Thanks For Visiting

Are you bragging about being the first to get booked for a big event or next year’s vacation season? If so, you might be losing money without even realizing it. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down Far Out Premium Pricing —their favorite feature in dynamic pricing software (like PriceLabs) that has saved them from missed revenue and tough conversations with guests. You’ll learn: What “far...

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette take on a question from a new host who’s been live on Airbnb for a month without a single booking. Frustrated, they’re wondering if the problem is market saturation, high guest fees, or simply the fact that the neighbor’s house has a pool. If you’ve ever launched a property and heard crickets, you’re not alone. Sarah and Annette walk through the m...

Local events are one of the biggest missed opportunities for hosts. Whether it’s a football game, a concert, or a citywide convention, event-driven demand can skyrocket your revenue—if you know how to capture it. In this episode, Sarah and Annette share their system for spotting demand spikes and making the most of them with the help of dynamic pricing software like PriceLabs. From annual football...

This week’s Hosting Hotline question comes from Shaune, who has a short-term rental in a small town that hosts a massive week-long festival every year. The big question: should you require a full week-long stay during the event, or will multiple shorter bookings at premium rates bring in more revenue? Sarah and Annette break down three smart strategies to help you decide: Require a week-long stay...

Midterm rentals are all the buzz right now, but before you pivot your short-term rental strategy, Sarah and Annette are pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to run them. After years of managing hybrid stays, they’ve learned that midterm rentals come with their own set of challenges—and they’re sharing the top five realities every host needs to know. From unpredictable income and compl...

When you’re just starting out on Airbnb or launching a new property, one of the biggest challenges is building trust before reviews start rolling in. Should you put “new listing” in your title or description to explain why your property has zero reviews? Or could that actually backfire? In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette tackle a great listener question about whether to use “new li...

In a market some call “oversaturated,” Kristen and Michael have proven that storytelling, strategy, and smart reinvestment can still make a short-term rental shine. The husband-and-wife duo behind The Seventh Ray House in Joshua Tree join Sarah and Annette to share how they got started, the risks they took, and how they continue to grow in a competitive space. From renovating while living on-site...

When it comes to short-term rentals, few topics spark more debate than photography. Do you really need to hire a professional—or can natural, well-lit DIY photos do the trick? In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette respond to a listener comment that challenges their long-standing belief: that professional photos are a non-negotiable for serious hosts. They explore the value of construc...

The 2025 holiday season is a unique opportunity for short-term rental hosts—but only if you plan your pricing and calendar strategy the right way. In this episode of Thanks for Visiting , Sarah and Annette break down how the holiday calendar lines up this year and how you can use it to boost your bottom line without adding extra work. They’ll show you why setting minimum stays, adjusting rates on...

This episode marks a major milestone—500 episodes of Thanks for Visiting ! Sarah and Annette are celebrating by revisiting the most impactful strategies, tools, and lessons shared throughout the show. From pricing to partnerships, tech to team building, they highlight the must-know advice that separates hobbyists from professional hosts. Tune in for a rapid-fire rundown of what’s worked for hundre...

The year’s not over yet—and that’s exactly why now is the perfect time to plan ahead. In this episode of Thanks for Visiting , Sarah and Annette break down five essential end-of-year steps that will help you finish 2025 strong and set your short-term rental business up for a profitable 2026. From reviewing your revenue to auditing your tech stack, they’ll show you how small but intentional actions...

This week’s Hosting Hotline question comes from Susan, who asks: “How do you go about attracting new homeowners to list their properties with you? What’s worked best for you when trying to grow your portfolio?” In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the strategies that have helped them—and other hosts—successfully land new co-host clients. From building long-term professional relationships...

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to choose a property management system (PMS), this episode is for you. Whether you're a one-property host or looking to scale, your PMS is the backbone of your business—and picking the right one can be the difference between growth and chaos. Sarah and Annette break down exactly what a PMS does, who needs one, and how to choose a system that fits both where y...

The Hosting Hotline is buzzing with questions about Airbnb’s new 15.5% host-only fee. Starting October 27, 2025, all property management software (PMS)–connected hosts will be switched to this single-fee structure. But what does that mean for your business, your pricing, and your profitability? Sarah and Annette are joined by Thanks for Visiting COO and revenue management expert, Colleen Prochaska...

Too many hosts believe that lowering their nightly rate will magically generate bookings. The truth? Dropping your price doesn’t create demand—it only leaves money on the table. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down why cutting rates doesn’t work, what demand actually is, and the smarter levers you can pull to increase bookings and profitability. You’ll learn: Why lowering your price doesn...

In this Hosting Hotline episode, listener Jan calls in with a creative question: what if she and her neighbor teamed up to offer both of their homes as a combined rental experience? One property has a pool and putting green, the other has a hot tub—together, they could make the ultimate Tucson getaway. We walk through the upsides of partnering with another host, from expanding guest offerings to b...

REI Hub — Bookkeeping software built for real estate investors and STR hosts. Bookkeeping doesn’t always top the list of exciting short-term rental responsibilities—but it’s one of the most important. Without clean and accurate financials, it’s nearly impossible to know how your STR is really performing, plan for future growth, or take advantage of opportunities like refinancing or selling. In thi...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we’re answering Renee’s question about buying a property that’s already operating as a short-term rental—and what to do about the future bookings that come with it. If you’ve ever considered purchasing an “active STR,” you’ll quickly find out there’s a lot more to it than inheriting a calendar full of reservations. Sarah and Annette explain why listings follow the...

This week, we’re diving into a behind-the-scenes feature on Airbnb that too many hosts don’t know exists: listing issues . These hidden alerts could be silently hurting your visibility and even putting your listing at risk of suspension. Sarah and Annette break down what listing issues are, how to find them, and—most importantly—how to resolve them. They also share two real-life examples from thei...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we’re answering Kelsey’s question about how to market a midterm rental beyond just listing on Airbnb or Furnished Finder. If you want to stay competitive in the midterm rental space, you can’t just “set it and forget it.” We break down why marketing your MTR should be part of your daily business routine, how to track what’s working, and why “fortune is in the foll...

This week on Thanks for Visiting , we’re diving deep into a topic no host wants to deal with—but every host needs to understand: chargebacks . Whether you’ve faced one before or you’re hearing the term for the first time, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to protect your business from costly disputes. We’re breaking down what a chargeback is, why it happens, and the difference between...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, listener Mike calls in with a creative question about syncing Airbnb calendars—but what he really unlocks is a much bigger opportunity for short-term rental hosts. Mike and his wife host three cabins in the highly competitive Hocking Hills market and recently added an escape room to one of their properties. While Airbnb doesn’t currently allow you to sync an exper...

If you’ve ever second-guessed your Airbnb cancellation policy—or gotten a refund request that threw you off—this episode is for you. We’re diving into the pros and cons of each Airbnb cancellation policy option (from Flexible to Super Strict), what they actually do to your listing’s visibility and booking velocity, and how to decide which one is best for your business. We're also sharing real-life...

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette answer listener Dayne’s two-part question about couch cushion covers and temperature control settings in short-term rentals. First, they discuss the pros and cons of using removable couch covers vs. investing in performance fabric for sofas. Then, they dive into the hot topic (pun intended) of thermostat control—should guests be allowed to set the...

This week, we’re diving into one of the most common questions we hear from hosts: Should you say yes to that influencer asking for a free stay? Whether you're actively seeking partnerships or you're flooded with DMs from creators offering “exposure,” this episode is packed with practical advice on how to approach influencer marketing with confidence—and boundaries. We walk you through: Setting cle...