← Back homeHow the Match Score works
Seasonal rentals aren't a volume game — they're a fit game. A 4-month winter tenant is a relationship, not a weekend booking. That's why every inquiry on WinterRentals.co is scored out of 100, with each point explained line by line. No black box. No AI guesswork. Same inputs always produce the same score.
The rubric
Income vs rent
Up to 25 points
3x or more rent earns full credit; 2.5x earns 18; 2x earns 10; below 2x earns 0. Renters who skip the income field still get 8 points so blanks don't crater the score.
Dates fit availability
Up to 20 points
Full points when move-in and projected move-out both fall inside the listing's available window. Partial overlap earns 12. Outside the window earns 0.
Length vs minimum stay
Up to 15 points
Meets or exceeds the landlord's minimum = full. Within one month short = 8. Well below = 0.
Household fits bedrooms
Up to 10 points
Up to 2 people per bedroom = full. 2–3 per bedroom = 6. More than 3 per bedroom = 0.
Pet policy match
Up to 10 points
No pets, or pets allowed by the listing = full. Case-by-case listings = 5. Pets sent to no-pets listings = 0.
Prior rental references
Up to 7 points
Yes with a reference contact = full. None shared = 0.
Stable employment
Up to 5 points
Employed, retired, or remote worker = 5. Self-employed = 3. Student = 1.
Message quality
Up to 5 points
200+ characters = 5. 100+ = 3. Under 100 = 0.
Non-smoker = 3. Smoker = 0. Unspecified = 2.
For renters
Filling in the optional fields on the inquiry form takes about 30 seconds and is the single biggest thing you can do to stand out. A reference contact alone is worth 7 points. Sharing your income band (we use ranges, never exact numbers) unlocks up to 25. Landlords sort their inbox by score — being above 80 means you get seen first.
For landlords
The score is a triage aid, not a verdict. A 95 still deserves a conversation; a 60 might be a great fit you just need to ask one clarifying question. Every score is fully explained in the dashboard so you can see exactly why a renter landed where they did.
Ready to find your seasonal match?