Frequently asked

Every question we get — answered honestly.

Thirty-eight real questions from owners, grouped by topic. If you can't find what you need, use the search box below or call us directly. We answer every inquiry within one business day.

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What exactly does Coastal Haven do?

We're a full-service short-term rental management company. We handle pricing, guest communication, cleaning, maintenance, compliance, and payouts on behalf of property owners. You keep ownership of your property and your listings; we run the daily operations.

Which cities do you currently manage?

Miami Beach (South Beach, Mid-Beach, North Beach), Bal Harbour, Surfside, Downtown Miami, Brickell, and Coral Gables. We open new zones quarterly based on owner demand — if your neighborhood isn't listed, still reach out, we may already be considering it.

How long has Coastal Haven been operating?

Since 2016. We were founded by two Miami Beach residents and remain independently owned. No private equity ownership, no franchise model — one team, one market, one standard.

What types of properties do you manage?

Studios, one- to four-bedroom condos, townhouses, and single-family homes. We don't currently manage hostels, shared-room rentals, or commercial event spaces.

How many properties do you manage right now?

As of early 2026, we manage 240+ properties with a team of 22 full-time employees. That's roughly 11 properties per team member, which is intentionally low — it's how we keep response times under five minutes.

Do you work with out-of-state or international owners?

Yes — about 40% of our owners live outside Florida. That's actually the case we were built for. You get full remote visibility through the owner dashboard, and we're physically on-site whenever something needs attention.

How long does onboarding take?

Four business days from signed agreement to live listing. Day 1: property walkthrough and photography. Day 2: listing setup and pricing calibration. Day 3: compliance filings and smart-lock installation. Day 4: listing goes live across all platforms.

Is there a setup fee?

No. Onboarding, listing creation, initial photography, and smart-lock setup are included at no charge. You pay nothing until your first booking.

What do you need from me to get started?

Four things: proof of ownership, your current insurance policy, the property's HOA rules if applicable, and access to the unit. That's it. We handle the rest.

Do I need to be in Miami for the walkthrough?

No. We do a video walkthrough over FaceTime or Zoom if you're not local, and you'll receive a full photo report of the property once it's set up.

Can I keep my existing Airbnb listing?

Yes, and we recommend it. Your listing keeps its reviews, its Superhost status, and its search history. We take over as a co-host, not as a replacement. You retain ownership of the account.

What if my property is mid-renovation or not guest-ready?

We offer a pre-launch consulting package that covers staging, furnishing, photography, and setup. You can onboard before the property is guest-ready — we simply schedule the launch for after the renovation wraps.

Who cleans the property between guests?

Our in-house housekeeping team. We do not subcontract cleaning. Every turnover follows a 42-point checklist and is documented with timestamped photos before the next guest arrives.

How quickly do you respond to maintenance issues?

Urgent issues (AC, plumbing, lock failures, internet) get a same-day response. Non-urgent repairs are typically scheduled within 48 hours. Our in-house handyman handles most small fixes on the first visit.

Do you mark up maintenance or cleaning?

No. Parts, labor, and cleaning are passed through to you at cost. There is no markup — not on cleaning, not on repairs, not on supplies. Our only revenue is the management fee.

What about linens and supplies?

We maintain a linen inventory for each property with hotel-grade quality standards. Linens are replaced on a rolling basis as they wear out. Consumables (toiletries, paper goods, coffee) are restocked between guests and billed at cost.

How often do you physically inspect the property?

Signature and Elite plan properties get bi-weekly inspections with photo reports. Essential plan properties get a monthly inspection. All inspections include a full walkthrough and a written summary.

What happens if a guest damages the property?

We document the damage with photos and a written report, file a claim through the platform's damage protection or your insurance (whichever applies), and follow up until the claim is resolved. If it's a small item, we replace it and bill the guest directly.

How is the management fee calculated?

A percentage of gross booking revenue — the amount the guest pays for nights stayed. Cleaning fees, taxes, and refundable deposits are excluded from the base. Rates: 12% (Essential), 18% (Signature), 25% (Elite).

Are there any hidden fees?

None. No setup fee, no onboarding fee, no photography fee, no compliance fee, no exit fee. The management percentage is the only charge on your statement that isn't a pass-through cost like cleaning or a repair invoice.

When do I receive my payouts?

On the 10th of every month via ACH or wire transfer. Your statement includes a full breakdown: gross revenue, platform fees, cleaning, maintenance, and our management fee. All funds are held in segregated accounts.

