VRBO Quietly Raised Their Rates

Rental Property Investor · New Braunfels, TX · Member since 2021 · 289 posts · 256 votes

Did anyone else notice that the cut that VRBO takes from each booking went up in Sept 2026? My VRBO fees have been consistently 16.1% or 17.1% all year. It varied between the two with no rhyme or reason. Now September hits and the fees are now 18.65% for one 3 day booking and 18.58% for the other 3 day booking. The Guest Service fee went from $73 to $89.

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Jon Martin

Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

1mo

Quote from @Ken Boone:

Quote from @Jon Martin:

Quote from @Ken Boone:

Quote from @Jon Martin:

That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.

Fortunately I am still grandfathered in on the subscription plan with VRBO. But if I wasn't, it would start me thinking should I just let someone else manage my property. I mean between Airbnb and VRBO fees you are looking at an average of 17.05% in fees. If you get a management company that charges 25%, it's only another 8% to take all the work off your plate. In fact I don't see how management companies that still list on those platforms can still make enough to survive if their percentage are that low.

Even if you have a manager, pretty sure that platform fee is still getting assessed?

I agree so that is what is making me scratch my head and say how does a mgmt company survive without at least 35% mgmt fee.

I agree, the numbers are awful at that point. At that point you are limited to owners whose primary goals are tax avoidance and/or paying down a property for personal use. Unless they bought right a long time ago.

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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
1mo
Are you on the yearly subscription?
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- Ken Boone
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Are you on the yearly subscription?
  
  Doesn't sound like he is. Unfortunately VRBO no longer offers the yearly subscription unless you are already on the plan. If you have a yearly subscription, and add a new property you can still do yearly subscription, but if you are adding a property for the first time, they no longer offer the yearly subscription.
  0 Reply
- John UnderwoodPro Member
  Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Are you on the yearly subscription?
  
  Doesn't sound like he is. Unfortunately VRBO no longer offers the yearly subscription unless you are already on the plan. If you have a yearly subscription, and add a new property you can still do yearly subscription, but if you are adding a property for the first time, they no longer offer the yearly subscription.
  
  I'm on subscription and didn't think I was being charged that amount.
  On a.seperate note, if I bring back the projector from PF you wanna work in it?
  I'm going up Tuesday so I'll be there for the 98" TV install.
  0 Reply
- Ken Boone
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Are you on the yearly subscription?
  
  Doesn't sound like he is. Unfortunately VRBO no longer offers the yearly subscription unless you are already on the plan. If you have a yearly subscription, and add a new property you can still do yearly subscription, but if you are adding a property for the first time, they no longer offer the yearly subscription.
  
  I'm on subscription and didn't think I was being charged that amount.
  On a.seperate note, if I bring back the projector from PF you wanna work in it?
  I'm going up Tuesday so I'll be there for the 98" TV install.
  
  No if you are on a subscription you are not being charged that amount.
  
  I have a backlog right now of 3 TVs, 2 stand up arcade cabinets, 1 cocktail arcade cabinet, 1 pinball machine that are all in the queue to be worked on at the moment, and I have a backlog of video reviews I have to do for my youtube channel so the projector would sit for like a year at this point! I appreciate it though.
  
  I think I am going to head up Wednesday cause I have a fire inspection on Thursday.
  
  If you want to see the elk consider taking the route through Cherokee instead of I-40 all the way. The elk are about to start rutting and I was able to film two large bulls sparring with each other at Oconaluftee this past Sunday. They are starting to get pretty active.
  1 Reply
- John UnderwoodPro Member
  Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @John Underwood:
  
  Are you on the yearly subscription?
  
  Doesn't sound like he is. Unfortunately VRBO no longer offers the yearly subscription unless you are already on the plan. If you have a yearly subscription, and add a new property you can still do yearly subscription, but if you are adding a property for the first time, they no longer offer the yearly subscription.
  
  I'm on subscription and didn't think I was being charged that amount.
  On a.seperate note, if I bring back the projector from PF you wanna work in it?
  I'm going up Tuesday so I'll be there for the 98" TV install.
  
  No if you are on a subscription you are not being charged that amount.
  
  I have a backlog right now of 3 TVs, 2 stand up arcade cabinets, 1 cocktail arcade cabinet, 1 pinball machine that are all in the queue to be worked on at the moment, and I have a backlog of video reviews I have to do for my youtube channel so the projector would sit for like a year at this point! I appreciate it though.
  
