Which STR Upgrades Actually Increase Bookings? How to Invest Wisely in Your Rental Property Investing in your short-term rental can be a big decision—so how do you know which upgrades will actually pay off? On this week’s Hosting Hotline, listener Bree called in with a great question: “I’m considering investing $15,000–$25,000 in privacy fencing to […]

Short-Term Rental Insurance 101: What Every Host Needs to Know When it comes to protecting your short-term rental, insurance is one of the most critical (yet overlooked) aspects of hosting. Many property owners assume their standard homeowners policy has them covered—only to find out the hard way that it doesn’t. In this episode of Thanks […]

How to Choose the Best Short-Term Rental Conference in 2025 Attending industry events is one of the best ways to level up as a short-term rental host, expand your network, and discover new tools and strategies. But with so many conferences to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? In […]

Safety isn’t just a checkbox—it’s essential for every short-term rental. In this episode of Thanks for Visiting, international safety expert Justin Ford returns to discuss the biggest safety risks hosts often overlook and how to protect both guests and your business. From smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to hot tub safety and bunk beds, this […]

Can You List a New Construction Airbnb with Renderings? Here’s What Hosts Need to Know Launching a new construction Airbnb can be exciting—and nerve-wracking. If you’re still months away from completion but want to start securing bookings, you might wonder: can you list a property using renderings? The short answer is yes, but with some […]

Boost Your Airbnb Bookings in 2025 with This Simple Strategy In the ever-growing world of short-term rentals, standing out and staying competitive can feel overwhelming. But what if one simple adjustment could help you attract more guests, boost your revenue, and simplify your hosting process? In 2025, that adjustment is turning on Instant Book. Whether […]

How to Organize Your Hosting Business: Tools and Tips for Success Running a short-term rental business can feel like juggling a dozen tasks at once. From managing reservations and property upkeep to brainstorming new marketing strategies, staying organized is essential for success. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the endless to-do lists, don’t worry—you’re not alone, […]

Airbnb Shut Our Listing Down: Here’s What We Learned It’s every host’s worst nightmare—your Airbnb listing is shut down, removed entirely from the platform, and your revenue stream comes to a screeching halt. That’s exactly what happened to us. But instead of panicking, we leaned on our experience, stayed persistent, and navigated the situation step […]

How to Accept Payments for Direct Bookings Without Zelle or Venmo? Managing payments for direct bookings can feel overwhelming, especially if popular platforms like Zelle or Venmo aren’t options for you. This is a common hurdle for international hosts or those operating in areas where these platforms aren’t available. In this blog post, we’ll break […]

From septic system to construction team updates, we’re taking you behind the scenes of building Rich Hollow Retreat. Follow along as we share lessons learned, small wins, and our ambitious goal of opening summer 2025. We Bought Land Part 5: Septic Systems, Construction Teams, and Early Summer Goals Building a retreat from the ground up […]

Encouraging guest reviews doesn’t have to be a challenge. Learn proven strategies to inspire your guests to leave glowing feedback and help your Airbnb stand out from the crowd. How to Encourage Guests to Leave Reviews for Your Airbnb Guest reviews are the lifeblood of any successful Airbnb business. They not only boost your credibility […]

Unlock the power of data-driven design to transform your Airbnb property, attract the perfect guests, and maximize your revenue with actionable tips from the experts at Somerled. Data Meets Design: The Secret to Maximizing Airbnb Revenue As short-term rental hosts, we’re constantly on the lookout for ways to improve bookings, enhance guest experiences, and maximize […]

Learn the strategies to create high-converting listings, attract more guests, and start the year with stronger bookings. Your Airbnb listing is your first impression—and it can make or break a booking. In this week’s Hosting Hotline episode, we answer a listener question about optimizing short-term rental listings. Whether you’re using Airbnb, Vrbo, or your direct […]

Unlock your full potential as a short-term rental host by making the most important investment of all—investing in yourself. The Best Investment You Can Make as an Airbnb Host As Airbnb hosts, we’re constantly seeking ways to improve our listings, enhance guest experiences, and grow our businesses. But have you ever considered the most crucial […]

Remote Hosting 101: Why a Landline is a Must for Your Vacation Rental 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. Carol asks: Hi, I was wondering if I need to have a landline phone […]

Join us as we highlight this year’s standout moments, sharing the strategies, stories, and successes that helped short-term rental hosts thrive in 2024 As 2024 comes to a close, we’re celebrating the most impactful moments of the year on the Thanks for Visiting podcast. It’s been a year filled with incredible conversations, transformative insights, and […]

Navigating Airbnb’s 15% Host Fee & Pro Strategies for Boosting Reviews 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. Shannon asks: I recently learned about Airbnb’s 15% fee for hosts using property management software (PMS). […]

Themed Short-Term Rentals: Transforming Creativity into Profitability In the competitive world of short-term rentals, standing out isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. That’s why themed properties are becoming the ultimate game-changer for hosts. From jaw-dropping design concepts to creating shareable experiences, a well-executed theme can turn a rental into a viral sensation and a revenue […]

Dynamic Pricing in Rural Areas: Should You Use It? 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. Jenny asks: Do you still recommend dynamic pricing even if you’re in a rural area without lots of […]

How to Beat Market Trends and Elevate Your Guest Experience In this episode of Thanks for Visiting, we’re sharing our guest appearance on the Cashflow Positive Podcast with host Kenny Bedwell, the founder of STR Insights. Kenny is a data expert who combines revenue management strategies with actionable advice to help short-term rental hosts achieve […]

How to Turn One Property Into Two Listings on Airbnb 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 […]