If anyone has recommendations for free resources—whether it’s books, websites, videos, or anything else that could help me sharpen my skills—I’d really appreciate it.

If you start self-managing in January and continue through the rest of the year, you should definitely be able to satisfy that requirement as long as you’re more involved than anyone else (including contractors and property managers).

If it doesn't then yeah you may want to find something else

It's an insurance policy that borderline applicants have to get if everything else checks out.

It was pretty easy for me to refund guests once I called in, including fees, but by the time I was making the calls it was clearly a mess.

Like everywhere else RevPar's are down YOY but we're projecting increases end of 2025.

I've also written reviews that have been accurate, truthful and harsh of other guests, because I want future guests to read it and book somewhere else, if they think that's wrong. 

Is it appropriate to request to be released from the contract so I can look for someone else or just go it alone like I have in the past?

I let them know I would expect a refund if a guest complains about dog hair or something else pet related.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried this approach and to hear your thouhgts.