Anyone try Fairly.com?
Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 6 votes
Anyone try Fairly.com?
Most Popular Reply
Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes
9moQuote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!)
28 Replies
- 1yCollin HaysBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
These national "property managers" (using that term loosely) are all very similar. They offer deceptively cheap management fees, and fund themselves through very high "add on" fees that they do not share with the client. These fees act to suppress the rents, because the grand total still needs to be something palatable to Joe Sixpack. The last Vacasa deal I looked at, the owner was paying them over 40 percent when taking into account all of the junk fees, not including suppressed rents.
And they have zero ability to actually manage properties, because they aren't on site. The best they can do is keep a short list of local housekeepers and handymen and call them in a pinch.
- 1yDon KonipolBusiness MemberInvestor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votesInterestingly, Collin, your take on property management can most often be applied to LTR in both residential and commercial as well. The best PMs I’ve had were either individuals managing a few properties or company owner with a couple of PMs on staff. In commercial they were sometimes local offices ofnational franchised brokers. The few times I tried utilizing the BIG service providers I received shocking little service for the same or more money.
Quote from @Collin Hays:
These national "property managers" (using that term loosely) are all very similar. They offer deceptively cheap management fees, and fund themselves through very high "add on" fees that they do not share with the client. These fees act to suppress the rents, because the grand total still needs to be something palatable to Joe Sixpack. The last Vacasa deal I looked at, the owner was paying them over 40 percent when taking into account all of the junk fees, not including suppressed rents.
And they have zero ability to actually manage properties, because they aren't on site. The best they can do is keep a short list of local housekeepers and handymen and call them in a pinch.
- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes9moHidden fees have unfortunately become the norm for far too many companies in the vacation rental industry. Evolve is a prime example of this: they quote a 10 or 15% fee, but then they add extra fees like a “Guest Services Fee” that can take the total cost up over 30%!
Quote from @Collin Hays:
These national "property managers" (using that term loosely) are all very similar. They offer deceptively cheap management fees, and fund themselves through very high "add on" fees that they do not share with the client. These fees act to suppress the rents, because the grand total still needs to be something palatable to Joe Sixpack. The last Vacasa deal I looked at, the owner was paying them over 40 percent when taking into account all of the junk fees, not including suppressed rents.
And they have zero ability to actually manage properties, because they aren't on site. The best they can do is keep a short list of local housekeepers and handymen and call them in a pinch.
At Fairly, we do things differently. In fact, it’s why we chose our name (Fairly). We deliver exceptional results (at our 20% commission) without adding any extra fees. We’re able to do this profitably — while paying our exceptional local caretakers far more than they were earning previously — because we’ve built great systems that automate much of the burden of managing vacation rentals. - Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 7 votes2mo
Quote from @Collin Hays:
These national "property managers" (using that term loosely) are all very similar. They offer deceptively cheap management fees, and fund themselves through very high "add on" fees that they do not share with the client. These fees act to suppress the rents, because the grand total still needs to be something palatable to Joe Sixpack. The last Vacasa deal I looked at, the owner was paying them over 40 percent when taking into account all of the junk fees, not including suppressed rents.
And they have zero ability to actually manage properties, because they aren't on site. The best they can do is keep a short list of local housekeepers and handymen and call them in a pinch.
Collin - We don't charge any add-on fees at Fairly. Your criticism is not only unfounded, it's also hypocritical - as you do charge a "Booking Fee" at Smokey Mountain Falls. Vacasa may overcharge, but Fairly does not.
Also, our model is hyperlocal, with a dedicated caretaker for every property. We currently have a 1:2 ratio, with a local caretaker for every two properties. This approach is how we have the best guest reviews of any manager in your market of Gatlinburg, TN: https://manager-review.com/rankings/tennessee/gatlinburg
- 1yPatrick OsterlingBusiness MemberCalifornia/Nevada · Member since 2021 · 54 posts · 41 votes
Fairly was founded and being run by Eric Breon, who is the former Founder & CEO of Vacassa FYI. I think we've seen that the big national manager struggle with quality. Might want to look for a smaller boutique local company that is more hands on.
