Fixed-Price vs Hourly Airbnb Stylist: What to Ask First

If you've asked a few designers or stylists to help with a rental, you've probably had quotes in completely different shapes. One charges by the hour, another quotes a flat project fee, a third takes a percentage of the furniture budget. It's hard to compare them side by side.

Here's a plain guide to the two most common models, and the questions that make any quote easier to judge.

Hourly: you pay for time

With hourly billing you pay for every hour the designer works, often against a retainer paid upfront. US guides for short-term rental design put typical hourly rates at roughly $75–$250 (STR Cribs). Rates in Prague and the rest of Europe vary, so always ask for a local quote.

Where hourly works well:

• A short consultation, when you just want an expert's eye on the flat
• Open-ended projects where the scope will change as you go
• Advisory work, like reviewing a plan you've already made

Where it can bite:

• You don't know the final cost until the end
• Shopping trips, revisions and messages all count as hours
• Comparing two hourly quotes tells you the rate, not the total

If you go hourly, ask for a time estimate and a written cap, so you can approve anything above it.

Fixed price: you pay for a defined result

A fixed fee covers a set list of deliverables: for example a moodboard, a shopping list, one styling day and photo-day prep. The same STR Cribs guide notes that flat fees work best when the rooms, deliverables and revision rounds are clearly defined.

Where fixed price works well:

• Rentals that need a known job done: a refresh before new photos, or a full set-up for an empty flat
• Hosts and co-hosts with several units who want the same cost every time
• Anyone who wants to know the fee before work starts

Where it can bite:

• If the scope isn't written down, "fixed" can quietly grow extras
• Changes outside the package are usually billed separately, so check how

Furniture is a separate question

Whatever the fee model, ask who buys the furniture and décor, and whether there's a markup. Some studios buy items for you and add a percentage. Others give you a shopping list and you pay the shops directly. Neither is wrong, but you should know which one you're getting, because it changes the real total.

7 questions to ask before you book

1. What exactly is included? Ask for a list: moodboard, layout, shopping list, number of days on site, photo-day styling.
2. How many revisions? And what does an extra one cost?
3. Who buys the items, and is there a markup?
4. Is assembly included? Or do you need a handyman too?
5. Is the photographer included? Usually not, so budget for it separately.
6. Travel costs? Especially if the flat is outside the city.
7. What's the timeline? It often depends on delivery times, not on the stylist.

A good stylist answers all seven in writing before you pay anything.

How we do it

Styled & Booked works on fixed fees, listed publicly on our Packages page. The fee covers design and styling only. You buy furniture and décor directly from retailers, on a budget agreed in writing first, and we never mark up items. Delivery, assembly beyond the styling day, and the photographer are paid by you directly. That way every cost is visible.

Sofia is based in Prague and works on site with hosts across Europe. Travel across the EU is quoted upfront with the package fee. Getting a Prague flat ready? Start with the Prague Airbnb styling checklist.

Not sure what you need yet?

Send us your listing link. We'll reply with 3 priority fixes, free, within 2 working days, and you can decide from there whether you need a package at all. Get a free Photo Check or see the packages.

Styled & Booked · Styled by Sofia