Thanks For Visiting

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...

Airbnb’s AirCover might sound reassuring—but is it enough to truly protect your short-term rental? In this Hosting Hotline episode, we break down a YouTube comment that sparked an important conversation about insurance: what Airbnb does (and doesn’t) cover, why it’s not technically a policy, and the major risks hosts take when relying solely on platforms like Airbnb for protection. We’ll walk thro...

This week on Thanks for Visiting, we’re joined by Darren Nix, founder and CEO of Steadily , one of the fastest-growing landlord insurance companies in the U.S. Darren’s story starts with a personal loss—his investment property burned down—and what followed was an eye-opening crash course in everything not to do when dealing with insurance. That experience inspired him to launch a company designed...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, Lori from Fort Wayne, Indiana calls in with a big-picture question: how do you prepare your short-term rental (STR) for sale—and is it possible to sell it as a functioning business, not just a piece of real estate? In this episode, Sarah and Annette walk through everything you need to know before listing your STR, including how appraisers and lenders view short-te...

This week on Thanks for Visiting , Sarah is flying solo to dig deep into one of the most powerful (yet overlooked) elements of your Airbnb listing: the title. With only 50 characters to work with, your title has to do more than just describe your space—it needs to stop the scroll, spark curiosity, and drive clicks. In this episode, Sarah breaks down which words to ditch, how to use guest reviews f...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we’re tackling one of the most common legal questions new hosts face: Do you really need an LLC to start hosting? Listener Jennifer is about to launch her first short-term rental and wants to make sure she’s protecting her personal assets and doing things the right way. We walk through how to approach this decision with confidence, who you should be talking to, an...

No matter how well you prepare your space, accidents happen—and that’s just part of the short-term rental business. But when damage occurs, do you know how to handle it professionally, recover costs effectively, and keep your emotions out of the process? In this episode, we walk you through how to navigate guest damage, from identifying what actually qualifies as a damage claim (versus normal wear...

is week on the Hosting Hotline, Amy from Canada calls in with a common (but often overlooked) question: How should short-term rental hosts handle TVs and streaming services? We dive into: Where you should place TVs in your rental (and why it matters) Which streaming services to offer—and what to avoid Smart tips to protect guest privacy and your own subscriptions Operational systems for checking l...

This week on Thanks for Visiting , we’re joined by hospitality entrepreneur Taylor Gates, whose journey from renting out rooms in Charleston to founding multiple thriving hospitality ventures is anything but ordinary. What started as a side hustle quickly grew into Stay Duvet, a premier property management company focused on elevating the guest experience through hotel-quality standards and operat...

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we're shaking things up by answering a listener question from the comments section of our YouTube channel. The question? Whether using a dynamic pricing tool like PriceLabs is really worth it if you only have one seasonal property. Spoiler alert: our answer is a resounding yes —and we’re breaking down why. In this episode, we discuss: What PriceLabs is and how it...

A local photographer wants to use your Airbnb for a shoot. Should you say yes? In this episode, we’re walking through the exact questions we ask when we get these requests—and all the lessons we’ve learned the hard way. From influencer swaps to full-on commercial productions, we’ve seen it all. And we’re here to help you protect your property, price it properly, and make smart decisions about the...