Thanks For Visiting

Data Meets Design: The Secret to Maximizing Airbnb Revenue Welcome back to Thanks for Visiting! In this episode, we dive into the intersection of data and design with Bri and Jordan from Somerled, a team that blends market research with creative vision to maximize short-term rental revenue. Whether you’re looking to increase bookings, refresh your property, or design with intention, this episode...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This week, we’re tackling a question from Natasha, who asks if we help hosts optimize their short-term rental listings. Whether it’s on Airbnb, Vrbo, or your direct booking site, listing optimization is critical to standing out in a competitive market. In this episode, we’ll explore key strategies for creating high-converting listings and share details about ou...

The Best Investment You Can Make as an Airbnb Host Welcome back to Thanks for Visiting , where we dive into the heart of what it takes to be a successful short-term rental host. In this solo episode, we explore a topic that often gets overlooked: the best investment you can make as a host—investing in yourself. 🎯 From personal growth to professional development, this episode unpacks why prioritiz...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline , where we answer your most pressing questions about short-term rentals! This week, Carol asks about whether a landline is necessary for remote vacation rentals. If your property is in a rural or remote location, this episode is packed with important safety insights and expert advice. In this episode, we dive into: Episode Highlights (00:01:00) Listener Question...

Welcome back to Thanks for Visiting! As 2024 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the most loved episodes of the year and the incredible takeaways they’ve provided for our community of hosts. These episodes have sparked important conversations, inspired profitable strategies, and highlighted major wins from listeners just like you. From mastering pricing strategies to embracing themed properties,...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is your go-to space to ask questions about Airbnb, short-term rentals, real estate, and everything in between. Shannon asks: I’ve been listening to your podcast and am inspired to create a direct booking site for my short-term rentals. However, I didn’t realize Airbnb charges a 15% fee when using property management software (PMS). How do I adjust for this...

In this episode of Thanks for Visiting , we’re diving into the world of themed short-term rentals and how niche design can transform properties into viral sensations. From Taylor Swift-inspired Airbnb listings to managing high-turnover calendars, we chat about turning creativity into profitability. Whether you’re a seasoned host or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights on leverag...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline , where we answer your most pressing short-term rental questions. Today’s question comes from Jenny, who asked via our YouTube channel: "Do you still recommend dynamic pricing even if you're in a rural area without lots of activities?" In this episode, we dive into the nuances of dynamic pricing for rural short-term rentals. Whether you're in a small town with l...

In this episode, we’re excited to share a special reshare of our guest appearance on the Cashflow Positive Podcast with host Kenny Bedwell, founder of STR Insights. Known for his data-driven approach to short-term rental success, Kenny invited us to discuss how we combine the art and science of hosting to elevate guest experiences, optimize revenue, and grow a thriving STR business. From personal...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Chrissy asks: Hi Annette and Sarah. This is Chrissy, the host of the Costelli Corner, a Scandinavian themed Airbnb in East Nashville. First, I want to thank you both for the thanks for visiting podcast. You both were huge help in our f...

We’re coming to you live from the Vacation Rental Managers Association Conference! We partnered with Hostfully to host a party at the conference, and we took the opportunity to chat with leaders in the STR space and get their tips for you. In this episode, we share our biggest takeaways from VRMA. Plus, we interview 8 major players in the STR industry — from CEOs to co-hosts to leading property ma...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Samantha asks: We have two beach properties only listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. We're getting ready to get a PMS with the website builder so we can start doing direct bookings. As we were syncing everything up, I realized our host fee on A...

We’re tackling a topic that’s near and dear to our hearts — how to avoid host burnout and take back your time. We’re joined by Rich Sippos, the Head of Sales at Extenteam, the industry’s first staffing-as-a-service company, offering a unique labor subscription model that extends local teams with professional global talent. Extenteam has an exciting new product, Tailwind, which features 24/7 guest...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Vanessa asks: We run a short-term rental on Whidbey Island in Washington State called Bells Beach Lookout. Thanks to you, it's been going really well. We are in the process of purchasing our second short-term rental. The seller of this...

This is a unique episode all about unique stays! We’re excited to welcome Whitney Hansen, a financial coach, host of The Money Nerds Podcast, and a unique property builder. She operates the Cascade Dome, a geo-dome in the mountains, and The Flower Pot, a giant flower pot you can actually sleep in. The Flower Pot was one of 100 global winners of the Airbnb OMG Fund. Whitney joins us to talk about h...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Madison asks: I've just completed my first direct booking at a property that I own and manage, and I'm going through the process of remitting taxes to my county and state. How do you handle this for co-hosted properties? I'd like to of...

We’re unpacking the biggest announcement of Airbnb’s 2024 Winter Release — their new co-host network. The network opens up fresh opportunities for you to grow your co-hosting business and earn extra money or find the right co-host for your property. Either way, you’ll optimize your business with this free tool. We break down how the network works, requirements to be a co-host, and the approval pro...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Shaina asks: I have a quick question related to bedding. In the summertime, I have some light, colorful quilts. Going into winter, I was thinking about switching to duvets with white duvet covers. I'm wondering if you think we need to...

Fall is in full swing and the holiday season is upon us. In this episode, we’re sharing six simple and seasonal strategies for your short-term rental. These tips will help you optimize your business, enhance your guest experience, and maximize your STR revenue. Apply these timely strategies now, and you’ll see the payoff for months — and years — to come! (00:00:00) Introductions (00:01:24) #STRSha...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Jenny asks: My first STR is undergoing some major construction, and we're hoping to launch it by this winter. I'm really lucky to say that I already have a social media presence as a travel and outdoor lifestyle blogger. We have around...

We want to help you make more money. That’s why we’re sharing a simple tip that can add about $1,500 a month to your STR revenue. You can be making an extra 5 figures a year without doing anything extra. In this episode, we break down what a gap night strategy is and how to optimize it. We share the 4 pillars of a gap night strategy. Plus, we explain how to effectively price, automate, and market...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Jonathan asks: We began hosting a few months ago. We are getting in the swing of things, and I feel like we have our basic operation figured out, but I'm starting to look at tech. There's so much out there. What tech did you add first...

We can’t wait for you to hear this conversation with Stephanie West, the COO of HostWise. After beginning her journey as a cleaner, Stephanie co-founded and grew HostWise into a business with over $4M in sales. HostWise manages more than 100 units in Pittsburgh and has an overall rating of 4.93. In this episode, Stephanie shares her wise secrets for building a cleaning business and finding a great...

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline! This is an Ask Me Anything where each week we’ll answer your questions on Airbnb, STRs, real estate, and everything in between. Heather asks: I have a studio apartment that's attached to our house. We've had it on Airbnb since May of this year. I’m realizing I probably need an email address, domain name, and bank account for the rental. Should I have a Gmail bu...

We’re thrilled to welcome Marc Hostovsky, the founder of Minoan — a brand that makes your property shoppable and helps you save up to 60% on furnishings. Minoan is a podcast sponsor and a longtime supporter of Thanks For Visiting. We use Minoan all the time to furnish and replenish our short-term rentals. They help us create beautiful, memorable experiences for our guests. In this episode, Marc te...