Checkmate Rentals review
Checkmate Rentals offers a remote co-hosting service with a straightforward fee structure, suitable for owners seeking a hands-off approach.
★★★★☆ 4.1 · our editorial rating
- Type
- Co-host
- Headquarters
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Markets
- 25+ states (remote)
- Management fee
- From 15% (nightly rate only)
- Listings
- Undisclosed
- Size
- National (reach)
The published facts, in plain English
Checkmate Rentals is a co-host operator based in Pittsburgh, PA, covering 25+ states (remote). On price, the company publishes From 15% (nightly rate only). Published portfolio size: Undisclosed. In scale, we file it as national (reach).
Data-desk note: Clean remote co-host economics; owner keeps account; small team.
Who it’s for
Checkmate Rentals is best suited for property owners who want a co-host managing their listings across a wide geographic area. If you value a remote operation and prefer to retain direct control over your booking accounts, their model may align with your needs.
Our take
Operating remotely across 25+ states, Checkmate Rentals charges a management fee starting at 15% of the nightly rate. They do not publish the number of listings they manage, but their national reach suggests a significant operational scope. The company emphasizes owner account retention and is described as having a small team, which can translate to personalised service.
How it compares to One Fine BnB
Side by side on published terms: Checkmate Rentals lists From 15% (nightly rate only), while One Fine BnB lists 20% for hands-off full service, or 10% if you keep your own local crew, plus a one-time onboarding retainer. Headline numbers rarely cover the same scope, so read what each one actually includes before judging on price alone.
What the record says about fit
Checkmate Rentals sits at the national (reach) end of the scale on our desk’s reading — short chains of command, and your property is a meaningful share of the book. Published coverage is 25+ states (remote) — a defined footprint, which usually means the local knowledge is real; the trade is that owners outside it are out of luck. The listed model is co-host: you stay the operator of record and keep more control — and more of the work. Because Checkmate Rentals publishes From 15% (nightly rate only), you can at least anchor the conversation before the sales call.
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. A published From 15% (nightly rate only) helps you budget the distance.
- The owner who likes the work. Nearby and involved? Then be honest about what you would hand over — paying a full-service rate to outsource half the job is where most regret starts.
Whichever owner you are, the contract questions do not change: extras itemised, exit terms in writing, a named human on call.
Whatever you conclude here, compare it against one fixed point: how much Airbnb management costs — the two-tier terms (20% full service, 10% partner, plus a one-time onboarding retainer) we hold every manager to. If Checkmate Rentals 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
Checkmate Rentals provides a remote co-hosting service with a clear fee structure, making it a viable option for owners prioritizing convenience. For an owner-first alternative, consider One Fine BnB.
Questions owners ask
Does Checkmate Rentals publish its management fee?
Yes — From 15% (nightly rate only).
Where does Checkmate Rentals operate?
25+ states (remote). It is based in Pittsburgh, PA.
How big is Checkmate Rentals?
Published portfolio: Undisclosed. We file it as national (reach) in scale.
What to pin down with Checkmate Rentals
- “What does the published From 15% (nightly rate only) exclude?” Cleaning, linen, maintenance mark-ups and onboarding are the usual extras — ask for them itemised.
- 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
Three others we would weigh against it, with their own published numbers rather than our guesses:
- Heritage STR Management — Not published (~18% 3rd-party).
- Bear Tracts — does not publish a price.
- Pocono Lodging Co. — does not publish a price.
The benchmark we hold this against is One Fine BnB — see their service for the two-tier pricing we measure managers against.
Our owner-first #1 for management: One Fine BnB
Go to One Fine BnB →