Haus Ventures Hospitality Group 53 Reviews- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes10moAs Patrick noted, I founded Vacasa back in 2009, prior to starting Fairly. I learned a lot from that experience, and I completely agree that big, national managers struggle with quality.
Quote from @Patrick Osterling:
Fairly was founded and being run by Eric Breon, who is the former Founder & CEO of Vacasa FYI. I think we've seen that the big national manager struggle with quality. Might want to look for a smaller boutique local company that is more hands on.
That’s the entire point of Fairly. We don’t manage homes nationally; instead, our model empowers exceptional local entrepreneurs as Caretakers. Homeowners get the benefits that only scale can provide—like home automation, advanced yield management, and direct connections to channel partners like Airbnb and Vrbo—while also getting the exceptional service of a dedicated, local Caretaker. It truly is the best of both worlds: a small, local operator backed by a sophisticated national platform.
Because our platform automates the back-office work, our Caretakers have more time to focus on their homes and their guests. This combination allows us to outperform on both service and revenue for homeowners. - 10moCollin HaysBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
Quote from @Eric Breon:
As Patrick noted, I founded Vacasa back in 2009, prior to starting Fairly. I learned a lot from that experience, and I completely agree that big, national managers struggle with quality.Quote from @Patrick Osterling:
Fairly was founded and being run by Eric Breon, who is the former Founder & CEO of Vacasa FYI. I think we've seen that the big national manager struggle with quality. Might want to look for a smaller boutique local company that is more hands on.
That’s the entire point of Fairly. We don’t manage homes nationally; instead, our model empowers exceptional local entrepreneurs as Caretakers. Homeowners get the benefits that only scale can provide—like home automation, advanced yield management, and direct connections to channel partners like Airbnb and Vrbo—while also getting the exceptional service of a dedicated, local Caretaker. It truly is the best of both worlds: a small, local operator backed by a sophisticated national platform.
Because our platform automates the back-office work, our Caretakers have more time to focus on their homes and their guests. This combination allows us to outperform on both service and revenue for homeowners.Eric, thank you. Can you explain more about "Caretakers?" Are these housekeepers, repair folks, etc.? I am trying to better understand the business model.
- 10moDon KonipolBusiness MemberInvestor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes
Quote from @Collin Hays:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
As Patrick noted, I founded Vacasa back in 2009, prior to starting Fairly. I learned a lot from that experience, and I completely agree that big, national managers struggle with quality.Quote from @Patrick Osterling:
Fairly was founded and being run by Eric Breon, who is the former Founder & CEO of Vacasa FYI. I think we've seen that the big national manager struggle with quality. Might want to look for a smaller boutique local company that is more hands on.
That’s the entire point of Fairly. We don’t manage homes nationally; instead, our model empowers exceptional local entrepreneurs as Caretakers. Homeowners get the benefits that only scale can provide—like home automation, advanced yield management, and direct connections to channel partners like Airbnb and Vrbo—while also getting the exceptional service of a dedicated, local Caretaker. It truly is the best of both worlds: a small, local operator backed by a sophisticated national platform.
Because our platform automates the back-office work, our Caretakers have more time to focus on their homes and their guests. This combination allows us to outperform on both service and revenue for homeowners.Eric, thank you. Can you explain more about "Caretakers?" Are these housekeepers, repair folks, etc.? I am trying to better understand the business model.
Collin, I'm not qualified to comment on the strategy of Fairly, but if you go to their website you'll find their program laid out pretty well.
- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes9mo
Quote from @Collin Hays:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
As Patrick noted, I founded Vacasa back in 2009, prior to starting Fairly. I learned a lot from that experience, and I completely agree that big, national managers struggle with quality.Quote from @Patrick Osterling:
Fairly was founded and being run by Eric Breon, who is the former Founder & CEO of Vacasa FYI. I think we've seen that the big national manager struggle with quality. Might want to look for a smaller boutique local company that is more hands on.
