In this insightful discussion, Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian, co-founders of Thanks for Visiting, share their journey into the world of short-term rentals. They reveal the critical factors for profitability, emphasizing effective pricing strategies and essential KPIs like ADR and RevPAR. The duo highlights the importance of clean bookkeeping, stressing that running an STR is a business, not just a property investment. With a focus on the right mindset and long-term strategy, they offer invaluable advice for hosts looking to scale their operations successfully.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
How The Founders Met
Annette met Sarah at a city council meeting while fighting for short‑term rental rights.
Their partnership grew from activism into a business serving hosts and building community.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Broadway To Profitable Airbnb
Sarah bought a house in Astoria, used Airbnb while acting and covered her mortgage plus extra.
She sold it and reinvested proceeds into markets like Columbus, which launched her STR career.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Make Pricing A Daily Habit
Use daily/weekly revenue management habits and dynamic pricing to capture market rates.
Monitor your calendar constantly instead of setting-and-forgetting pricing tools.
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In this episode of the Tax Smart REI Podcast, Thomas Castelli sits down with Annette Grant and Sarah Karakaian, co-founders of Thanks for Visiting, to reveal what it really takes to run a profitable short-term rental business in today’s market.
Annette and Sarah have coached thousands of hosts on how to build scalable, hospitality-driven operations that actually make money. Together, they unpack the truth behind STR success, from pricing and KPIs to bookkeeping and mindset, and why short-term rentals are not the “passive income” opportunity many think they are.
You’ll learn:
- The #1 reason most hosts leave money on the table (and how to fix it)
- The five KPIs every short-term rental owner should track
- Why running a short-term rental is running a business, not just owning a property
- How clean bookkeeping and P&Ls protect you in an audit (and keep profits real)
- The right mindset for long-term success and how to balance cash flow, tax savings, and lifestyle goals
Whether you’re managing your first Airbnb or scaling a growing STR portfolio, this episode is packed with real-world advice on how to stop letting emotion drive decisions and start running your short-term rentals like a professional business.
To become a client, request a consultation from Hall CPA, PLLC at go.therealestatecpa.com/3KSEev6
Subscribe to REI Daily & Enter to Win a FREE Strategy Call:
go.therealestatecpa.com/41JuQBX
Connect with Thanks for Visiting: https://thanksforvisiting.com/
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