How to Get the Most Out of Your Stay Partnership

How to Get the Most Out of Your Stay Partnership

Whether you joined Stay recently or have been with us for a while, a few simple setup steps can make a big difference in how your listings perform.

These aren’t things you need to manage constantly. Most of them are “set it up right once, check occasionally” best practices that help ensure your properties get the visibility and engagement they deserve.

Here’s how to make sure your Stay partnership is working at its best.

1. Make Your First Three Photos Count

Your top three property photos are your most important visual assets.

They appear:

  • On your search pages
  • In marketing placements
  • In preview cards across the site

Because of this, they strongly influence whether a traveler clicks.

We recommend having variety in your first three images:

  • One exterior shot (if applicable)
  • One standout feature (pool, view, patio, etc.)
  • One inviting interior space (living room, main bedroom, open kitchen)

Avoid using:

  • Hallways
  • Appliances
  • Repetitive angles
  • Three similar interior shots

A strong mix helps your listing stand out and perform better across the platform.

2. Clean Up and Strengthen Your Property Descriptions

Your description helps both travelers and search engines understand what makes your property special.

If you’re connected through a PMS, updates usually need to happen there. Once updated, they’ll sync to Stay.

If your description hasn’t been reviewed in a while, it’s worth refreshing it.

You can use this prompt with ChatGPT or another AI tool to improve what you already have:

Here is my current property description:
[PASTE DESCRIPTION HERE]

Rewrite this into a high-performing vacation rental description optimized for both search engines and guest conversion.

Requirements:

  • Keep it between 120–150 words
  • Clearly state property type, bedroom count, and location in the first 1–2 sentences
  • Naturally incorporate relevant location keywords (city, neighborhood, nearby attractions)
  • Highlight the top 3–5 most valuable amenities
  • Remove repetitive or generic language
  • Avoid clichés (no “dream vacation,” “home away from home,” “perfect getaway,” etc.)
  • Do not add features that are not mentioned in the original text
  • Keep tone professional, clear, and welcoming
  • Use short paragraphs for mobile readability

The result should feel trustworthy, polished, and differentiated from typical short-term rental descriptions.

This helps you keep your content accurate while making it more compelling.

3. Polish Your Host Profile

Your host page is your professional introduction to travelers.

It’s worth taking a few minutes to make sure:

  • Your company description is clear
  • Your branding and logo look good
  • Your information is up to date

Many property managers set this once and don’t revisit it, so if you haven’t checked yours in a while, it’s a good idea to review it!

A strong host profile builds trust and supports higher inquiry rates.

4. Send Yourself a Test Inquiry (At Least Once)

This is a simple step that helps prevent issues later.

After setup (or anytime you make major changes) it’s smart to send yourself a test inquiry to confirm:

  • You’re receiving emails
  • Notifications aren’t going to spam
  • Your team sees inquiries quickly

You don’t need to do this often. Once in a while is enough. It’s just a quick way to make sure everything is working smoothly.

5. Quickly Review Calendar and Pricing Sync

If you’re connected through a PMS, syncing works automatically. Still, it’s helpful to verify once:

  • Availability looks correct
  • No blocked dates are missing
  • Pricing appears as expected

This avoids confusion for guests and prevents missed opportunities.

6. Have a Clear Plan for Handling Stay Inquiries

Getting more inquiries only helps if they’re handled quickly and consistently.

For many property managers, Stay inquiries already flow directly into their PMS or central inbox alongside other booking requests. We’re actively expanding these integrations across our partners to make this process even smoother.

If your Stay inquiries are already landing in the same system you use for Airbnb, Vrbo, and direct bookings, you’re in great shape.

If not, it’s important to create a simple process for managing them. This doesn’t need to be complicated. The goal is simply to make sure no guest inquiry gets missed.

We recommend:

  • Designating a primary inbox view for Stay inquiries
  • Setting up email rules or alerts so they’re easy to spot
  • Assigning clear ownership within your team for responses
  • Confirming response times meet your internal standards

Even a basic system makes a major difference. Fast, reliable follow-up improves guest trust, increases booking likelihood, and helps you get more value from every inquiry.

A few minutes spent setting this up can prevent missed opportunities down the road.

Think of This as “Set Up for Success”

Most of these steps are things you do once, then revisit only occasionally.

They’re designed to help you:

  • Present your properties professionally
  • Improve click-through and inquiries
  • Reduce friction in the booking process
  • Make sure your listings perform as well as possible

If you’ve already done most of this, great. If not, taking a little time to review these areas can have a meaningful impact.

But there’s one situation where it’s especially important to revisit them: when you make major updates to your business If you:

  • Redesign your website
  • Change booking URLs
  • Switch PMS systems
  • Update branding or company name
  • Adjust how you route inquiries internally
  • Make significant changes to your listings

A quick heads-up allows us to review your setup, confirm everything is working correctly, and ensure you don’t lose visibility or miss inquiries during transitions.

And as always, our team is here to support you if you ever have questions or need help optimizing your listings.