How REI Hub Helps Hosts Take Control of Short-Term Rental Finances When it comes to running a short-term rental, most hosts put their energy into the guest experience—clean spaces, welcoming touches, five-star reviews. But behind the scenes, one of the most overlooked parts of hosting is also one of the most important: your finances. Without […]

Why you can’t just inherit someone else’s Airbnb calendar—and how to handle bookings when buying an active STR. Buying a property that’s already an active short-term rental sounds like a dream—instant income, five-star reviews, and a ready-made calendar full of guests. But here’s the reality: short-term rental listings belong to the host, not the property. […]

The Airbnb Feature You’re Not Checking (But Should Be) If bookings have slowed or your property seems buried in search results, it might be time to dig into a little-known section of your Airbnb dashboard: the Listing Issues tab. Hosts Sarah and Annette recently discovered this feature when one of their beautifully maintained properties was […]

Why listing on Airbnb isn’t enough—and the daily actions that will actually fill your MTR calendar. If you own a midterm rental, simply having a listing on Airbnb or Furnished Finder isn’t enough to guarantee consistent bookings. In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, Kelsey from Arizona—who owns a Wisconsin MTR—asks how she can get […]

How to Protect Your Rental from Costly Chargebacks If you’re in the short-term rental game long enough, you’ll hear the term “chargeback.” And while it’s not the most glamorous topic, understanding how to prevent and handle chargebacks can save you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars. A chargeback occurs when a guest disputes a charge with their […]

Turning Unique Amenities Into Revenue: Why Your Escape Room Is More Than Just a Perk This week on the Hosting Hotline, listener Mike from Hocking Hills, Ohio, called in with a smart question about whether he could sync his Airbnb listing calendar with an Airbnb Experience. Mike recently added a full escape room to one […]

Strict vs. Flexible: Which Airbnb Cancellation Policy Should I Choose? Choosing the right cancellation policy for your Airbnb listing can feel like a high-stakes decision. Go too strict and you risk losing bookings. Go too flexible and you may lose money when guests cancel last minute. In this episode, we’re unpacking the real-world implications of […]

How Much Control Should You Really Give Your Guests? Let’s Talk Couch Covers and Thermostats When it comes to setting up your short-term rental, every detail matters—including your furniture choices and thermostat settings. In this episode of the Hosting Hotline, we hear from Dayne, a new host who just took over management of his mom’s […]

Should You Partner with Influencers? What Every Host Needs to Know Before Saying Yes It starts with a flattering DM: “Hey! I love your space and would love to collaborate…”Before you block off your peak weekend and offer up a free stay, take a beat. In this episode of Thanks for Visiting, we’re unpacking the […]

Is Airbnb’s AirCover Really Protecting Your STR? Here’s What Hosts Need to Know Many hosts operate under the false assumption that Airbnb’s AirCover provides full insurance coverage. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth—and it could leave you vulnerable to costly damages or income loss. In this Hosting Hotline episode, we answer a question […]

Are You Overlooking the One Thing That Could Sink Your STR Business? When it comes to short-term rentals, most hosts are laser-focused on booking calendars, five-star reviews, and boosting nightly rates. But what about insurance? In this episode of Thanks for Visiting, Darren Nix, founder of landlord insurance company Steadily, joins us to explain why […]

Thinking About Selling Your STR? Here’s What Hosts Need to Know If you’ve ever thought about selling your short-term rental, you’ve probably wondered—how much is it actually worth? And can I sell it as a functioning, revenue-generating business? In this Hosting Hotline episode, Sarah and Annette answer Lori’s thoughtful question about preparing an STR for […]

Why Your Airbnb Listing Title Isn’t Working—and How to Write One That Books This week on Thanks for Visiting, Sarah and Annette are tackling one of the most important (and overlooked) elements of your short-term rental: your listing title. You only get 50 characters—but those 50 characters are some of the most powerful marketing real […]

Do You Really Need an LLC to Start Hosting? Here’s What You Should Consider For new hosts entering the short-term rental space, the legal side of things can feel overwhelming—especially when it comes to forming an LLC. Listener Jennifer called into the Hosting Hotline with a simple but important question: Do I really need an […]

Airbnb Damage Claims 101: A Host’s Guide to Getting Reimbursed (Without Losing Your Cool) Accidents happen. Sometimes it’s a wine glass, sometimes it’s a chandelier (true story)—but either way, damage is part of the short-term rental business. The question is: how do you handle it? In this post, we’re diving into the essentials of Airbnb […]

Are You Managing TVs and Streaming Services the Right Way in Your Short-Term Rental? In this Hosting Hotline episode, listener Amy from Canada brings up an increasingly important topic for short-term rental hosts: how to handle TVs and streaming services in a way that enhances the guest experience while staying secure and easy to manage. […]

Building a Scalable STR Brand Without Losing the Guest Experience What does it take to scale a short-term rental business from one listing to a full-blown hospitality brand? For Taylor Gates, it started with one favor for a neighbor and a borrowed golf cart. What followed was over a decade of intentional growth, operational discipline, […]

Should You Use PriceLabs If You Only Have One Seasonal Property? If you’re a short-term rental host with a seasonal property, you’ve probably found yourself wondering if dynamic pricing tools like PriceLabs are really worth the investment. After all, if you’re not booking year-round, can a $20/month software really move the needle? This week on […]

Content Shoots at Your Airbnb: What to Ask, What to Charge, What to Avoid That DM in your inbox says:“Hi! I’m a local photographer and your space is gorgeous. Can I use it for a quick shoot?” Before you say yes, hit pause. Hosting content shoots at your Airbnb can be an amazing way to […]

Should You Trade Free Stays for Influencer Content? Here’s How to Decide Influencer collaborations can be a smart marketing move for short-term rental hosts—especially for highly themed or photo-worthy properties. But are they worth it? And how do you protect yourself from wasted time, awkward interactions, or unclear ROI? That’s exactly what listener Julia asked […]

How This Host Rebuilt Her Business—and Her Systems—After a Hurricane Catherine Morris didn’t expect a hurricane to hit her mountain. As the owner of Edenwood NC—a pair of thoughtfully designed vacation rentals outside Asheville—Catherine had built a hands-on, full-time hosting business from the ground up. She managed everything herself: cleaning, messaging, inspections, guest prep. But […]