Quick answer -- our management charges $255 every month as a set fee for management overhead whether or not they take any bookings (but then they have a rented office and represent other homes) and then takes about 20-25% as commission on every paid rental.  They keep track of the funds and arrange for any maintenance needed.  We have a joint checking account with them in order to pay all expenses and they send us a monthly statement.

You should have a contract spelling out the responsibilities of both parties.  Communication is the most important factor.  Best wishes.

Where my VH is located, I investigated the 4 property management company's in the area. Each one wanted the exact same amount. 24% of the rental amount plus $100 per quarter for advertising. I decided to hire my own property manager and it turned out very well for me and he is very happy with the added income. He gets 15% of what I rent the property for and $100 to clean the property. I buy all cleaning supplies.  I do not rent for less that a week at a time, so my rental fee per week is $1,350.

My guess is that you are not rising to the level of service that most PM that make 20+% are providing (such as accounting).  I charge 15% and offer similar services to what you speak of, however I also have a comprehensive website, a faithful clientelle, am a licensed RE with funds held in escrow as they are required by my state law and great new guests in person.  I would outline expectations clearly, but I'd count my blessings with 15% if you aren't generating the leads yourself.

Perhaps your initial contract should be limited to one year so you can renegotiate if it is not working?

We as owners pay 20% of gross rent to our manager in Mexico.  He greets guests, but subs out cleaning and repairs, guest pay the cleaning fee.  We take care of all ads, bookings and finance.  He charges other clients a flat fee per month rented or not.

We have just hired a manager in Maine who will come ecery Sat. for the summer to assist with turnovers.  He will take trash, mow, sweep decks and change out propane tanks for the grill, he receives a flat fee of $165.  The cleaners bill......get ready $35 per person per hour!!!! I am in the 4th year of trying to do this for less with horrible results, we shall see how this year pans out.  We bill the guest for half of the cost, but plan an increase for next year.  I bill cleaning separate so it is not subject to the 7% lodging tax.

To summarize I think you should receive one fee as the listing/marketing person 20% and then a flat fee for being the super.  Keep in mind it may take a year or so to get your bookings up.  We use VRBO, Homeaway and FlipKey.  One booking more than covers the fee.

I manage 10 waterfront homes for 15% and make about $30-35K/yr.  I'm the only one in my area doing it and provide full-service.  It probably takes about 15hr./ week so I really can't imagine charging 20% unless you had substantial overhead for some reason. I'm also in real estate sales and it compliments my business quite well delivering buyer clients and listings as well as steady stream of income to match the sporatic income of real estate.  I have a very trust-worthy house keeper that cleans for a set rate for each home.  It basically works out to be $25/hour and an hour per bedroom except for some of the larger homes which have more common area.  I don't have to follow behind her and she reports any problems to me making my job a lot easier.  All homes have 2 sets of sheets and she rotates each visit, but is able to wash all of the sheets on the premises about 95% and takes them home when she can't so she isn't sitting around waiting on laundry.   But it should take one person long enough to clean the entire house as to wash the linens so that they don't need to charge extra.  Owners pay someone else to mow grass, which I arrange and pay from escrow and I take care of piddly stuff like propane gas tanks and such and minor repairs or I arrange contractor and pay from escrow.  Owners pay for additional marketing on homeaway and VRBO that benefits just them, but I have good search presence and do some outside advertising that brings in a good bit of leads for all homes.