Thanks For Visiting

Welcome back to another Tuesday Hosting Hotline! Today’s question comes from Sarah in Redwood, Mississippi, who’s been crushing it with over 30 stays in just six months. She’s asking something we hear all the time: What sheets actually hold up in short-term rentals? She's tried cotton, poly, bamboo—and still ends up with wrinkled, snagged bedding and lint rollers in hand.We’re breaking it all down:– Why the problem might start with your washer, dryer, or water quality, not the sheets themselves– The detergents and laundering tools that could be making things worse– Our go-to hospitality-grade sheet brands (including those used in Hilton and Marriott properties)– What standard hotels do differently to fight lint, hair, and wrinkles– Why the “easy button” doesn’t exist—and what realistic SOPs can make your beds shine– Why lint rolling will always be part of the job– The truth about cotton vs. poly blend sheets and how to reduce wrinkles– Why your sheets might be fine—but your expectations need to be aligned with professional standardsIf you’ve ever wondered what linens last longest, look best, and still feel good for your guests, this episode is for you.RESOURCES:Try California Design Den’s STR programRequest samples and join their free host program: https://www.jotform.com/form/240328613238150Shop Standard Textile via HostGPOJoin to access hospitality-grade bedding, towels, and more: https://public.hostgpo.com/presignup.html?key=tfv&utm_source=tfv&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=affiliateSubscribe to our YouTube Channel | Top 10 Amazon Cleaning Must-Haves for Your AirbnbMentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Today’s guest is a powerhouse of resilience and resourcefulness: Janice Thayer of Curated Properties in Abingdon, Virginia. As a longtime member of Hosting Business Mastery (HBM), Janice shares her remarkable journey from navigating personal upheaval to launching a thriving short-term rental business — all while living on-site.In this inspiring conversation, Janice explains how she leveraged her design expertise and entrepreneurial background to build a luxury hosting brand, create multiple rentable spaces within her own home, and master the art of direct bookings. She walks us through the challenges of launching during COVID, navigating property renovations, and the mindset that has allowed her to double her revenue every year since opening.We also discuss how Janice uses dynamic pricing, multiple social media platforms, and creative SEO tactics to attract guests — including how she’s achieved a 28% direct booking rate with zero paid advertising. Plus, she shares her strategies for guest screening, why she chooses to stay involved in HBM years after launching, and why resilience is every host’s superpower.If you’ve ever wondered whether you can truly take control of your STR income and build a sustainable, guest-loved business — this is the episode for you.In this episode, we cover:• How Janice’s interior design and hospitality background set her apart as a host• Starting a STR business after a major life transition• The pros and cons of living onsite with your guests• Renovating and reconfiguring space to maximize bookings• Why dynamic pricing was a game-changer for Janice’s revenue• How she built a direct booking website that now accounts for nearly 30% of her income• Tips for using social media and SEO to attract direct bookings• Managing cleaners and maintaining high standards• Why Janice stays engaged in Hosting Business Mastery year after year• The #1 mindset shift every host needs to succeedResources mentioned:• Join our FREE upcoming workshop: thanksforvisiting.com/workshop• Watch on YouTube: The #1 Airbnb Revenue Management Metric You NEED to know about!• Follow Janice and explore her properties: linktr.ee/curatedpropertiesllcMentioned in this episode:Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

This week’s question comes from Valerie, who’s looking to add a hotel-style safe to her short-term rental so guests can program their own code and feel secure during their stay. It sounds simple—but there’s more to consider than you might think!We’re diving into:The pros of offering a programmable safe (especially in shared spaces or high-trust luxury listings)What you need to know before installing oneTeam and guest communicationCleaning and turnover protocolsWhat to do if a guest forgets the code or leaves items behindPlus, we’re linking Valerie—and you! —to a safe we found on Amazon that’s highly rated and affordable.Resources from this episode:Amazon Basics Security Safe with Programmable Electronic KeypadSubscribe to our YouTube Channel | How to Set Up Your Airbnb Bathroom (Beginner’s Guide!)Got a question about hosting? We want to hear it! Submit your question at hostinghotline.comMentioned in this episode:Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment TodayHost Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

