Q & A

Welcome to Whiteley and Sonn's Q&A page! As a trusted rental guarantee company, we pride ourselves on offering both top-notch services and peace of mind to property owners. Our primary focus is our Guaranteed Rent program, which ensures a steady income for our clients while we take care of property. Additionally, we offer Short-Term Rental (STR) management at a flat 10% fee. We understand you may have questions about our services, so we've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions along with detailed answers to help clarify our offerings. If you don't find the information you're seeking, please feel free to contact us for further assistance.

What is the Guaranteed Rent program?

The Guaranteed Rent program is a service provided by Whiteley and Sonn, where we guarantee a fixed monthly rent to property owners, and ensure a hassle free experience for you.

What are your fees?

Our fee structure is designed to be simple and transparent. For our Guaranteed Rent program, we do not charge any additional fees to property owners. Our revenue is generated from the difference between the guaranteed rent we pay you and the actual rent collected from guests. This model allows us to cover our operational expenses and any potential vacancy periods while providing you with a stable, fixed income.

For our Short-Term Rental (STR) management service, we charge a flat 10% fee based on the total rental income generated from your property. This fee covers all the services we provide, including listing creation and optimization, guest communication, booking management, check-in and check-out coordination, professional cleaning. By keeping our fee structure straightforward, you can easily understand and anticipate the costs associated with each of our services.

How much will you get paid in rent?

The guaranteed rent amount is determined after evaluating your property based on factors such as location, property size, condition, and local rental market conditions. We will work closely with you to agree on a fair and competitive monthly rent that meets your financial expectations.

What about guests destroying my house?

At Whiteley and Sonn, we take property protection very seriously. In our STR management service, we carefully screen and vet potential guests to minimize the risk of property damage.

Additionally, most short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb, also provide their own insurance or damage protection programs that can cover damages caused by guests. Our team stays up-to-date with these platform-specific protections to ensure that your property benefits from multiple layers of security. Our commitment to your property's safety allows you to have peace of mind while we manage your short-term rentals.

Will the wear and tear on my house will be more than a normal tenant?

We understand your concern regarding wear and tear on your property. In our Guaranteed Rent program and STR management service, we recognize that guest reviews are crucial to the success of your property on short-term rental platforms. As a result, we maintain the properties to a much higher standard than traditional rentals. We provide professional cleaning and maintenance services between bookings to minimize wear and tear, preserve the property's condition, and ensure exceptional guest experiences. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our statement: "We will return the property in better condition than we found it."

By entrusting your property to Whiteley and Sonn, you can be confident that we will prioritize the care and upkeep of your property, regardless of the management service you choose.

Are there any rent increases?

In our Guaranteed Rent program, while the rent amount is fixed for the duration of the initial contract, we understand the importance of adjusting rental rates to keep up with market conditions and the cost of living. Therefore, we offer the annual rent increases based on the individual agreement made with each client.

When it's time to renew the contract, we will reassess your property, taking into account factors such as inflation, changes in the local rental market, and the property's current condition. We will then discuss and negotiate a potential rent increase with you, ensuring that the new rate is fair, competitive, and in line with your financial expectations.

Our approach to rent increases aims to strike a balance between maintaining a stable income for property owners and keeping up with the evolving rental market, thus ensuring a mutually beneficial and sustainable partnership.

Who takes care of service items?

Whiteley and Sonn takes full responsibility for addressing service items for both the Guaranteed Rent program and the STR management service. We offer a dedicated team of professionals and trusted contractors to handle property maintenance, repairs, and any other service items that may arise during the course of managing your property while allowing property owners to also choose their own.

There are some differences in responsibility between the two programs when it comes to utilities. For our STR management service, the property owner (client) remains responsible for utilities such as electricity, gas, water, and internet. This is because utility usage can vary greatly depending on the guests and the frequency of bookings.

On the other hand, in our Guaranteed Rent program, Whiteley and Sonn takes on the responsibility of managing and paying for utilities. As we guarantee a fixed monthly rent, taking care of the utilities is part of our commitment to providing you with a hassle-free experience, allowing you to enjoy a steady income without worrying about the fluctuating costs of utilities.

By clearly outlining these responsibilities, we aim to ensure a smooth and successful partnership, tailored to the unique requirements of each property management service.