That’s the entire point of Fairly. We don’t manage homes nationally; instead, our model empowers exceptional local entrepreneurs as Caretakers. Homeowners get the benefits that only scale can provide—like home automation, advanced yield management, and direct connections to channel partners like Airbnb and Vrbo—while also getting the exceptional service of a dedicated, local Caretaker. It truly is the best of both worlds: a small, local operator backed by a sophisticated national platform.
Because our platform automates the back-office work, our Caretakers have more time to focus on their homes and their guests. This combination allows us to outperform on both service and revenue for homeowners.Eric, thank you. Can you explain more about "Caretakers?" Are these housekeepers, repair folks, etc.? I am trying to better understand the business model.
Hi Collin -
Every home with Fairly has a caretaker who is responsible both for cleaning the home, serving as the primary point of contact for guests, and as the eyes & ears of the homeowner.Our typical caretaker is someone who has already been caring for vacation rentals as a housekeeper for independent homeowners. Our platform makes it easy for them to also be the primary point of contacts for guests (regardless of the channel the guest books on), and our homeowners also benefit from your yield management, distribution, automated account (including taxes), etc.
A few advantages of this approach:
Caretakers are uniquely suited to answering guest questions as they know the home better than anyone. They know how the fireplace works, what trash day is, whether there’s a blender, and if the home is ready for early check-in, making quick & accurate responses easy.
Having the same person responsible for cleaning the home after every stay ensures that the details are attended to. It also helps ensure any damages are noted & resolved: in contrast to contract cleaners, they know the prior condition of the home, and if any damage was pre-existing.
Homeowners love having that direct 1:1 relationship with their caretaker. Their direct contact is with someone who is in the home between every stay, rather than a “manager” who likely hasn’t visited the home in months. Their caretaker can also work with them on any specific requests that may have, like a welcome basket with specific items.
- 1yAndrew SteffensBusiness MemberTampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes9mo
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!) - 9moAndrew SteffensBusiness MemberTampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!)Please tell us more about how fairly is different than other national PM's.
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews - Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes9mo
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!)Please tell us more about how fairly is different than other national PM's.
Fairly is intentionally designed to solve the problems that tend to show up as property managers scale nationally.
Most national PMs optimize for centralization and efficiency: call centers, regional teams, standardized processes, and revenue targets set far from the individual home. That can work early, but over time it often leads to weaker accountability, slower response times, and owners feeling like just another unit in a portfolio.
Fairly takes the opposite approach. Every home is managed by a single, local Caretaker—an independent operator who is directly accountable for that property’s performance, condition, and guest experience. There’s no rotating staff, no call-center handoffs, and no ambiguity about who owns outcomes.
Technology plays a different role as well. At most national PMs, tech exists to manage scale internally. At Fairly, tech is used to facilitate collaboration and to give owners transparency and control: real-time performance data, clear revenue attribution, and visibility into pricing and decisions.
The economic incentives are also aligned differently. Caretakers earn more by doing better work—not by cutting corners or adding volume. That tends to show up in better care of the home, stronger reviews, and more stable long-term performance.
In short, Fairly combines national-level tools with local ownership and accountability, rather than trading one for the other.
- 9moCollin HaysBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!)Please tell us more about how fairly is different than other national PM's.
Fairly is intentionally designed to solve the problems that tend to show up as property managers scale nationally.
Most national PMs optimize for centralization and efficiency: call centers, regional teams, standardized processes, and revenue targets set far from the individual home. That can work early, but over time it often leads to weaker accountability, slower response times, and owners feeling like just another unit in a portfolio.
Fairly takes the opposite approach. Every home is managed by a single, local Caretaker—an independent operator who is directly accountable for that property’s performance, condition, and guest experience. There’s no rotating staff, no call-center handoffs, and no ambiguity about who owns outcomes.
Technology plays a different role as well. At most national PMs, tech exists to manage scale internally. At Fairly, tech is used to facilitate collaboration and to give owners transparency and control: real-time performance data, clear revenue attribution, and visibility into pricing and decisions.
The economic incentives are also aligned differently. Caretakers earn more by doing better work—not by cutting corners or adding volume. That tends to show up in better care of the home, stronger reviews, and more stable long-term performance.
