OWNER CHECKLIST · UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026
A practical checklist for overseas owners comparing holiday rental management companies on the Costa del Sol.
Choosing someone to manage your holiday home is not simply about finding the lowest commission.
A property manager may control your pricing, guest communication, cleaning, maintenance, reviews and a large part of the income your property produces. When you live abroad, that company may also be the only local team protecting the home between visits.
A polished presentation is not enough. Before signing a management agreement, ask these 12 questions and request clear answers in writing.
A percentage means very little until you know what it covers. Ask whether the management fee includes listing creation, professional photography, distribution, dynamic pricing, guest communication, check-in arrangements, cleaning coordination, inspections, maintenance coordination, owner reporting and licensing support.
Then identify what sits outside the percentage: cleaning and laundry invoices, linen replacement, consumables, deep cleaning, platform fees, repairs, onboarding charges or IVA. Also ask what the commission is calculated from—the accommodation price, the total paid by the guest or another figure.
SunnyCoast’s current property management packages are Silver at 18%, Gold at 25% and Platinum at 30%. Every plan includes full management, while the guest-experience features and costs absorbed by SunnyCoast differ. Our separate guide explains holiday rental management costs on the Costa del Sol in more detail.
“Full service” is used loosely. One company may operate the entire rental; another may update a listing and forward every problem to the owner.
Ask who creates and updates listings, manages rates and availability, responds to enquiries, coordinates arrivals, handles guest problems, organises cleaning, checks the property, arranges repairs, manages existing reservations and produces owner reports. Then ask what remains your responsibility.
SunnyCoast’s Costa del Sol property management service covers listings, pricing, bookings, guest communication, cleaning coordination, property inspections and maintenance coordination. The written proposal should still describe the exact plan for your property.
This is especially important if you already have an established Airbnb, Booking.com or Vrbo listing.
SunnyCoast can continue managing an owner’s existing listings and reviews in most cases, depending on the platform and current account structure. Never wait until the contract ends to discover who controls the digital assets connected to your home.
Dynamic pricing should involve more than automatically accepting a software recommendation. Ask how the manager accounts for seasonality, weekends, public holidays, local events, booking lead time, minimum stays, last-minute gaps, amenities and comparable local listings.
You should also know who may approve discounts, whether you can set a minimum acceptable rate and how owner-use dates affect the strategy.
The highest occupancy is not always the best result. A good pricing process should focus on sensible net income, property condition and the right booking mix—not simply filling every available night.
Ask who responds outside normal office hours, what counts as an emergency, who can physically attend the property, how the owner is informed and what happens if the regular contact is unavailable.
An unanswered access, electricity or air-conditioning problem can quickly become a refund request or poor review. For an overseas owner, a reliable escalation process is one of the most valuable parts of professional management.
SunnyCoast provides guest communication and 24/7 emergency support. That distinction matters: routine communication follows the operating workflow, while genuine emergencies have round-the-clock escalation.
Arranging a cleaner is not the same as checking that the property is ready for the next guest. Ask about property-specific cleaning checklists, photographic records, linen and towel checks, inventory controls, damage reporting, post-clean checks and the inspection process.
Clarify the expected inspection frequency for your property in the written proposal rather than assuming every company or package follows the same schedule.
Also confirm who pays for cleaning and how the cleaning fee charged to guests is handled. Ask separately about laundry, linen replacement, consumables and deep cleaning. SunnyCoast’s current packages list cleaning coordination and property inspections. A linen programme is not included in the current packages.
Small maintenance issues become expensive when nobody has clear authority. Agree in writing on the amount the manager may approve without contacting you, what qualifies as an emergency, whether quotations are obtained, whether invoices are shared and whether the manager adds a markup.
Ask how quickly non-urgent issues are reported, who checks completed work and how preventative maintenance is handled. Villas with pools, gardens or external equipment may need a different process from apartments in managed communities.
A sensible approval threshold lets urgent work proceed while protecting you from unexpected spending.
