Plum Guide

What is Plum Guide?

Plum Guide is a high-end property rental service that differentiates itself from Airbnb by offering only expensive, screened listings.

How it works

Unlike Airbnb or VRBO, homeowners do not create the listings themselves. They apply to list their homes and then a member of Plum Guide’s staff contacts the homeowner to determine whether the home meets the site’s standards.

If it does, Plum Guide will fill out the listing, taking the photographs and writing the copy. It also has a unique fee structure that proposes to charge just 3% on bookings, plus a one-time $400 fee that pays for the staff to write up your listing.

The site’s fees to consumers are folded into the listing price, so there are no surprises.

Positives

Because these are all high-end homes that have been vetted to ensure a good stay, you are not competing with bargain-priced homes. Many houses — even small houses — are listed for multiple thousands per night. You may not get a lot of renters at these rates. But, you do get a renter, it will be worth your while.

Plum Guide also encourages long stays and advocates providing a discount for multiple-night bookings.

On the other hand…

You are expected to maintain an up-to-date calendar that assures renters that you’ll say “yes,” when they ask to book a date that’s free. If you turn renters down more than three times, you run afoul of the site’s terms. The result? Plum Guide can bump you from the site.

Moreover, while the site charges homeowners the same commission as Airbnb, it also takes a $400 fee from the first booking. You’ll need to earn a lot on that first stay to make paying that fee worthwhile.

This is probably not a good choice for people who only want to rent a room or house occasionally as a side hustle. But it may work well for those looking for long-term renters for luxury real estate.

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