In short, Fairly combines national-level tools with local ownership and accountability, rather than trading one for the other.
What sorts of national-level tools do you provide that VRBO and/or Airbnb do not? Are your properties listed on these sites?
- Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 7 votes2mo
Quote from @Collin Hays:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
100% recommend finding a local provider. To me (PM of 70 +/- units), the sweet spot is likely 30ish to 120ish. The reason for this is I do not think it is advantageous to hire a manager of 1-30 as on the low end they lack experience and even at the higher end of that range they lack resources. That typically means the PM is dropping off towels, while calling a plumber, while answering inquiries on the OTA platform etc. 30-120 they start to have specialized employees on staff, some automations, more experience, some marketing reach, etc. Above 120 you start running in to similar issues as nationwide companies you become a number and quality tends to diminish. I hope that helps!
If you look at the data, the issues start well before 70 units:
1 listing: 4.8 avg review
2-20 listings: 4.7 avg review
21-100 listings: 4.6 avg review
101-1000 listings: 4.5 avg review
1000+ listings: 4.4 avg review
(https://www.phocuswire.com/power-of-reviews-in-the-short-term-rental-sector)
This was the inspiration behind Fairly: to capture the customer satisfaction of small hosts, and pair it with industry-leading yield management, automation, etc.
And our results have proven this out: with over 5,000 guest reviews, our average home has a 4.95 rating (and our median home has a 5.0!)Please tell us more about how fairly is different than other national PM's.
Fairly is intentionally designed to solve the problems that tend to show up as property managers scale nationally.
Most national PMs optimize for centralization and efficiency: call centers, regional teams, standardized processes, and revenue targets set far from the individual home. That can work early, but over time it often leads to weaker accountability, slower response times, and owners feeling like just another unit in a portfolio.
Fairly takes the opposite approach. Every home is managed by a single, local Caretaker—an independent operator who is directly accountable for that property’s performance, condition, and guest experience. There’s no rotating staff, no call-center handoffs, and no ambiguity about who owns outcomes.
Technology plays a different role as well. At most national PMs, tech exists to manage scale internally. At Fairly, tech is used to facilitate collaboration and to give owners transparency and control: real-time performance data, clear revenue attribution, and visibility into pricing and decisions.
The economic incentives are also aligned differently. Caretakers earn more by doing better work—not by cutting corners or adding volume. That tends to show up in better care of the home, stronger reviews, and more stable long-term performance.
In short, Fairly combines national-level tools with local ownership and accountability, rather than trading one for the other.
What sorts of national-level tools do you provide that VRBO and/or Airbnb do not? Are your properties listed on these sites?
Hi Collin - Our properties are listed on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Fairly.com, with more sites coming soon. We're also integrating with Google so our properties will show up directly in their vacation rental search.
Operational systems that help our caretaker deliver exceptional guest experiences are a big part of what we offer. As an example, most competitors rarely offer early check on a B2B stay. At Fairly, our systems make that easy: we prompt to the caretaker to offer early check-in as soon as the clean is completed, and if they do, we automatically update the locks & notify the guests. And if the guests requests early check-in prior to completion of the clean, that message goes directly to the caretaker, and they can offer early check-in if they know it the home will be ready early, with automated updates to the access control. This lets us offer early check-in on the vast majority of reservation, and little things like this help us drive better reviews.
We're also strong on the yield management side. While at Vacasa, I build the industry's first dynamic pricing system, long before companies like Beyond Pricing, Pricelabs and Wheelhouse made that common. We're now raising the bar once again, with a system that delivers the industry's best pricing recommendations while empowering our homeowners with complete but simply control over their rates.
- 2moAJ WongBusiness MemberReal Estate Broker · Oregon & California Coast · Member since 2022 · 834 posts · 696 votes
Eric and his team are exceptional. All of our referred STR owners are constantly earning 5 star reviews and they are detailed, responsive, caring and one of the best teams we've worked with. Highly recommended!
Sesemi | STR Brokers powered by Fathom Realty 521 Reviews
- 1yMichael BaumPro MemberOlympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
Hey @Vivian Key, I would work on moving away from Vacasa and managing it yourself.
