Vacation Home Help

The short-term rental market didn't die. It grew up. In this episode, John breaks down exactly what's happened to the STR market over the last three years — and why two owners running properties in the same neighborhood are headed in opposite directions. One is exiting. One is scaling. The difference isn't luck. It's the moves they made. If you own a vacation rental — or you're thinking about gett...

I did everything right. Hundreds of photos. Every message documented. Every step followed. Airbnb still took $800 from me. This episode is the full breakdown of a 7-day nightmare with Airbnb support — multiple agents, contradicting decisions, and a senior case manager who finally said the quiet part out loud. It started with a backyard and some wind. It ended with a cancelled reservation, a penalt...

My Short-Term Rental Tech Stack: Why Simple Wins Every Time Welcome back to Vacation Home Help, where we make hosting simple. Episode Overview Look, I get it. Every week there's a new "game-changing" AI tool or automation platform promising to revolutionize your short-term rental business. But here's the truth: most of it is just noise. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my actual te...

Ever wonder how Airbnb, Vrbo, and dynamic pricing tools actually decide what your nightly rate should be? In this episode, we break down the real data sources behind those pricing recommendations — from market demand signals and booking windows to competitor performance, seasonality, and algorithmic trends. When you understand how platforms think, you can finally stop guessing and start pricing wi...

Most people fail in short-term rentals not because they aren’t smart… but because they’re taking advice from the wrong people. In this episode, John Andrew breaks down why influencer advice is destroying new investors — and who you should actually learn from if you want to build a profitable, long-lasting STR business. You’ll learn: Why most influencer claims aren’t even in the realm of possibilit...

Bookings are down. The market’s soft. And 2025 is separating the real hosts from the hobbyists. In this Vacation Home Help Podcast episode, John Andrew — founder of Florida’s largest Airbnb cleaning and co-hosting network — shares the fundamentals every host needs to stay profitable and stay in business through the slowdown. You’ll learn: ✅ Why every host must use a dynamic pricing tool (PriceLab...

Building your own direct booking website doesn’t have to cost thousands — in this episode of the Vacation Home Help Podcast , John Andrew breaks down exactly how to launch a clean, functional, revenue-generating direct booking site for under $200 . You’ll learn step-by-step how to: Choose and connect a domain name (GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.) Add an availability calendar with an iCal or PMS wid...

Description: Negative reviews can tank your Airbnb performance — but most can be prevented or removed if you know what you’re doing. In this episode, John Andrew breaks down exactly how to stop bad reviews before they happen , and what to do if a guest already left one. You’ll learn: How to prevent bad reviews through communication and expectation setting The exact line to tell guests privately th...

If your calendar looks emptier than usual this October, you’re not alone. 2025 has been one of the toughest years for short-term rental owners in recent memory — occupancy rates are down across nearly every market. In this episode, I break down exactly why bookings have slowed and what you can do right now to protect your cash flow, attract bookings, and stay profitable through the storm. I cover:...

Airbnb bookings are drying up, and hosts everywhere are feeling it. Guests are waiting until the last minute to book at rock-bottom rates, and the competition is turning into a race to the bottom. In this episode, I break down exactly why this is happening — and what you can do right now to stay profitable. Here’s what I cover: Why Airbnb’s recent fee changes and guest-favoring policies are hurtin...

Not all STR markets are created equal. Some look amazing in headlines but flop once you dig into the numbers. Others are sleeper markets that deliver insane returns if you know where to look. In this episode, John Andrew breaks down Step 3 of his no-BS framework : how to go from choosing the right macro market (state/city) to nailing the perfect micro market (the neighborhood or even the street)....

Too many new investors make the same mistake: they buy a “dream” property in a market that looks good on paper — then find out the city, county, or HOA doesn’t allow short-term rentals. That’s how you end up with a liability instead of an asset. In this episode, John Andrew breaks down Step 2 of his no-BS framework : the Compliance-First Market Filter . You’ll learn how to quickly spot STR-friendl...

🚨 Airbnb just made its boldest move yet: a host-only fee of 15.5% (16% in Brazil) and zero visible guest fees. It looks like housekeeping—it's actually a psychological flip that erases “book direct to avoid Airbnb fees” and puts price blame on you while Airbnb takes a bigger cut. In this episode, I break down: How the fee shift blurs lines with hotels and neutralizes your direct-booking pitch Why...

A No-BS Framework to Build a Profitable STR Portfolio (Part 1: The Airbnb Buy Box) Most hosts fail before they even start — not because they don’t work hard, but because they don’t define their Buy Box . In this episode, I’m breaking down Step 1 of my no-BS framework to build a profitable short-term rental portfolio: how to set your investor thesis, choose your markets, and build a buy box that ke...

In this episode of Vacation Rentals with John , we’re diving deep into one of the most frustrating realities of hosting — when guests lie just to get a refund. I’ll break down the most common scam tactics — from false cleanliness complaints to fake pest sightings — and share real-life examples from my own hosting experience. You’ll learn exactly how to document, respond, and escalate issues so you...

In this episode of Vacation Rentals with John , we dive deep into one of the most frustrating parts of running a short-term rental business: getting paid for guest damages . We’re talking about AirCover, Booking.com , and VRBO — the platforms that promise protection but often leave you covering the bill. I break down: Why your payout is often only 20–50% of the actual damage Why cleaning fees, una...

In this episode, I share why I went all in on short-term rentals and how this business changed my life — from leaving corporate finance at Hilton to building a lifestyle of freedom, growth, and purpose. I open up about how STRs helped me grow as a businessman, strengthen my relationship with my fiancée, support my parents, and ultimately design a life on my terms. I also talk real — the ups, the d...

Weekends booked but weekdays empty? You’re leaving money on the table. In this quick episode, John shares the exact pricing tweaks he made to fill weekday gaps on his Airbnb listings. From adjusting base rates to smart use of dynamic pricing tools and embracing short stays—these small shifts can make a big impact. Tune in and learn how to turn those slow weekdays into steady cash flow. (PS Apologi...

I’m back. Here’s where I’ve been, what’s changed in STRs, and how this podcast will help you win in 2025 — one smart move at a time. Follow the new facebook page here Thank you so much for your support.

A couple promotions that work for my vacation rentals to attract more bookings - easy to implement changes. Join the facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/vacationrentalswithjohn

Connect with me here john@vacationhomehelp.com My airbnb profile https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/46582948 My cleaning company vacationhomehelp.com

Chatting with Airbnb expert Daniel Rusteen about optimizing your airbnb listings. Rate and review to show support on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Follow Daniel Rusteen https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrusteen/ https://www.instagram.com/dannybooboo0/?hl=en https://optimizemyairbnb.com/product/optimize-your-airbnb-book/ Join the new facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/406742401333133

Airbnb actually did a pretty sneaky update to short stay clean fees. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and othe...

In this episode I will walk you through my vacation rental cold outreach method I use to find new owners, guests, and clients for my short term rental businesses. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in...

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumb...