Owners
Entrusting your apartment to a concierge: how it works
Handing over your property means delegating a craft, not just a list of tasks. Here is how a management set-up actually unfolds, and the points to be demanding about before committing.
1. The visit and the inventory
It starts with a technical visit and a full photographic inventory. This is the moment to identify what will cause trouble later: air conditioning near end of life, tired bedding, lighting that photographs badly, no blackout curtains. A serious concierge tells you what to fix before listing, even if that delays the launch.
2. Positioning and photography
The nightly rate is decided before the first listing goes live. It depends on location, but above all on styling and image quality. A professional photo shoot and listing copy in several languages are not decorative extras: they are the two things that drive click-through, and therefore occupancy.
3. What the concierge handles
- Publishing and managing listings on Airbnb, Booking.com and Agoda.
- Guest communication before, during and after the stay.
- Physical check-in and check-out, keys, condition reports.
- Housekeeping between stays, laundry, restocking consumables.
- Routine maintenance and coordination of tradespeople.
- Quality control after every departure.
4. What stays your call
You remain the decision-maker on works and purchases above an agreed threshold, on the dates you want to keep for yourself, and on overall pricing policy. A good provider proposes and argues its case; it does not decide alone to spend your money.
5. The fee
The common model is a percentage of collected revenue, which aligns interests: the concierge only earns when the property performs. Have it spelled out what that percentage covers, what is re-invoiced at cost (housekeeping, laundry, small repairs) and whether any fixed fees apply. Ask for the breakdown in writing.
Questions to ask before signing
- How many properties do you manage, and how many people are on the ground?
- Who physically attends my property, and how fast in an emergency?
- How often and in what form will I receive reports?
- What happens if a guest damages something?
- What is the commitment period and the notice to terminate?
A clear answer to those five questions is worth more than a promise of returns. We answer ours in writing, in the contract.