It isn't that hard and you will save yourself a ton of dough.
- Member since 2025 · 1 post · 1 vote1y
Here is my fairly.com, Manage a vacation home through Fairly Experience so far.
After looking in to the company we are going to decide NOT to use them, and just rent it our selfs.The Caretakers: Very limited selection, having a House keeper an hour away should not even be recommended. Most of them did not give us a quote or even show up when we scheduled multiple trips to drive three hours one way and block off rental income time to meet them. The Three that did show up experience . One of the quotes was over $800! Another girl showed up high on drugs. And the last one told us just to use her and skip fairly.
Fairly Reviews: A large amount of reviews are from Employee, Friends or Family. It appears most of the rentals that fairly has listed are single motels rooms that Fairy also owns. I imagine a lot of bias information going on. We are a large house not some motel room.
The Company: new and and full of issues, After multiple changes we got tired and felt like a guinea pig. Fairly allows any one to work on your house with no background checks or qualifications Thats if they even show up and not just take the money and run, over all a poor experience from what we went thru You will still have to make sure the house cleaners show up, the Caretakers are helping the guest so you dont get bad reviews and kick off the rental sites, Local rental violations that they for got to tell you about or did not take care of. On top of this they do not have any maintenance men to fix any issues that occur.
These people are NOT QUALIFIED! and it is absolute NOT worth the risk to have your rental license revoked.
On top of this Fairly.com take 20% nearly the same that as a management company does. with doing all the work your self.We found a local cleaner who was recommended from our neighbor that has rented his house out for years him self. When we told him about Fairly and told us it was the same people from Vacasa who had started a new company. . . .
- 1yCollin HaysBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
Quote from @Angela Thompson:
Here is my fairly.com, Manage a vacation home through Fairly Experience so far.
After looking in to the company we are going to decide NOT to use them, and just rent it our selfs.The Caretakers: Very limited selection, having a House keeper an hour away should not even be recommended. Most of them did not give us a quote or even show up when we scheduled multiple trips to drive three hours one way and block off rental income time to meet them. The Three that did show up experience . One of the quotes was over $800! Another girl showed up high on drugs. And the last one told us just to use her and skip fairly.
Fairly Reviews: A large amount of reviews are from Employee, Friends or Family. It appears most of the rentals that fairly has listed are single motels rooms that Fairy also owns. I imagine a lot of bias information going on. We are a large house not some motel room.
The Company: new and and full of issues, After multiple changes we got tired and felt like a guinea pig. Fairly allows any one to work on your house with no background checks or qualifications Thats if they even show up and not just take the money and run, over all a poor experience from what we went thru You will still have to make sure the house cleaners show up, the Caretakers are helping the guest so you dont get bad reviews and kick off the rental sites, Local rental violations that they for got to tell you about or did not take care of. On top of this they do not have any maintenance men to fix any issues that occur.
These people are NOT QUALIFIED! and it is absolute NOT worth the risk to have your rental license revoked.
On top of this Fairly.com take 20% nearly the same that as a management company does. with doing all the work your self.We found a local cleaner who was recommended from our neighbor that has rented his house out for years him self. When we told him about Fairly and told us it was the same people from Vacasa who had started a new company. . . .
Yikes.
- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes9mo
Quote from @Angela Thompson:
Here is my fairly.com, Manage a vacation home through Fairly Experience so far.
After looking in to the company we are going to decide NOT to use them, and just rent it our selfs.The Caretakers: Very limited selection, having a House keeper an hour away should not even be recommended. Most of them did not give us a quote or even show up when we scheduled multiple trips to drive three hours one way and block off rental income time to meet them. The Three that did show up experience . One of the quotes was over $800! Another girl showed up high on drugs. And the last one told us just to use her and skip fairly.
Fairly Reviews: A large amount of reviews are from Employee, Friends or Family. It appears most of the rentals that fairly has listed are single motels rooms that Fairy also owns. I imagine a lot of bias information going on. We are a large house not some motel room.
