Why Hotel Expertise Makes Guesture Worth the Premium: The True Cost of "Cheap" Property Management

Why do some property managers charge 12% while others charge 15–20% — and what are you really paying for? This article explains the true cost of “cheap” short-term rental management and why a hotel-trained approach often delivers stronger long-term returns for property owners.

Written by Nia Reis (Client Relations Director at Guesture), it breaks down what typically gets cut at low-fee operators (guest screening, inspections, proactive maintenance, true revenue management) and how that can affect nightly rates, review scores, damage risk, and overall profit.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• What “premium” management actually includes (and why it matters)

• How hotel standards translate into better reviews and higher rates

• A simple framework to compare managers beyond the headline fee

• When a cheaper option can genuinely make sense — and when it won’t