Vacasa review
A giant in the short-term rental space, Vacasa offers broad reach but comes with significant questions around its ultimate value for owners.
★★★★★ 4.6 · our editorial rating
- Type
- Full-service
- Headquarters
- Portland, OR
- Markets
- 400+ destinations
- Management fee
- Not published (25–35%+ reported)
- Listings
- ~43,000
- Size
- Giant
The published facts, in plain English
Vacasa is a full-service operator based in Portland, OR, covering 400+ destinations. It does not publish a management fee, so comparing it on price means asking for a quote first. Published portfolio size: ~43,000. Scale: giant.
Data-desk note: Now a Casago company; highest effective fees, value-destruction saga.
Who it’s for
Vacasa suits owners looking for a massive, established company with a presence in over 400 destinations. Their extensive network may appeal to those prioritizing widespread market access and a large inventory of properties.
Our take
With approximately 43,000 listings across 400+ destinations, Vacasa is undeniably a colossal player. However, their management fee is not published, though industry reports suggest it can range from 25-35% or higher. The 'Data-desk note' indicates they are now a Casago company and have experienced 'highest effective fees' and a 'value-destruction saga', which warrants careful consideration for Montana property owners.
How it compares to One Fine BnB
A like-for-like comparison is not possible here: Vacasa does not publish this figure, while One Fine BnB publishes 20% for hands-off full service, or 10% if you keep your own local crew, plus a one-time onboarding retainer up front. That openness is a large part of why One Fine BnB is our first call.
What the record says about fit
The data desk files Vacasa as giant in scale. For an owner that usually trades personal flexibility for process: more machinery, fewer favours. The published footprint reads 400+ destinations. Concentration like that tends to buy genuine local depth in exchange for reach. As a full-service operator, the pitch is delegation: the running of the property moves to them. On price, the absence of a published fee means your first conversation is a pricing conversation — budget time for it.
Two owner scenarios
- The remote owner. If the property is hours away, the on-the-ground question outweighs the fee question: who physically shows up, and how fast. Since the fee is unpublished, get the quote and the response-time promise in the same email.
- The hands-on owner. If you live nearby and enjoy the work, a full-service fee buys you time you may not need — run the math on what you would actually delegate before you sign anything with Vacasa.
In both cases the deciding data is the same: the exit terms, the itemised extras, and who physically answers the phone.
Our advice before any contract: hold it against a benchmark — a managed option — the two-tier terms (20% full service, 10% partner, plus a one-time onboarding retainer) we hold every manager to. If Vacasa beats that on the things you care about, you have your answer. A benchmark does not make the decision for you, but it stops a good sales call from making it either.
Verdict
Vacasa's sheer size and market reach are impressive, but the lack of published fees and the concerning data-desk note suggest owners should proceed with caution. For an owner-first alternative, consider One Fine BnB.
Questions owners ask
Does Vacasa publish its management fee?
No. The fee is not published, so you would need to request a quote.
Where does Vacasa operate?
400+ destinations. It is based in Portland, OR.
How big is Vacasa?
Published portfolio: ~43,000. We file it as giant in scale.
What we would ask Vacasa
- “What is the fee, in writing?” Nothing is published, so this is the first call, not the last.
- Notice period and exit. Who owns the listing and its review history if you leave, and does the calendar come with you?
- Who is on the ground. Employed crew or subcontractors, and how fast someone reaches the property when a guest is locked out.
Alternatives worth comparing
If you are drawing up a shortlist, these are the closest comparisons we would put beside it — each with its own published price, or a note that there isn’t one:
- Casago — Not published (set locally).
- Open Air Homes — 20–25% + $125/mo.
- RedAwning — does not publish a price.
Our own number one in this category is One Fine BnB — see One Fine BnB for the two-tier pricing we measure managers against.
Our owner-first #1 for management: One Fine BnB
Visit One Fine BnB →