It’s Money-Making May—and today’s guest proves that revenue management doesn’t have to be overwhelming.We’re joined by Wendy Doris, founder of Mostess and a powerhouse co-host based in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Wendy manages a portfolio of 17 highly curated homes and has become a sought-after voice in the STR world for her detailed, data-driven approach to pricing and guest experience.In this episode, Wendy walks us through her journey from “weekend pricing guesswork” to full-on revenue strategy. Whether you’re hosting one property or scaling your co-hosting business, Wendy’s lessons will inspire you to finally take control of your pricing—with confidence.What we cover:Wendy’s transition from flipping homes to thriving as a design-forward co-hostWhy she ditched Airbnb smart pricing and what she uses insteadHow she uncovered thousands in lost revenue with one mindset shiftThe difference between pricing software and pricing strategyHow calendar rules, booking windows, and stay minimums are part of revenue managementWhy weekly check-ins on your numbers are essentialWendy’s go-to reports inside PriceLabs and how she uses them to hit owner goalsThe surprising benefits of weekday promos and one-night staysHow co-hosts can use pricing expertise to win and retain clientsThis episode is a masterclass in practical pricing—without the overwhelm.Resources You May Need:Subscribe to our YouTube channel | The #1 Airbnb Revenue Management Metric You NEED to Know About!Learn more about Wendy’s hosting business: mostess.hostReady to finally price your property like a pro? | Join our May Bootcamp: Priced & ProfitableMentioned in this episode:StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

Airbnb’s new Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy has left a lot of hosts wondering: Can you still use tools like StayFi to collect guest emails?Today on the Hosting Hotline, Natasha calls in with a smart and timely question—and we bring in the best person to answer it: Arthur Colker, CEO of StayFi.In this episode, we cover:How Airbnb’s updated policy affects communication and guest data collectionWhat it means to have guests “opt in” under the new rulesWhy StayFi’s WiFi marketing and email tools are still compliant (and important!)How to use this moment as an opportunity for a full business compliance checkOur own experience continuing to use StayFi for both our urban STRs and new glamping propertyIf you're focused on building your direct booking strategy while staying fully compliant, this is an important conversation you won't want to miss.Resources:The Hidden Truth: Why Most Airbnb Hosts Fail (And How to Succeed) | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more host strategies and support!Airbnb Off-Platform and Fee Transparency PolicyLearn more about StayFi and get 50% off your first 3 monthsMentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment TodayQuiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

We’re hearing it from hosts everywhere: “I want more bookings.”But when we look behind the scenes, a big reason you’re missing out is your minimum stay requirements. You’re unintentionally telling guests “no” and pushing them to book with your competitors.This episode is a deep dive into how your calendar settings might be working against you—without you even knowing it.In this episode, we cover:Why Airbnb (and other OTAs) reward availabilityHow your minimum stay rules create unbookable calendar gapsChoosing profitability over convenience (with action steps)Using dynamic pricing instead of stay restrictions to manage demandThe mindset shift: You don’t set the rules—the market doesYour calendar should work for you—not against you.Let’s make sure you’re not blocking bookings with outdated settings.Resources:Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | 3 Genius Ways to Make Your Airbnb Stand Out & Get More Bookings!Try PriceLabs (our preferred dynamic pricing software) | Free 30-day trialMentioned in this episode:Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

