How We Took an Etobicoke Condo from 39% to 86% Occupancy in Four Months

The results at a glance

In our first four months, this condo went from a mostly closed calendar to a nearly full one, without losing a single star.

• 39% to 86% occupancy across all nights, January to June vs. July to October 2026
• Blocked nights down from 61% to 5%, so almost the whole calendar became bookable
• 5.0 guest rating every month since we took over, with 12 reviews, all five stars
• Fall rates held at peak: September and October nightly rates were 36% and 62% higher than the same months last year

The property and the host

The property is a one-bedroom condo on a high floor in Etobicoke, about 15 minutes' drive from downtown Toronto. It sleeps four, has a large balcony with skyline and lake views, and includes parking.

The host had three years of hosting behind her, a 4.9-plus rating and Guest Favourite status. On paper, the listing was in great shape. In practice, it had stalled: in the first half of 2026, 61% of its nights were blocked and occupancy across the calendar was 39%.

What we found

The first thing we did was walk the unit with fresh eyes. A listing with strong reviews can still have problems that guests notice before they ever write a word.

The biggest one was the dishwasher. It had a persistent odour that the host had tried to fix several times without success, and she had eventually given up on it. In a one-bedroom condo, a smell from the kitchen reaches every room, and it is the kind of detail that turns a five-star stay into a four.

We inspected the unit, brought in a cleaning professional, and removed the odour at the source. It was a small fix with an outsized effect: every review since has been five stars.

The second issue was the calendar itself. Most nights were blocked, so even a great listing had little room to earn. We opened the calendar back up and set the unit up to take bookings again.

Why cleaning standards drive reviews

Cleanliness is the review category guests judge first and forgive least. A spotless unit rarely earns a mention, but one off smell, a stained towel or a dusty corner shows up in the rating.

We hold every turnover to the same standard, and we look past the visible surfaces:

• Appliances: dishwashers, fridges, ovens and filters, where odours start
• Linens and towels: checked for wear and replaced before guests notice
• Soft surfaces: sofas, pull-outs and mattress toppers that hold smells
• Restocking: the essentials guests expect without having to ask

The result in this unit: last summer, the rating dipped to 4.33 in August. This summer, it stayed at 5.0 every month.

Making the listing easier to find and book

A full calendar starts with being seen. Once the unit was ready, we worked on how the listing presents itself to guests searching in the west end.

• [Confirm with Ali] Title and description changes, e.g. leading with the skyline view, parking and the 15-minute drive downtown
• [Confirm with Ali] Photo updates or reordering
• [Confirm with Ali] Pricing and minimum-stay settings adjusted by season
• Fast, consistent guest communication, with a 100% response rate and replies within an hour

The payoff showed in the fall. Last year, nightly rates dropped sharply after summer. This year, September and October rates stayed close to peak, and occupancy from July to October averaged 86%.

The Etobicoke market

Etobicoke works for short-term rentals because it gives guests the city without the downtown price or parking hassle.

• Location: about 15 minutes' drive to downtown Toronto, with quick highway access
• Everyday convenience: grocery stores, restaurants, a cinema and Sherway Gardens nearby
• Views: high-floor condos with skyline and lake views, which guests mention again and again in reviews
• Who books: couples, families and travelling professionals, many staying four to five nights

The results in detail

We compared the six months before Oakwood took over (January to June 2026) with our first four months (July to October 2026).

Occupancy rose from 39% to 86%. The unit went from 71 booked nights in six months to 106 booked nights in four, more than doubling the nights booked per month.

Blocked nights fell from 61% to 5%. Almost every night of the calendar became available to guests, and almost every available night was booked.

Every guest rating since has been five stars. The monthly average has been 5.0 from July to October, across 12 reviews. Over the same months last year, it averaged 4.83.

Fall rates held. Last year, the nightly rate fell to around $154 in September and $119 in October. This year, it held at around $210 and $193.

Status kept: the listing has a 4.91 overall rating, Guest Favourite status and a Superhost host.

All figures come from the property's booking data in our management platform. Occupancy is booked nights divided by all nights in the period.

Is your listing earning what it should?

Good reviews don't always mean a listing is performing. If your calendar has gaps, your rates drop after summer, or a small problem keeps showing up in reviews, we can help.

We come on as your co-host, so the account stays yours. You keep the income, and we take the day-to-day work off your hands for a 20% commission on booking revenue, with no hidden charges.

Book a free revenue estimate call and we'll walk through your property with you.

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