Why Fairly is a great choice for caretakers
Fairly is built for people who take pride in their work and want more control, more earnings, and more recognition. Here's what makes us different:
Set your own fee
You decide what your work is worth. Guests pay your cleaning fee, and you get paid the entire fee as soon as you mark the job complete.
When a homeowner sends a proposal, you're in the driver's seat — you can negotiate a rate that reflects the value you bring.
Revenue Share
Fairly offers more than just per-clean payouts. You'll also earn 5% of the rent from every guest stay, plus extras like pet fees.
Revenue shares are paid monthly, based on the previous month's bookings.
The better the guest experience, the more the home gets booked, and the more you earn.
It's not just a job — it's a partnership, designed to reward you for doing great work.
Expectations of a Fairly Caretaker
What you'll do as a Fairly Caretaker
Caretakers play a key role in making sure each guest has a great stay and every home is guest-ready. Here's what the job really looks like:
Guest Communication
You're the main point of contact for guests — from answering questions before booking to helping them during their stay.
Respond to guest messages through Fairly or SMS.
Answer pre-booking questions about the home and its amenities.
Help troubleshoot issues like lock codes or check-in confusion.
Coordinate the return of any lost items.
Keep homeowners in the loop if any issues arise.
Cleaning and Property readiness
You're responsible for making sure the home shines and runs smoothly between stays.
Complete every turnover with core tasks like making beds, vacuuming, and sanitizing surfaces.
Check for and fix minor issues, such as burned-out lights, messy fireplaces, or broken towel racks.
Ensure things like the hot tub and fireplace are clean and working before guests arrive.
Keep the property looking and feeling top-notch for every stay.
This isn't just a cleaning job; it's a role for people who care about homes and want to deliver a great guest experience every time.
Setting up your profile
Creating and editing your profile
Go to your Dashboard.
Click your Profile photo in the upper-right corner.
Click My Caretaker Profile.
Here are the different aspects of your profile and our recommendations to get you started:
Photo: Select a photo of your face with good lighting and a plain background. A photo is worth a thousand words, so try to find a photo that showcases your personality and professionalism.
About: Write a description of yourself, your cleaning experience, and what value you can bring to homeowners. Fairly caretakers play an instrumental role in managing their owners’ homes, so including themes of reliability, trustworthiness, and dedication can help you distinguish yourself.
Service area: Select an address you are based out of (this can be your home, or a neighborhood landmark) and the distance you are willing to travel from this address. Keep in mind that if this range is too small you might miss out on potential opportunities. Your range, not address, will be shared with local homeowners.
Portfolio: Showcase homes you care for, even if they weren't with Fairly, to display your expertise.
Inviting your team to Fairly
Once a homeowner has added you to their care team, you can invite team members to join as assistants for that home. Assistants have the same permissions as caretakers — they can mark the home clean, communicate with guests, and manage reservations and listings.
Keep in mind that Fairly does not process payments for assistants. When a home is marked as clean by an assistant, the primary caretaker receives the payment, and any payment arrangements with assistants should be handled outside the platform.
Matching with Homeowners
What to expect - waiting for homeowners reach out
Homeowners will reach out to you via the Fairly platform and you'll be notified by SMS. You can log into Fairly to see details about the home and homeowner in the Portfolio tab. This is also where you can view and send messages to the homeowner. If you're on the go, we also send you an SMS each time there is a new message and you can respond directly from your phone.
How to set your cleaning fee
Pricing strategy: The cleaning fee you propose is the amount you will receive after each guest check-out.
Reminder: Caretakers receive 5% of rental revenue from all reservations in addition to the cleaning fee. These additional earnings are for managing guest reservations, messaging, and handling guest needs.
Market research: Investigate short-term rental cleaning fees in your local area to determine competitive pricing.
Factors to consider:
House size (bed/bath count, square footage)
Amenities provided (hot tub, fireplace, etc.)
Pet-friendly status
Your team's costs (if applicable)
Location: you may want to adjust your fee to account for travel time and mileage, especially if multiple visits may be required.
Negotiation: The homeowner can accept, decline, or negotiate your proposed fee.
Setting expectations with homeowners
It's crucial to establish clear expectations with homeowners regarding cleaning fees. Key considerations include:
Additional charges: Identify services that may incur extra fees (deep cleaning, hot tub/pool maintenance, trash disposal).
Supplies: Clarify who purchases cleaning supplies and guest amenities.
Maintenance: Discuss whether basic maintenance falls under your responsibilities or needs separate arrangements.
Preparing for your first guest
A homeowner has chosen you to care for their property — congratulations! Use this guide to feel confident supporting the home and guest before, during, and after their stay.
Before the stay: get the home ready
A great guest experience starts with a well- prepared home. Here's what to do ahead of their arrival:
Visit the home before the guest arrives
Walk through the property to check that everything looks good and works as expected.
