The first fourteen days: what happens between agreement and the first booking

Week one: survey and listing

Days one to three: viewing and photography. We come once, look at the flat and photograph it — both in a single appointment, because a second visit means a second effort for you. For the photographs we need the flat tidy and free of personal items; whatever we notice and think should be added, we tell you the same day.

Days three to five: image selection and listing text. Around eighty shots become fifteen to twenty, and the first image decides more than the others together — it stands in the results list, where the decision is made.

Days five to seven: the listing is created, on your account. If you already have one with reviews, we carry on within it rather than starting afresh; reviews accumulate on the account and are the value that builds over years.

Week two: prices, calendar, access

Days eight to ten: pricing and calendar. A base price by location, size and fittings, and on top of that season, day of the week and the Zurich events calendar. Along with the minimum stay and your own blocked periods — if you want to use the flat yourself, we block that now rather than later, because bookings come in months ahead.

Days ten to twelve: access. An electronic lock with a changing code where possible — it separates the key handover from being present, and that is the point at which self-management fails in practice. With condominium ownership, replacing the cylinder may require the association’s consent; you check that, we only propose it.

Days twelve to fourteen: cleaning partner, laundry logistics, consumables. And the trial run: we go through the flat with the checklist that will also apply at every later changeover.

What rests with you in these two weeks

Four things, and three of them we cannot do for you.

• Clarify admissibility under zoning law with the municipality — the information is free of charge and binding only from there.
• Under a tenancy, obtain the landlord’s written consent before the listing goes online.
• Registration as a provider of accommodation for guest reporting. The duty lies with the host and is not transferable; we supply the occupancy data for it.
• Clear away personal items and create a lockable place for whatever is to stay.

What causes delay

Three things, regularly.

Missing furniture. Then the start depends on procurement, and beds and textiles have the longest delivery times. We put a list together before you buy.

An unclear position under zoning law. If information has to be obtained from the municipality, allow two to four weeks. That is the most frequent reason two weeks turn into six.

And the landlord’s consent for rented properties. It should be in hand before the first listing goes online — not afterwards.

And then

The first booking rarely comes the day after publication. A new listing has no reviews, and review volume is one of the strongest ranking factors — reckon on six months to market occupancy.

What helps in the first weeks: a price below the one you want to charge later. The first five reviews are worth more than the difference, and the gap between zero and five reviews is large — the one between 45 and 50 is small.

From the first month you receive the statement with every item listed separately. And if it is not working, we say so rather than waiting until you ask.