They should be responsive and communicate clearly, possess a strong understanding of the local market, offer reasonable rates, and support borrowers throughout the process, all while ensuring legal compliance to protect your interests.

Pricing-wise, I’d say $100 per night sounds fair given the length of the stay, especially compared to your usual rate.

Look for a manager who’s upfront about all potential costs, so there are no surprises down the road.Communication is Everything:A reliable property manager should communicate well—not just with you, but with tenants too.

Your cleaning fee sounds fair to me.I wouldn't change it.

Recommend you connect & communicate with @Russell Brazil who knows a bit about the Baltimore market.In the meantime, read below about how nightmares often occur:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

This new structure has come with many many headaches for me, the prime one being there was absolutely zero communication with owners like me about the change.

In this last year, their communication with me has become almost silent. 

Reviews are a significant asset, and losing them can hurt future bookings.If a PM needs access to manage bookings, update pricing, or handle guest communication, they can still do so without owning the listing.

These can be found online by search 'Section 8 Fair Market Rent for 2024'.

You can even offer them referral fees or partial ownership, if feasible.I also emphasize the importance of effective communication and weekly meetings with the power team.