It depends on the vacation rental manager you choose and the types of vendors you’re talking about. Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to expect.
1. Vendors a Vacation Rental Manager Typically Won’t Touch
First, there’s a whole category of vendors that are typically out of scope of vacation rental managers. At Vinifera Homes, we think of these as asset management partners.
This includes vendors like roofers, foundations specialists, plumbers, landscaping crews—basically anyone who looks after the structure or long-term upkeep of your home. These relationships are typically for owners to manage. A vacation rental manager usually doesn’t have the expertise (or the authority) to make changes in these areas; however, they may be able to help coordinate such vendors to ensure their work is aligned with the bookings calendar and not too disruptive to guests.
2. Vendors Directly Tied to Guest Experience
Next, you have vendors who are much more intertwined with the day-to-day rental operation—like cleaners, handymen, or on-call maintenance techs. This is where approaches can vary dramatically.
Some property managers insist on using only their own vendors. Often, this isn’t about better service—it’s about profit. Many firms tack on markups to cleaning fees, maintenance calls, or vendor coordination, pocketing extra revenue on top of their management fee. If you’re not careful, you can end up paying inflated rates for services that don’t always deliver better quality.
3. How We Handle It at Vinifera Homes
At Vinifera Homes, we do things differently. We never profit from non-revenue-generating activities like cleaning or maintenance. The only way we make money is through a percentage of your nightly rental revenue—so our incentives stay fully aligned with yours. More revenue for you means more revenue for us, plain and simple.
If you already have cleaners or handymen you trust, that’s great. As long as they meet our standards, we’re happy to keep them in the mix. We’ll handle all the scheduling, coordination, and oversight—at no additional cost to you.
4. The Bottom Line
Your current vendor ecosystem doesn’t have to change just because you bring on a property manager. A transparent, owner-focused manager should be able to plug into your existing setup—or explain clearly when and why a change makes sense.
The key is to understand how your manager makes money. If they profit from pushing you toward their preferred vendors, that’s worth questioning.
With the right partner, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice trusted relationships just to get the benefits of professional management—and you certainly shouldn’t pay hidden markups along the way.
Written by Anish Patel, Head of Owner Relations at Vinifera Homes (anish@viniferahomes.com)