  I think I am going to head up Wednesday cause I have a fire inspection on Thursday.
  
  If you want to see the elk consider taking the route through Cherokee instead of I-40 all the way. The elk are about to start rutting and I was able to film two large bulls sparring with each other at Oconaluftee this past Sunday. They are starting to get pretty active.
  
  Thanks for the heads up!
  1 Reply
Jon Martin
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1mo
That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.

2 Reply
- Ken Boone
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.
  
  Fortunately I am still grandfathered in on the subscription plan with VRBO. But if I wasn't, it would start me thinking should I just let someone else manage my property. I mean between Airbnb and VRBO fees you are looking at an average of 17.05% in fees. If you get a management company that charges 25%, it's only another 8% to take all the work off your plate. In fact I don't see how management companies that still list on those platforms can still make enough to survive if their percentage are that low.
  1 Reply
- Jon Martin
  Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.
  
  Fortunately I am still grandfathered in on the subscription plan with VRBO. But if I wasn't, it would start me thinking should I just let someone else manage my property. I mean between Airbnb and VRBO fees you are looking at an average of 17.05% in fees. If you get a management company that charges 25%, it's only another 8% to take all the work off your plate. In fact I don't see how management companies that still list on those platforms can still make enough to survive if their percentage are that low.
  
  Even if you have a manager, pretty sure that platform fee is still getting assessed?
  0 Reply
- Ken Boone
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.
  
  Fortunately I am still grandfathered in on the subscription plan with VRBO. But if I wasn't, it would start me thinking should I just let someone else manage my property. I mean between Airbnb and VRBO fees you are looking at an average of 17.05% in fees. If you get a management company that charges 25%, it's only another 8% to take all the work off your plate. In fact I don't see how management companies that still list on those platforms can still make enough to survive if their percentage are that low.
  
  Even if you have a manager, pretty sure that platform fee is still getting assessed?
  I agree so that is what is making me scratch my head and say how does a mgmt company survive without at least 35% mgmt fee.
  1 Reply
- Jon Martin
  Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  Quote from @Ken Boone:
  
  Quote from @Jon Martin:
  
  That new number is eerily similar to the markup that was recommended to hosts on Airbnb after they changed their fee structure. It might’ve been the exact same number, I remember it being in the mid 18s.
  
  Fortunately I am still grandfathered in on the subscription plan with VRBO. But if I wasn't, it would start me thinking should I just let someone else manage my property. I mean between Airbnb and VRBO fees you are looking at an average of 17.05% in fees. If you get a management company that charges 25%, it's only another 8% to take all the work off your plate. In fact I don't see how management companies that still list on those platforms can still make enough to survive if their percentage are that low.
  
  Even if you have a manager, pretty sure that platform fee is still getting assessed?
  I agree so that is what is making me scratch my head and say how does a mgmt company survive without at least 35% mgmt fee.
  
  I agree, the numbers are awful at that point. At that point you are limited to owners whose primary goals are tax avoidance and/or paying down a property for personal use. Unless they bought right a long time ago.
  2 Reply
Matthew Tregoning
Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 245 posts · 121 votes
1mo
Yeah, this is getting expensive fast. I would compare the total guest price and your actual payout for the same dates across VRBO and Airbnb before changing anything.

If you increase every rate to cover the fee, you might protect your payout but make the listing too expensive for the guest. I would adjust the markup by platform and watch the shorter stays because that is usually where the extra fees hurt the most.
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Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1mo
Ill have to check and see what they are charging. About half of our properties are on subscriptions.
[email protected]813-563-0877
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
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Collin HaysBusiness Member
Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
1mo
We are on subscriptions with VRBO, but we are finding that an increasing portion of reservations are coming through Airbnb.
[email protected]806-672-7102
SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
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- Mike Kirby
  OP
  Rental Property Investor · New Braunfels, TX · Member since 2021 · 289 posts · 256 votes
  1mo
  Quote from @Collin Hays:
  
  We are on subscriptions with VRBO, but we are finding that an increasing portion of reservations are coming through Airbnb.
  Exactly 50% of our bookings in 2025 were VRBO and the other half Airbnb. This year we are 65% VRBO and only 35% Airbnb. Looks like not as many younger people are spending money on vacations this year.
  0 Reply
Matthew Tregoning
Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 245 posts · 121 votes
1mo
I would mock book the exact reservation and separate the platform commission, guest service fee, promotion, taxes, and final payout. Comparing one advertised percentage usually misses where the money actually moved.
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