Familiarize yourself with the layout, key appliances, and anything unique about the home.
Clean and prepare
Clean the home thoroughly — if it's been a while, suggest a deep clean to the homeowner.
Note: Discuss with the homeowner and arrange payment outside of Fairly.
Pay attention to details like windows, floors, and surfaces.
Check that beds are made and towels are clean and neatly arranged.
Stock essentials and amenities
Restock basics: toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, dish soap, and trash bags.
Note: discuss with the homeowner who pays for and purchases supplies in advance.
Add any amenities the homeowner wants (coffee, shampoo, etc.).
If the home has a pool or hot tub, confirm it's clean, safe, and ready to use.
Tip: This is a good time to coordinate with the homeowner about anything specific they want in place before the guest arrives.
During the stay
You are the guest’s primary point of contact during their stay. Here’s how to stay on top of things:
Check and respond to messages
You'll get messages in the Messages tab and be notified via SMS.
Guests may message you with questions about check-in, amenities, or local tips.
Respond quickly — ideally within an hour — to ensure a smooth experience.
Be informed and proactive
Since you've familiarized yourself with the home, you should be able to confidently answer questions.
If something goes wrong (e.g., missing items or issues with appliances), let the homeowner know and help resolve it.
Reminder: If you've added Assistants to your team, they can also respond to guest messages.
After the stay: reset for the next guest
Once the guest has checked out, it's time to turn over the home and prepare it for the next stay.
Clean the home
Do a full clean after every stay, Pay special attention to high-touch surfaces.
Check for items left behind by the previous guest - under the bed and inside the drawers are good places to check. Inform the previous guest if you find any of their items.
Wash and replace linens and towels.
Check for any damage or missing items and notify the homeowner if needed.
Restock supplies
Top up anything used during the stay.
Dispose of any trash or perishables left behind.
Mark the home as clean to get paid
Go to the Today or Calendar tab and select Mark Clean for the upcoming stay.
Once you mark the home clean, the cleaning-fee payment is initiated to you.
Tip: Review the guest to encourage 5-star reviews for the property, you will be prompted to do this after you mark the home as clean.
Tip: Invite the next guest to check-in early. If early check-in is available, you will be prompted to offer it to the guest after you mark the home as clean. Guests love the flexibility of early check-in, so this is highly encouraged to generate more 5-star reviews.
Need Help?
If you run into questions or need support at any point, reach out to Fairly Support team. We're here to help you succeed.
Managing your reservations
Managing reservations well ensures a smooth experience for both guests and homeowners - and helps you earn more on Fairly. Here's everything you need to know.
Communicating with guests
Guests often reach out before, during, or after their stay. You'll be notified of any new messages through SMS and the Fairly platform.
Best Practices:
Respond promptly: aim to reply within one hour. Fast responses increase guest satisfaction and channel rankings.
Be warm and professional: use friendly, helpful language. Proofread messages before sending to ensure clarity.
Provide details: address their questions clearly and offer detailed information (e.g., where to find the WiFi code or how to use the hot tub).
Loop in assistant caretakers: if you’re unavailable, make sure your caretakers assistants are in the loop to keep communication seamless.
Tip: You can add an assistant to your team on the Listing tab for homes you're currently caring for.
Inquiries
An inquiry is when a guest sends a question before booking — like asking about amenities, pets, or availability.
Why responding matters:
Fast responses improve your listing's visibility on platforms like Airbnb.
Homeowners likely track your responsiveness as part of your performance.
Quick replies help secure more bookings, which leads to more revenue for everyone on the care team.
Offering early check-in or late check-out
Guests often appreciate flexibility. Fairly lets you offer early check in or late check out directly in the reservation view or from the Today page. Early check in will be available only if the home is marked as clean and the guests check in is within 24 hours.
When and why to offer it:
Only offer it if the home is ready—clean and guest-ready
Offering flexibility improves reviews and the overall guest experience.
The lock code will automatically update if the home uses an integrated e-lock.
How to offer early check-in:
If the home has an integrated e-lock, the lock code will automatically adjust to the updated check-in time—no extra steps needed on your end:
After the home is marked clean – you’ll receive an automatic prompt to offer early check-in (if applicable).
From the Reservation – click the three dots next to the check-in date, then select “Set up early check-in."
From the Today Page – for guests arriving today or tomorrow, click the three dots next to their name, then select “Set up early check-in.”
You will be prompted to send a templated message to the guest to let them know. Their reservation will reflect the new check-in time.
Marking cleans as complete
After each guest checks out, mark the home as “clean” once you’ve completed the turnover. You can do this directly in the reservation view or from the Today page.
Why it matters:
It initiates your payment for the clean.
It also enables early check-in for the next guest (if applicable).
It helps owners and Fairly keep track of the home’s status in real-time.
Reviews: viewing and writing
You can view reviews from guests in your Fairly dashboard, which will automatically sync to Airbnb and Vrbo. Reviewing guests as soon as possible is encouraged, as this motivates guests to leave a great review. Great reviews lead to more bookings!
