Choosing a property manager in Costa Ballena
For owners · · 5 min read
The Costa Ballena, from Dominical through Uvita to Ojochal, has a number of property management companies, and their websites promise much the same: inspections, guest support, maintenance, peace of mind. The differences are in how the work is actually done.
These are the questions we would ask if we were the owner. They apply to any company, including ours.
How often is the house inspected, and what is checked?
Ask for the checklist. A real inspection covers the pool, the water system, the roof and drainage, the air conditioning, the connection and the grounds, and it happens every week whether the house is booked or not. On this coast almost every expensive repair was a cheap one a few weeks earlier.
Who answers a guest at night, and who goes to the house?
Things break outside office hours. Ask who picks up, in which languages, and whether someone can physically get to the house. A manager in another town is a different service from one who lives on this coast.
What exactly does the fee cover?
Ask for every component in writing: setup, monthly fee, commission, and how work outside the scope is quoted. A single low percentage is rarely the whole price.
How many houses do you look after?
There is no right number, but there is a right ratio between houses and people. Ask how many homes each person on the team is responsible for, and whether the person you are talking to is the one who will walk your house.
How is the legal side handled?
Short term rentals in Costa Rica have to be registered with the ICT, charge 13% IVA on stays and issue electronic invoices, and some cantons require a municipal patente. Ask which of these the manager runs and which stay with you or your accountant.
What will I see every month?
Ask for a sample statement. You should be able to see what the house earned, what was spent and why, and anything that needs a decision should reach you before the work happens rather than after.
WildRoots is based in Uvita and manages a small number of homes between Dominical and Ojochal. Our answers to these questions are on the page about property management in Costa Ballena.
Frequently asked questions
- Which towns does the Costa Ballena include?
- Dominical, Dominicalito, Uvita, Bahía Ballena and Ojochal, on Costa Rica's South Pacific coast in the canton of Osa.
- Should I choose a manager based in my own town?
- Distance matters less than whether someone can get to the house quickly when something goes wrong. Ask where the team is based and who actually goes.
- Can I change manager if it is not working?
- That depends on the agreement you sign, so read the notice period and what happens to existing bookings before you sign it.
Tell us about your home.
Message the team on WhatsApp, or send an enquiry, with where the house is and how you use it. We answer in English and Spanish, usually within minutes.