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. That means you can’t simply “inherit” someone else’s Airbnb or VRBO profile, even if the home stays exactly the same.

In this Hosting Hotline episode, Renee calls in to ask how she should handle future bookings for a property she and her husband are buying. Sarah and Annette walk through the important considerations every buyer should know:

1. Know what you’re actually buying.
Unless the sale includes the business (brand, website, social media, email list, merchant accounts), you’re buying the property only—not the booking infrastructure.

2. Decide how to handle existing bookings.
Options include:

• Letting the seller keep their listings active to see current reservations through.
• Negotiating for guests to cancel and rebook with you (with OTA approval).
• Having the OTAs help move bookings to your new listing.

3. Understand the risks.
Mixing old reservations with your new operations can cause problems—unclear responsibility for cleaning, guest communication, payouts, and even taxes.

4. Get everything in writing.
From how funds are transferred to how cancellations are handled, put agreements on paper and have them signed by both parties.

Buying an “active” STR can be a great opportunity, but only if you take the time to understand what’s included—and what isn’t. Listen to the full episode for the step-by-step breakdown.

Resources

• Airbnb Help Center – Guidance on managing and transferring bookings (must be coordinated with the current listing host).
• VRBO Help – Contact VRBO for assistance with booking transfers between hosts.
• Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Learn how to optimize your listings and increase revenue with smart pricing, calendar management, and creative marketing. thanksforvisiting.com/bootcamp

Have More Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Submit your hosting questions to the Hosting Hotline and tune in to the podcast for answers. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more tips: @thanksforvisiting_.

Download a transcript of this episode.

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