Giving a review:
You can leave a review for each guest after their stay.
Be honest, kind, and constructive.
Reviews help inform other caretakers and owners about guest behavior.
Managing refunds
If something gets in the way of your guests having a great stay, you can send them a refund (minus the channel service fee). Maybe the wifi stopped working, or the hot tub wasn’t heating up. A refund can help guests still have a positive experience.
Things to consider:
If the refund is not related to the cleanliness of the home, consult the homeowner about how they would like to proceed. This is important because the refund will come out of the owner’s share. Cleanliness issues should be refunded from the cleaning fee.
Respond kindly and gather relevant details.
If you believe a refund isn't warranted, explain clearly and involve us early.
Steps to take:
Select the reservation you want to send money to and click on “Send refund”. You have up to 45 days after check-out to submit a refund request.
You can refund part of rent, cleaning fee, or pet fees — depending on the reason for the refund.
Enter a message to the guest explaining the reason for the refund.
Important: This message will only be included in email communications to the guest about their refund, and only after the refund is processed.
Click "Send refund"
Airbnb: The refund will be processed within 24 hours. You can view the status of the refund in the reservation panel under the Owner net payout section.
Vrbo: The refund is processed immediately.
Handling guest damages
If you find damage after a guest stay:
Take photos immediately.
Describe what happened and when it was discovered.
Try to resolve the issue with the guest directly.
If you’re unable to resolve it with the guest, report the issue to Fairly directly so that we can request funds from the guest through their booking channel.
Working with your homeowner
How to build a strong, professional relationship
Caretakers play a key role in keeping homeowners informed and their guests happy. Clear communication and proactive updates help everyone stay on the same page and build trust over time.
Keep homeowners in the loop
If anything comes up that affects the home, guests, or your ability to care for the property, let the homeowner know right away. This includes:
Issues with the property (e.g., broken appliances, damage, unexpected repairs.
Guest concerns or complaints that may require the owner's input.
Schedule changes that affect your availability.
Tip: It's better to over-communicate, so that homeowners are not left wondering.
Use blocks for maintenance
When you're planning maintenance or need time to service the home, block the calendar in Fairly so it can’t be booked by guests. Anyone on the care team can add blocks to the calendar.
Always notify the homeowner when:
You add a block to the calendar. Let them know what the block is for.
You schedule maintenance or repairs. Be sure to get the owner’s approval before scheduling.
You recommend the home be temporarily unavailable (e.g., after storm damage or before a deep clean)
This helps the homeowner understand what's happening and gives them confidence that you're on top of it.
Make suggestions to improve the guest experience
Caretakers are on the ground and often the first to notice what could make a stay even better. Thoughtful suggestions show that you care about the guest experience and are invested in the home’s success.
Ideas to consider:
Review guest feedback in the Performance tab under “Reviews” and suggest improvements to the homeowner.
Suggest small upgrades: more towels, labeled light switches, welcome cards, etc.
Let owners know if guests frequently ask the same questions. This could be solved with clearer instructions or updates to the listing.
Tip: offer to make updates to the listing or guest instructions on the Listing tab. Anyone on the care team can make edits.
Earn 10% by bringing on homeowners
Many caretakers on Fairly are inviting the homeowners they already work with to join the platform, and seeing big benefits when they do.
Why bring your clients to Fairly?
If you currently manage homes independently, you’re likely only earning the cleaning fee. When you bring those homes onto Fairly, you unlock more earning potential and get the tools to manage everything in one place.
Here's what changes:
You still earn your cleaning fee.
You also earn 5% of rental income as the caretaker.
If you also refer the home as an advisor, your revenue share increases to 10% of rental income.
Plus, Fairly makes coordination with guests, homeowners, and bookings easier and more streamlined.
How to get started
Already have a homeowner in mind who might be a fit? Bringing a home onto Fairly is simple, and you’ll be set up to earn more in just a few steps:
Talk to the homeowner you already work with and let them know about Fairly. A few talking points for homeowner to help them understand why Fairly is a great choice:
Homeowners stay in control of dynamic pricing and availability Fairly just makes it easier.
Fairly handles local lodging taxes, so you don’t have to stress about rules and remittance.
Fairly distributes your home across top booking channels and brings all your guest communication into one place, so you stay organized and never miss a message.
Fairly automates payouts after each reservation and gives you a clear view of what you’re earning no delays, no surprises.
Create a listing for their home:
Go to your list of homes in Fairly.
Click “Create a listing” at the bottom of the list.
Fill out the basic home details and click to invite the homeowner to join the listing.
Once the homeowner joins, they’ll send you a request for proposal so you can formally accept the caretaker role.
When you create the listing, you’ll automatically be added as the Advisor, which means you’ll earn an additional 5% of rent on top of your caretaker earnings.