Questions hosts ask

No, your site can go live on yourplace.fairhost.co.uk.

Your own, like seaviewcottage.co.uk, is £50, bought in your name, then about £10 a year.

Yes, for free.

If you have your own web address, it's in your name and moves with you.

A fairhost.co.uk address stays here, so you'd point guests to your new site.

Not yet.

Your calendar updates on its own.

Other changes are £10 for a few words, £20 for photos or £40 for a new section, and I tell you the price first.

All your properties go on 1 site.

It's £195 for the first and £75 for each extra property.

Yes.

You pay £50 to start and the £145 only when you're happy.

Nothing for the site.

£10 a year if you keep guest registration, and about £10 a year for your own web address.

Every cost is on the Pricing page.

By bank transfer, which is free, or by card, which costs £40 once to set up.

Stripe takes about 1.5% + 20p on each UK card payment.

When you accept a request, the guest pays the deposit straight to you.

That's by bank transfer, or by card if you have card payments.

Your site reads your booking calendars, such as Airbnb and Booking.com, which can take a few hours to update.

So guests send a request and you accept it once you've checked the dates.

Yes, for £25 a month I set it up so Airbnb and Booking.com update straight away.

Any that gives you a calendar (iCal) link, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and most agencies and channel managers.

You don't need to be on Airbnb.

Most direct guests are happy to, because they've usually stayed before or someone recommended you.

No, the site and the bookings are yours.

If you'd like the admin done for you, I can manage messages and bookings for 15% of booking income.

No, and be wary of anyone who does.

Most new guests will still find you on Airbnb or Booking.com.

Leave a card or a note in the guest book with your web address, so they can book direct next time.

Share your link with past guests and in your emails.

That your web address is in your name and you can leave with your site.

That every ongoing fee is written down, including changes.

Whether it's a flat fee or a percentage of each booking.

Then test a real booking, a cancellation and a date change before you commit.

Guaranteed bookings, pressure to sign up today, long contracts with no clear exit, and no live sites you can look at.

A calendar link (iCal) checks for new bookings every few hours, so there's a gap.

A channel manager updates every site straight away, for a monthly fee.

Bright photos, fast on a phone, a clear Book now button, reviews and easy contact details.

Search it on Google first.

If other properties share it, add your town or something unique to your place.

Keep it short, easy to spell and without hyphens.

Straight to your email.

I don't keep a copy.

No, they're template wording for UK holiday lets that you can adapt.

If you want certainty, ask a solicitor to check your version.