The Company: new and and full of issues, After multiple changes we got tired and felt like a guinea pig. Fairly allows any one to work on your house with no background checks or qualifications Thats if they even show up and not just take the money and run, over all a poor experience from what we went thru You will still have to make sure the house cleaners show up, the Caretakers are helping the guest so you dont get bad reviews and kick off the rental sites, Local rental violations that they for got to tell you about or did not take care of. On top of this they do not have any maintenance men to fix any issues that occur.
These people are NOT QUALIFIED! and it is absolute NOT worth the risk to have your rental license revoked.
On top of this Fairly.com take 20% nearly the same that as a management company does. with doing all the work your self.We found a local cleaner who was recommended from our neighbor that has rented his house out for years him self. When we told him about Fairly and told us it was the same people from Vacasa who had started a new company. . . .
Hi Angela -
I don’t see a record of a home under your name, but your comments do reflect some of our early shortcomings, all of which have since been resolved.
First, with regard to our housekeeper selection: we now have a team of local market managers specifically focused on recruiting & supporting exceptional caretakers. And we’ve built up an impressive roster of caretakers, delivering exceptional results for our homeowners. It’s how we deliver a 4.9+ average rating across all of our homes.
We initially tested Fairly on my personal portfolio, which includes a wide range of properties. Some, like you note, are smaller units that are part of multi-unit properties. Others are large single-family homes (three of which book for over $200k per year). Fairly has outperformed on all.
We’ve grown a lot since you spoke with us: we’ve added 900 properties owned by others, many of which are large high-end homes. Fairly performs well across the spectrum. We can serve any home, but we actually perform best on high-end homes, as we’re able to pair exceptional (and exceptionally paid) caretakers with these properties.
Our caretaker-centric model delivers exceptional results for our homeowners & guests. You can see this in our reviews (a 4.9 average on Airbnb, and a perfect 5-stars for over half of our homes).
- Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 292 votes10mo
Honestly, most owners I’ve seen end up leaning toward self-managing once they get the hang of it as it gives you more control and better margins. Usually, it’s either fully self-manage or go with a truly local, hands-on manager.
- 10moDon KonipolBusiness MemberInvestor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votesMy understanding is that in most markets paying a manager/host 25-35% of gross will result in a risk adjusted return to the investor about the same as LTR. Which is why after a couple of try’s 10 years ago I moved my condo investments to either MTR, or fully furnished LTR. However, the market is so specialized by class of property and location, that generalizations like this are a guideline only.
Quote from @Andrew Street:
Honestly, most owners I’ve seen end up leaning toward self-managing once they get the hang of it as it gives you more control and better margins. Usually, it’s either fully self-manage or go with a truly local, hands-on manager.
- Member since 2026 · 7 posts · 47 votes8mo
Yes, all Fairly properties are listed on VRBO & Airbnb.
From a homeowner’s perspective, Fairly’s offering is comparable to traditional full-service managers; the main difference is that we rely on local, independent caretakers for caring for homes, guests, and homeowners. It’s through these caretakers that we deliver exceptional experiences for our guests, and those experiences then translate into higher reviews, leading to more bookings, from better guests, for more money.
Our market managers help source, vet, and mentor those caretakers, ensuring that our homeowners always have great options. And if a caretaker isn’t delivering to a 5-star level, we can help the homeowner switch to one that does.
- 8moDon KonipolBusiness MemberInvestor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votesEric, I know that some of your verbiage is marketing “hype”; to be expected. But I sincerely hope your business turns out to be very successful and is able to deliver on everything you’ve discussed. I left the STR-MTR arena because I don’t want to self manage to any extent at my age - but if a trusted company delivering as you suggest you do exists, I’d reconsider.
Quote from @Eric Breon:
Yes, all Fairly properties are listed on VRBO & Airbnb.
From a homeowner’s perspective, Fairly’s offering is comparable to traditional full-service managers; the main difference is that we rely on local, independent caretakers for caring for homes, guests, and homeowners. It’s through these caretakers that we deliver exceptional experiences for our guests, and those experiences then translate into higher reviews, leading to more bookings, from better guests, for more money.
