The financial documents that matter most
Before writing an offer, request twelve to twenty-four months of platform-generated revenue exports (not a seller's spreadsheet), a breakdown of cleaning, supply and management costs, and the property's tax and insurance history.
If the listing is new to short-term rental use and has no platform history, ask for comparable-market data instead -- occupancy and ADR for similar properties nearby -- so the projection is grounded in real performance rather than an optimistic pro forma.
The compliance and physical documents that matter next
Confirm short-term rental permit or license status directly with the local jurisdiction, not just from the seller's word, since regulations and caps change and a listing's current status can lapse.
Round out the checklist with a standard home inspection, an HVAC and roof age check, and a furnishings inventory if the sale includes contents -- all of which a done-for-you acquisition process coordinates as part of underwriting a shortlisted property.
BNB Accelerator's acquisitions team, led by Nick Korom, screens over 1,000 short-term rental listings a week and hand-delivers the roughly 2% that clear underwriting. Book a free consultation to see what a done-for-you short-term rental acquisition looks like for your situation.
Frequently asked
Do I need all of this before I even tour a property?
No -- financial and compliance documents come first since they can disqualify a listing before you spend time touring. Physical inspection happens once a listing has cleared the financial and compliance screen.
What if a seller won't provide platform revenue exports?
That's a significant red flag. A seller with genuinely strong performance has every incentive to share verifiable data; reluctance to provide it is a reason to move on or discount the asking price heavily.