Your first 30 days as a host: a step-by-step checklist

Where do you start when you decide to rent out your property for the first time? Between photos, prices, rules, payments and keys, it is easy to feel you have to do everything at once. You don't. With a clear order, the first month becomes manageable.

This guide gives you a plan for your first 30 days as a host, week by week. You will see what to decide before you publish, how to finish setting up your account, how to prepare day-to-day operations and what to review when the month closes.

Key Takeaways

• Before you publish, define your offer: type of stay, price, rules and cancellation policy.
• On SimpleStay, setup has three steps: verify your identity, add your listing and set up payouts.
• Get operations ready before the first booking: cleaning, keys, messages and emergency contacts.
• At the end of the month, review what worked and adjust price, photos or rules.

Table of Contents

• Week 1: define your offer
• Week 2: complete the SimpleStay checklist
• Week 3: prepare your operations
• Week 4: review and adjust

Week 1: define your offer

Before you open any form, make the business decisions. A clear listing comes from an owner who knows what they want to offer.

What kind of stay you want

Think about whether you want nightly guests, 3, 6 or 12-month renters, or both. Short stays usually bring more activity and more cleaning. Long stays mean fewer arrivals and departures, but each empty month weighs more. Also decide the minimum number of nights you accept and what times you want check-in and check-out. If you are weighing the two models, our comparison of short-term vs 3, 6 and 12-month rentals goes deeper.

Price, rules and cancellations

Look at similar properties in your area to get a price reference. Write your house rules: smoking, parties, visitors, pets and quiet hours. Then choose how flexible you want to be with cancellations.

If you have questions about your tax obligations, such as registering with the DGII, getting an RNC or whether ITBIS applies to you, this is the time to talk to a licensed accountant. This guide is not legal or tax advice. To learn about the institution, you can visit the website of the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos.

Week 2: complete the SimpleStay checklist

When you sign up as a host on SimpleStay, your dashboard shows a three-step checklist. Do the steps in this order:

1. Verify your identity. You complete a government ID check through Stripe Identity. When it is done, your profile shows the Verified Host badge. The badge verifies who you are, not the property.
2. Add your listing. Choose from nine property types, upload your photos, set bedrooms, beds, bathrooms and capacity, and set a nightly price, a monthly price or both. Add an optional cleaning fee, the minimum stay, check-in and check-out times, house rules, amenities and your cancellation policy. Enter the address and drop the pin. Guests see only the approximate area until they book.
3. Set up payouts. On the Payouts page you complete Stripe onboarding once. In the Dominican Republic you can receive payouts to a local account in pesos through Stripe Global Payouts.

Your free trial

Every new listing gets a free trial of 30 days, or 7 days for listings located in the United States. After that it costs US$50 a month per property, with 0% SimpleStay commission. Billing runs through Stripe and you can cancel anytime. Stripe processing, bank fees, currency conversion and taxes may apply separately.

Instant Book or approval

Decide whether guests book instantly or you approve each request. With approval, the guest has 72 hours to pay after you accept. Long stays are always request-to-book, and SimpleStay does not ask for a guarantor or handle deposits or rent: you and the renter agree those terms directly in the Inbox.

Week 3: prepare your operations

A published listing is not a ready business. The first booking can arrive at any moment, and everything should be in place before it does.

What should be ready

• A cleaning checklist with the steps and supplies for each room.
• Spare bedding and towels for at least two stays.
• A clear key system: a lockbox, an in-person handover or someone you trust.
• Saved messages: welcome, arrival instructions and a checkout reminder.
• A house guide with the wifi details, how the air conditioning works and useful contacts.
• Phone numbers for a plumber, an electrician and someone who can open the door if you are away.

If you live far from the property

Many Dominican owners manage their property from the United States. If that is you, decide now who handles check-ins, cleaning and repairs, and write down exactly what you expect in each case. You can invite a co-host by email for each property. They can manage details, photos, pricing, availability, bookings and messages from their own Co-Host dashboard, but they cannot publish, bill or change payouts. The clearer the agreement, the fewer midnight calls.

Week 4: review and adjust

When the first month closes, look at your listing through a guest's eyes. Ask yourself whether the photos show what is really there, whether the price is easy to understand and whether the rules are clear.

Questions for your review

Did you get questions your listing should have answered? Add the answers to the description. Did a guest get confused on arrival? Improve your instructions. Do your dates reflect your real availability? Check them one by one. If the first booking has not arrived yet, don't get discouraged: no listing comes with a guarantee of bookings, so review photos, price and minimum stay before you change everything.

Ask for and reply to reviews

After each checkout, the guest can rate cleanliness, accuracy, communication, location and value, and you can review the guest. Reply to reviews respectfully. Future guests read every reply too.

A month to start in order

Your first month as a host does not have to be perfect, just organized. With your offer defined, your account set up and your operations ready, each booking gets easier than the last. When it is time to charge guests, read our guide on how to get paid by guests as a Dominican Republic host.

Start your SimpleStay checklist today. Every new listing gets a free trial of 30 days, or 7 days for listings in the United States, and then US$50 a month per property, with no SimpleStay commission per booking.

List your property with a free trial

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to get started as a host on SimpleStay?

Three steps: verify your identity with Stripe Identity, add your listing and set up payouts with Stripe. Your host dashboard shows which ones you still need to finish.

How long is the free trial?

Every new listing gets 30 days free, or 7 days if the property is located in the United States. After that it costs US$50 a month per property and you can cancel anytime.

What does the Verified Host badge mean?

It means you completed a government ID check through Stripe Identity. It verifies your identity as a host, not the property.

Can I receive payouts in Dominican pesos?

Yes. Hosts in the Dominican Republic can receive payouts to a local bank account in pesos through Stripe Global Payouts. Bank fees and currency conversion may apply.

Do I need to register with the DGII to rent out my property?

It depends on your situation. This guide is not legal or tax advice. Ask a licensed accountant about your obligations with the DGII, the RNC and ITBIS before you receive your first bookings.