A payout figure alone is not enough. Your reporting should let you reconcile accommodation revenue, discounts, cleaning charges, platform commissions, payment fees, management commission, repairs, refunds, other adjustments and the final amount paid to you.
Ask how often reports are issued, whether supporting invoices are available and whether you receive access to an owner portal. You should be able to understand what the property earned, what was deducted and why.
SunnyCoast’s current plans include an owner portal and reporting. Ask to see a sample statement before signing so you know how the numbers will be presented.
Some owners discover too late that personal stays are restricted or that dates were sold before they blocked the calendar.
Ask whether owner use is limited, how far ahead dates should be blocked, what happens when a reservation is already confirmed, whether fees apply during personal stays and who prepares the home before your arrival.
SunnyCoast owners remain in control of their calendars and may use their properties as often as they like, subject to reservations already confirmed. The practical booking and preparation process should still be agreed before onboarding.
A management company should clearly distinguish operational support from legal or tax advice. Ask who handles or coordinates the Andalusian tourist-rental process, property requirements, registration numbers used in advertising, municipal or community restrictions, guest registration, complaint forms and regulatory updates.
The Junta de Andalucía’s official guidance sets requirements for tourist-use dwellings. Spain’s Real Decreto 933/2021 also imposes registration and information duties on accommodation activities.
SunnyCoast provides licensing support and coordinates with appropriate professionals, but does not replace a lawyer or tax adviser. Eligibility depends on the individual property and current rules. Read our Andalusia tourist-licence guide for a plain-language overview.
A company can advertise across the entire Costa del Sol without having reliable operational coverage everywhere. Ask who will visit your property, how far away the team is, which cleaners and contractors serve the area, who controls emergency access and whether the process differs for villas and apartments.
The answer should show specific operational knowledge rather than only a list of towns. SunnyCoast manages homes from Benalmádena to Marbella, with dedicated information for owners in Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas and Marbella.
Owners can also review our local approach in Calahonda, Cabopino, Elviria, Nueva Andalucía and on the Marbella Golden Mile.
Local knowledge should be visible in the manager’s process and ability to respond—not merely in keywords on a webpage.
Before signing, check the minimum term, notice period, exit fees, treatment of future reservations, transfer of keys and access codes, final owner statement, platform-listing handover and responsibility for refunds or disputes after departure.
SunnyCoast requires only 30 days’ written notice if an owner decides to leave. Future bookings and the operational handover still need a clear plan.
A flexible cancellation clause is useful, but the more important test is whether the contract explains how your property, money, data and guests will be handled during the transition.
Do not compare companies using commission alone. Score every candidate from 0 to 2 in each category:
A lower-priced manager with vague procedures can become more expensive than a transparent company with a higher headline percentage.
Be cautious if a property manager:
The goal is not to find a company promising perfection. It is to find transparent responsibilities, realistic expectations and a process you can understand from another country.
Fees depend on the service scope and which operating costs are included. SunnyCoast’s current full-management plans are 18%, 25% and 30%. Owners should compare photography, cleaning, inspections, check-ins, consumables, protection and reporting—not only the headline percentage.
A complete service should clearly allocate responsibility for listings, pricing, bookings, guest communication, cleaning, inspections, maintenance and owner reporting. The contract should also identify any services or costs that remain with the owner.
In many cases, yes. SunnyCoast can usually manage an existing listing and preserve its reviews, depending on the platform and current account structure. Confirm listing control and the eventual exit process in writing.
Yes. SunnyCoast owners retain control of their calendars and may use their property as often as they like, provided the dates are not already committed to confirmed guests.
A manager may provide licensing and operational support, but owners should ask precisely what is handled, who is formally responsible and when a lawyer or gestor is required. General guidance is not a guarantee that a specific property qualifies.
SunnyCoast requires 30 days’ written notice if an owner chooses to leave. Existing reservations and the operational handover should still be managed carefully.
Own a holiday property between Benalmádena and Marbella? Request a free, no-obligation rental income assessment based on your property, area and current demand.
This article provides general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and property eligibility can change, so obtain property-specific professional advice before acting.