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 […]

What Airbnb’s New Messaging Rules Mean for Direct Bookings What Airbnb’s New Messaging Rules Mean for Your Direct Booking Strategy As short-term rental hosts, many of us have relied on a simple tactic to encourage repeat guests: sending a friendly post-stay message through the Airbnb platform. It’s been common to include a review request and […]

The Future of Direct Bookings with Phil Kennard of FutureStay Independent hosts are the backbone of the short-term rental industry—but many are still building their businesses on someone else’s platform. If that’s you, you’re not alone. But it’s time to think bigger. In this week’s episode of Thanks for Visiting, we sit down with Phil […]

Should You Offer Guests an Extra Night? Here’s When (and How) to Ask Gap nights—also known as adjacent or in-between nights—can be a goldmine for hosts, but only if you know when and how to offer them. Joanna called into the Hosting Hotline with a question we hear more and more: what’s the best timing […]

Unlocking the STR Tax Loophole with Amanda Han, CPA If you’ve been on social media for more than a few minutes, you’ve probably seen some version of this advice: “Want to pay less taxes? Buy a short-term rental!” But is it really that simple? In episode 465 of the Thanks for Visiting podcast, we sit […]

How to Confidently Handle Security in Your Short-Term Rental If you’re launching your first STR, figuring out how to handle security can be a little overwhelming. Do you need a camera? How do you handle smart locks without annoying your guests? In this Hosting Hotline episode, we hear from listener Winn, who’s preparing her very […]

A Global Perspective on Hosting from the Thanks for Visiting Team This week’s episode takes us across the pond to Knowsley Hall, a 600-year-old estate now offering five-star hospitality experiences—and the backdrop for one of the most inspiring short-term rental gatherings we’ve attended. Surrounded by international founders and operators, we sat down with four leaders […]