How to use the waiting period before closing to build a strong foundation for your hosting business.

When Randa wrote in, she was doing what many new hosts do—thinking about furniture, design, and aesthetics while waiting to take possession of her first short-term rental. Sarah and Annette explain why this phase is actually the most important time to focus on building the business behind the property.

Before a single guest checks in, there’s work that can’t wait:

• Setting up clean financial systems and business bank accounts
• Building a trusted advisory team for legal, insurance, and tax strategy
• Researching your market, seasonality, and revenue potential
• Learning how to price and manage your calendar strategically
• Creating operational habits that will support you once things get busy

The hosts also stress the importance of avoiding information overload. While education matters, overconsuming advice can lead to hesitation instead of action.

This episode reinforces a key truth: you don’t need the keys to start running your STR like a real business. What you do before opening day often determines how smooth—and profitable—your hosting journey will be.

Resources Mentioned:

Thanks for Visiting Bootcamp: Join the waitlist

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.

Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel | STR tips, tricks, and top tools