Our market managers help source, vet, and mentor those caretakers, ensuring that our homeowners always have great options. And if a caretaker isn’t delivering to a 5-star level, we can help the homeowner switch to one that does.
- Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 3 votes2mo
Adding an owner's perspective. I've interviewed a lot of property management companies and worked with a small mom and pop property management company.
The pattern with the big companies always appears to be the same: big promises going in, very little of it delivered once the homes are live. I've never wanted to give up 30-40% of revenue in some cases to take that risk.
The mom and pop company was kind, attentive, but unfortunately missed out on a lot of revenue opportunities. Annual revenue with them was the lowest I'd ever seen (and I kept them far too long, simply because I genuinely liked them as people).Where Fairly fits for me is a little different from how it's being framed in this thread. I like self managing. I don't want to hand my homes off entirely to someone else. What I needed was better tools to do it across multiple states.
I already have cleaning teams I trust, and they fold into Fairly's caretaker model perfectly without me rebuilding anything. My caretakers have been trained to respond to my guests, which has given me time back (as a mom of two toddlers, that's probably the biggest blessing). And my caretaker is the one who knows better than I do if the house is ready for early check-in, or if the coffee inventory is fully stocked. My guests get a response MUCH faster. Everyone is happy :)One of the other big advantages is pricing. One of my homes is in Pigeon Forge, which most of you know is about as saturated as it gets, and getting rates right there is close to a full time job on its own. That's the part I stopped losing sleep over.
If you're weighing self managing against handing it over completely, Fairly is the option worth looking at.
- 2moAJ WongBusiness MemberReal Estate Broker · Oregon & California Coast · Member since 2022 · 834 posts · 696 votes
Coincidentally began my career with Vacasa on the RE side until their reputation preceded themselves (for the wrong reasons) and have helped STR investors purchase nearly 50 AIRBNBs throughout Oregon. About half of our client's self manage and the other half request PMs for reference. We began working with Fairly, Eric and his team several years ago and our referred client's could not be happier with their services and their model and platform are top-tier.
Sesemi | STR Brokers powered by Fathom Realty 521 Reviews - Investor · Pacific Northwest · Member since 2026 · 538 posts · 314 votes2mo
This is a really interesting time capsule a year later because the question aged into something bigger than “Fairly vs. Vacasa.”
Back then, the tradeoff looked like large national manager vs. a newer, more locally accountable model. Fairly was effectively betting that technology could handle the back-office complexity while a dedicated local team handled the property and guest experience.
Since then, that thesis has gotten more interesting.
Vacasa itself was acquired by Casago in May 2025, and the combined company explicitly emphasized a more locally rooted operating model. So even one of the largest national players effectively moved toward the same underlying idea: scale the technology and infrastructure, but keep property-level accountability local.
Fairly, meanwhile, has continued building around that architecture: dedicated local care teams, multi-channel distribution, automated accounting/tax handling, dynamic pricing and owner control over pricing strategy.
The other thing I’d look at differently today is fees. I wouldn’t compare the headline management percentages at all. I’d compare:
Gross booking revenue → every owner/guest/channel/processing/cleaning fee → actual owner net → property condition/reviews.
Fairly now explicitly breaks out platform, processing and channel-partner fees, while Vacasa says its management fee varies by property and also charges guest-side booking, cleaning, pet, hot-tub and damage-waiver fees where applicable.
So a year later, I think the better question is no longer “Is Fairly better than Vacasa?”
It’s which operating model produces the highest durable net income while giving the owner the clearest accountability at the property itself?
That’s a much more useful comparison.
If anyone actually made this switch — or is considering it now — I’d love to see the before/after numbers. That would be a fun one to map properly.
- Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 561 posts · 196 votes2mo
For owners comparing the two, ask each team to walk through the same situation: it's a same-day turnover, the cleaner finds a problem and the next guest arrives in two hours. Who makes the calls, who tells the guest and who makes sure the fix happened? You learn quite a bit from the specifics. From the cohosting side, I'd also spell out after-hours coverage and which tasks cost extra. A percentage on its own doesn't tell an owner much about the help they're getting.
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