Thanks For Visiting

In this episode, we take a deep dive into short-term rental insurance, breaking down why having the right coverage is essential for protecting your property, income, and business. We welcome Nick Massey, Chief Sales Officer at Proper Insurance, who shares critical insights on what hosts need to know, from common misconceptions about platform-provided coverage to real-life case studies of claims an...

Attending in-person conferences is one of the best ways to network, learn, and level up your short-term rental business—but with so many options, how do you pick the right one? In this Hosting Hotline episode, we help listener Sarah decide which industry event is the best fit for her goals in 2025. We break down the top vacation rental conferences, including their unique focuses, vendor access, ed...

Safety isn’t just a checkbox—it’s essential for every short-term rental. In this episode, international safety expert Justin Ford returns to discuss the biggest safety risks hosts often overlook and how to protect your guests and business. From smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to hot tub safety and bunk beds, this episode is packed with actionable insights for hosts at every level. Justin has s...

Hosting Hotline: Can You List a New Construction Airbnb with Renderings? In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, we answer Donny's questions about launching a new construction Airbnb listing with renderings and strategies for securing month-long bookings. Whether you're in the process of building a short-term rental or exploring midterm stay opportunities, we’ve got tips to help you navigate these...

In this episode, we dive into one simple yet game-changing strategy to boost your Airbnb bookings in 2025: turning on Instant Book. Whether you’re hesitant about giving up control or ready to take your listing to the next level, this episode will show you how Instant Book can help you attract more guests, maximize revenue, and streamline operations—all while staying in control of your property. Ep...

Hosting Hotline: How Can I Organize My Hosting Business? Show Notes: Welcome to the Hosting Hotline! Today, we’re tackling a fantastic question from Jilayne about staying organized as a busy host and business owner. Whether you’re jotting down ideas on the go, managing multiple properties, or trying to streamline tasks, staying organized is essential for business success. In this episode, Sarah an...

Airbnb Shut Our Listing Down: Here’s What We Learned Welcome back to another episode of Thanks for Visiting! This week, we’re diving into a hosting nightmare that became a learning opportunity. Imagine waking up to find that Airbnb has not only shut down your listing but removed it entirely from the platform. That’s exactly what happened to us, and we’re here to share the entire story, how we hand...

Hosting Hotline: How to Accept Payments for Direct Bookings Without Zelle or Venmo? In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, Sarah and Annette tackle a question from a Canadian host managing a property in Maui. How can you simplify payment options for direct bookings when popular platforms like Zelle or Venmo aren’t available to you? Whether you're an international host or just exploring ways to le...

Welcome back to our latest land update! In this episode, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of building Rich Hollow Retreat. From navigating septic system decisions to firing and rehiring construction teams, this update is packed with insights, challenges, and small wins. Plus, we share our ambitious goal to open early summer 2025—fingers crossed! Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Sharing Rich Hollow...

Hosting Hotline: How Can I Encourage Guests to Leave a Review? Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline , where we answer your pressing hosting questions! Today’s caller, Shannon, asks two great questions: How do you handle Airbnb’s 15% service fee adjustment? And more importantly, how can she get her guests to leave reviews? We’re diving deep into actionable strategies to help you encourage reviews wi...

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...