I'm keen to connect with fellow STR owners in the area to gather insights on the ease of finding cleaning services and associated running costs.

This is the harsh reality (at least for me) to get where you want to be.

Of course this would be harsh on the current owner, but this process is bad enough that it discourages participation which would result in lower prices (if there were not inside buyers).BTW drones are handy on virtually all properties. 

- Having minor maintenance taken care of at no cost - Regular cleanings and maintenance so small issues don't become big issues- A hands off tenant who never bothers the landlord- A property maintained in new condition because it's in the tenant's interestI used to do primarily rental arbitrage but shifted to STR/MTR property management.

In the example below, it shows my "Vrbo commission" is 5% and their "payment processing fee" is 3%, so they take a total of 8% (of the nightly rate + cleaning fee + pet fee). 

This eliminates the requirement for a new down payment since you are refinancing the existing debt.Lenders typically require:A copy of the owner-financing agreement.Proof of on-time payments (6–12 months).What to Do:Find lenders that offer rate-and-term refinancing for owner-financed properties (portfolio lenders and DSCR lenders often do this).Maintain a clean payment history.” 

Clean money right? 

However, they’re requesting a mid-stay cleaning without any additional cleaning fees.

Constantly juggling guest messages, cleaning schedules, and last-minute bookings can turn the dream of passive income into a daily grind.But with the right automation tools, STR management can be not only hands-off but also more profitable.

Most of my renters choose #1 because it provides a clean break.I document everything and I don't accept the early termination notice or start the clock until they pay the termination fee.