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Utilities and Fees: Showing the Real Monthly Cost

This screen answers the question every guest has: on top of rent, what does this actually cost me? Here is how to fill it in.

The itsFurnished Team·

Utilities and Fees: Showing the Real Monthly Cost

Rent is rarely the whole number. This screen answers the question every guest has: on top of rent, what does this cost me?

Utilities

  • Included in the rent: your monthly price is just the rent.
  • Not included: enter one monthly amount. If guests pay the actual bills, enter a typical month.

If utilities are not included, guests see rent plus utilities as your monthly price, so every home is compared all-in. Guests are told the amount is set by you and actual bills may vary.

Covering some utilities but not others? Pick not included and enter one amount for the ones guests pay. Including everything is a real selling point: nobody staying three months wants to open a power account.

Parking

If your home has parking, say whether it is free or costs extra, and if so, how much per month. Parking is not part of your monthly price, since not every guest has a car.

One-time fees

Add any fee a guest pays once, like a security deposit, a cleaning fee, an application fee, or a pet deposit. If none fits, add your own with a short name saying what it is for.

Mark a deposit refundable if you intend to return it at the end of the stay. Guests see it tagged that way, which makes a large deposit much easier to accept.

Any other recurring cost belongs in rent.

Check the preview

As you fill this in, a preview shows the cost breakdown guests will see. If a number surprises you, it will surprise a guest.

Fewer fees is a feature

A long list of small charges reads as a warning sign. Between two homes with the same rent, a guest picks the one with simpler costs. Fold what you can into rent, and list real fees plainly.

How payment works

Guests pay you directly. itsFurnished never handles payments between you and your guest. What you enter here sets expectations; collecting it is between you and them.

Common questions

What does "included" mean for utilities?
Utilities are covered by rent, so your monthly price is just the rent. Not included means you enter a monthly utilities amount, and guests see rent plus that amount as the price.
What if I cover some utilities but not others?
Choose not included and enter one monthly amount for the utilities guests pay.
What one-time fees can I add?
Common ones like a security deposit, cleaning fee, application fee, or pet deposit, plus any fee you name yourself.
Which charges are monthly and which are one-time?
Utilities and parking are monthly. Utilities join rent in your monthly price, and parking is an optional monthly charge for guests who park. Every other fee is one-time.
Should I mark a deposit as refundable?
Yes, if you intend to return it. Guests see it tagged as refundable, which makes a large deposit far easier to accept.
Does itsFurnished collect fees or rent for me?
No. itsFurnished never handles payments between hosts and guests. Guests pay you directly.
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