Growing a co-hosting business takes more than luck When it comes to scaling your short-term rental business, one of the biggest challenges is attracting new homeowners who trust you to manage their properties. This week on the Hosting Hotline, Sarah and Annette answer Susan’s question about how to grow a co-host portfolio and share the […]

Ready to Get Serious About Hosting? Here’s How to Choose the Right PMS If short-term rental hosting is becoming more than a hobby for you, it’s time to start thinking like a business—and that starts with choosing the right property management system (PMS). A PMS is more than just a tech tool. It’s the operational […]

What the new 15.5% host-only fee structure it means for your short-term rental business—and how to respond strategically. Airbnb’s recent fee update has hosts buzzing. Starting October 27, 2025, PMS-connected hosts will be automatically switched to a single host-only fee of 15.5%. By December 1, “most hosts” not using PMS will follow. Understandably, this change […]

Lowering your rates isn’t a strategy—here’s what to do instead. As a short-term rental host, it can feel tempting to hit the panic button when bookings slow down and drop your nightly rate. But here’s the truth: lowering your price doesn’t create demand. If travelers aren’t searching in your market, a cheaper rate won’t suddenly […]

The Benefits and Challenges of Partnering with Another Short-Term Rental Host One of the best parts of hosting is the creativity it allows—and listener Jan from Tucson brought us a fresh idea. After meeting a fellow host on her street, Jan started to imagine what would happen if they joined forces. Her home has a […]

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. […]