Can I switch between plans?

Yes. All plans are month-to-month. Upgrade or downgrade with 30 days' written notice. Changes take effect on the first of the following month. No penalties, no re-signing bonuses.

Is there a minimum contract?

No minimum term. You can leave with 30 days' notice and there is no exit fee. We do ask for a 90-day trial period so we have time to prove performance — the same period our guarantee covers.

What about refunds and cancellations?

If a guest cancels and we process the refund, there's no fee from us. Our commission applies only to nights that are actually stayed. Cancellation policies are set with your input at onboarding and can be changed at any time.

Do I need a license to rent short-term in Miami Beach?

Yes. Miami Beach requires a Business Tax Receipt (BTR), a Certificate of Use, and registration with the Florida Department of Revenue. Enforcement is real — unlicensed operators get fined. We handle all filings for you as part of our service.

Who collects and remits resort tax?

We do. Miami-Dade County charges 6% tourist tax plus 7% Florida state sales tax on short-term stays under 6 months. We collect it from guests, remit it to the correct authorities, and provide you with documentation for your tax filing.

What if my condo HOA bans short-term rentals?

If your HOA prohibits rentals under 30 days, we can still help — but only with longer-term (30+ day) corporate housing or seasonal rentals. We'll tell you honestly during the discovery call if your property qualifies for short-term rental at all.

Are you insured?

Yes. Coastal Haven carries $2M general liability and $1M professional errors and omissions coverage. This is separate from your property insurance policy, which we recommend you keep active and tailored for short-term rental use.

Do you handle IRS reporting for me?

We provide monthly and annual statements formatted for IRS Schedule E and 1099 reporting. We don't act as your CPA, but everything you need for your accountant is in your dashboard and included with your year-end packet.

What if the city changes short-term rental rules?

We monitor regulatory changes monthly and notify affected owners immediately. If a change impacts your property's ability to operate short-term, we'll walk you through the options — longer-term stays, legal challenges, or a managed exit — with no pressure either way.

What's included in the owner dashboard?

Real-time bookings, revenue, expenses, cleaning status, maintenance tickets, guest messages, and upcoming stays. Updated hourly. Accessible from any browser or mobile device. You can export any report as CSV or PDF.

Do you install smart locks?

Yes — Schlage Encode or August smart locks, included in onboarding. Guest codes are generated automatically per stay and expire at checkout. No key handoffs, no lockbox codes floating around.

How does the dynamic pricing engine work?

Our algorithm re-prices your listing nightly against local demand, competitor availability, event calendars, weather, and historical booking curves. It's not a rule-based tool — it's a model we built and tune in-house.

Do I get mobile notifications?

Yes. You can opt in to notifications for new bookings, cancellations, guest messages, maintenance events, or payouts. All notifications are configurable — turn off the ones you don't care about.

Can I integrate with my accounting software?

Elite plan owners get real-time API access compatible with QuickBooks, Xero, and most major accounting platforms. Signature and Essential owners get monthly CSV exports you can import into any system.

Is my financial data secure?

Yes. Payouts are processed through PCI-DSS compliant banking infrastructure. Owner funds are held in segregated accounts and never co-mingled with operating funds. We never store full bank details on our servers.

How fast do you respond to guest inquiries?

Under five minutes on average, 24 hours a day. Inquiries are handled by our guest support desk — a real person in Miami Beach, not a chatbot or overseas call center.

Do you screen guests before booking?

Yes. Every booking is screened for ID verification, prior review history, and platform account age. We decline bookings that show red flags — our owners lose less than 0.4% of bookings to damages, compared to the industry average of 2–3%.

What happens if a guest leaves a bad review?

If the review violates platform policy (personal information, discrimination, retribution), we file a dispute. If it's a legitimate complaint, we respond professionally, correct the issue, and follow up with the guest to see if they'll update the review. Since 2022, we've successfully revised 68% of disputed reviews.

Can I block specific dates or guests?

Yes. From your owner dashboard, you can block any dates you want — for personal use, maintenance, or anything else. You can also blacklist specific guests permanently. No fees on blocked dates.

What languages do you support for guests?

English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Hebrew. Miami's guest mix is heavily international, so this covers about 97% of our inbound inquiries natively.

Do you handle the guest guidebook?

Yes. Every property gets a custom digital guidebook with wifi, parking, check-in/check-out, appliance instructions, and personalized local recommendations. Guests access it via a link sent 24 hours before arrival.

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