Big changes are coming to Airbnb's terms of service—and hosts need to take action. In this bonus episode, we break down Airbnb’s updated Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy, which officially goes into effect May 10, 2025.From mandatory fees and upsells to off-platform communication, security deposits, and software compliance, we walk through the biggest updates, what they mean for your short-term rental business, and how to stay compliant without panic.You’ll learn:What must be listed in your Airbnb description now (and why)How to handle upsells the right way under the new policyWhether you can still use services like Hostfully, StayFi, or other API toolsThe gray areas (and why you should be cautious)Our personal take on why this might be a good thing for hosts in the long runThis episode is not legal advice—we’re sharing what we know and what we’re hearing across the industry. Be sure to do your own research, talk to your tech partners, and reach out to Airbnb directly for your specific circumstances.Resources:Airbnb Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy UpdateHow to Create a Direct Booking Site for Your Airbnb Business | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!Mentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we're digging into a question from Penny, a host of two jaw-dropping luxury rentals in Hocking Hills, Ohio. With properties clocking in at over 10,000 and 13,000 square feet, a saltwater pool, and four separate apartments, Penny’s homes are stunning — but she's stuck on one big question: how should she charge her cleaning fee?Should she bake the fee into the nightly rate or break it out as a separate line item? What’s the “right” way to do this, especially when hosting large groups or events?In this episode, we walk through:Why understanding your actual cost to clean is step oneHow to assess guest perception of your fee and reduce sticker shockWays to use dynamic pricing software (like PriceLabs) to stay competitive and track market cleaning feesWhy breaking down booking feedback and sales data is criticalWhen it makes sense to blend cleaning fees into your nightly ratePlus, we revisit a real-world case study from Episode 321 with Monique from PriceLabs, where she adjusted her pricing to recover cleaning costs and stay competitive in her market.Whether you’re hosting luxury travelers or managing smaller STRs, this is a must-listen if you’ve ever wrestled with how to present your cleaning fee to guests.Resources:Follow these incredible Hocking Hills properties:The CliffsThe Box HopDunlap Hollow CabinsFollow our land journey in Hocking Hills:@richhollowretreatCheck out Penny’s luxury homes:@woodland_retreatsListen to Episode 321 – PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing vs. Airbnb Cleaning FeesStart using PriceLabs (our preferred pricing tool): https://pricelabs.co/users/sign_up?referral=RTj8a0Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | 5 Red Flags Your Airbnb Cleaner Isn't Doing Their JobMentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s time to give your short-term rental a seasonal refresh. In today’s episode, we're walking you through a host-focused maintenance checklist to ensure your property is not only clean and cozy but also safe and guest-ready as the temperatures rise.If you want to prevent emergency repairs, avoid guest complaints, and extend the life of your property’s key features, this list is for you. It’s also an opportunity to show your guests that every detail matters—which goes a long way toward 5-star reviews.From deep cleaning windows and testing AC units to preparing your patio furniture and swapping out winter blankets, we're digging into all the must-do maintenance tasks for spring and summer success.In this episode, we cover:How to assess and refresh your windows and screensThe importance of routine HVAC maintenance (and why spring is the ideal time to schedule it)Why your "Forgot Something" basket needs a seasonal updateOutdoor furniture and patio safety tips (including an important reminder from our friend Justin Ford)What to review with your landscaping and lawn care vendorsHow to prepare for storm season and emergency accessWhy you should swap seasonal amenities (like heavy bedding and outdoor gear)Whether you manage your own cleanings or you’re working with a team, use this checklist to ensure your STR is set up for safe, successful hosting this season.Resources:Check out Justin Ford – International Short-Term Rental Safety ExpertWatch: How to Set Up Your “Forgot Something” Basket | Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Mentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV500 to get $500 off your subscription.Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

Are your Airbnb bookings slower than usual… or does it just feel that way?This week, Courtney calls in with a question we’ve heard from more and more hosts: “Is it just me, or are bookings down and cancellations up?”We’re digging into that exact question—because while it’s easy to blame the economy or the season, the truth might be hiding in your data (or your photos… or your minimum night stay settings).Resources:Want to join us live and learn how to price your property like a pro? Get on the waitlist here: thanksforvisiting.com/bootcampOur Favorite Dynamic Pricing Tool | Click here to try PriceLabsSubscribe to our YouTube Channel |This Secret Airbnb Setting That Can Improve Your Listing by 300%Read: 2025 Short-Term Rental Trends from AirDNA | AirDNA Blog ArticleMentioned in this episode:Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!Proper Insurance | Book Your Risk Assessment Today