The Short Answer
Vet a provider the way you would any large financial decision: verify who they are, how they get paid, what they have actually delivered, and what you can do if things go wrong. Apply this checklist to every provider, including BnB Accelerator, which owns this site.
Business and Identity
- Confirm the legal entity, its state registration, and how long it has operated.
- Check licensing where required. Providers that broker real estate typically need a license in the states where they operate.
- Read what the company says it is not, such as a lender or CPA, and find who fills those roles.
Fees and Incentives
- Get all fees in writing: upfront, per-property, percentage-based, and ongoing.
- Ask whether the company receives referral fees, commissions, or markups from agents, lenders, contractors, or furnishing vendors.
- Ask if their compensation depends on purchase price or on your results.
Track Record
- Ask for actual trailing results for comparable properties, including the weakest ones.
- Speak with several past clients, and specifically ask for someone whose property underperformed.
- Read independent review sites and complaint records, and separate them from the company's own materials.
- Treat any guaranteed return as a red flag.
Deal Process
- Request a sample underwriting with visible assumptions and downside cases.
- Confirm you make the final purchase decision and hold title in your name or entity.
- Confirm the regulatory check is done before closing. See permit requirements.
Contract and Exit
- Have your own attorney review the agreement.
- Clarify refund terms, cancellation, and what happens if no deal closes.
- Confirm you control the platform accounts, reviews, and financial records after launch.
- Understand how to terminate ongoing management and transfer the listing.
More Questions
See the questions to ask before hiring and our comparison of done-for-you and coaching models.