Thanks For Visiting

Welcome back to the Hosting Hotline, where we answer your most pressing short-term rental questions. Today’s question comes from Jenny, who asked via our YouTube channel:"Do you still recommend dynamic pricing even if you're in a rural area without lots of activities?"In this episode, we dive into the nuances of dynamic pricing for rural short-term rentals. Whether you're in a small town with limited attractions or hosting in an area without high guest turnover, we unpack how tools like PriceLabs can help you price competitively, maximize revenue, and even uncover hidden demand in your market.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why dynamic pricing can benefit rural properties just as much as urban rentals.The importance of competitor analysis, even if you only have one or two local competitors.How to identify events or peak seasons you may not know about—and price accordingly.Practical tips to make the most of dynamic pricing tools during your free trial period.Why we recommend dynamic pricing as the #1 software tool for STR hosts starting out.Resources Mentioned:PriceLabs Free TrialThe Ultimate Airbnb Tool Kit: What We Use to Keep Things Running SeamlesslyGot questions you want answered? Submit your question at HostingHotline.com!Mentioned in this episode:Breezeway | Get Breezeway’s full guidebook, messaging, and operations tools for just $19.99 per unit per month!StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.

In this episode, we’re excited to share a special reshare of our guest appearance on the Cashflow Positive Podcast with host Kenny Bedwell, founder of STR Insights. Known for his data-driven approach to short-term rental success, Kenny invited us to discuss how we combine the art and science of hosting to elevate guest experiences, optimize revenue, and grow a thriving STR business. From personal branding tips to actionable revenue management strategies, this episode is packed with insights to help hosts of all levels.Episode Highlights(00:00:00) Introduction and #STRSHARESUNDAYWe highlight this week’s #STRShareSunday property: Montague on Magnolia. Discover how their bold, colorful interiors and shoppable design elevate their guest experience.(00:05:00) Guest Introduction: Kenny BedwellKenny introduces us and dives into our hosting journeys, from house hacking to co-hosting, showcasing the diversity in hosting approaches.(00:15:00) Beating Market Trends in RevenueWe share how our properties consistently outperform local market trends, detailing strategies like proactive revenue management and leveraging historical data.(00:20:00) The Role of InspectorsLearn how our property inspector role has become a game-changer, ensuring every detail is guest-ready and preventing negative feedback.(00:29:00) Elevating Guest ExperiencesDiscover creative ways to surprise and delight guests with personalized touches like handwritten cards and “forgot something” baskets.(00:37:00) Branding Your STR for SuccessWe discuss how thoughtful branding—like unique theming and naming—sets properties apart and attracts ideal guests.(00:46:00) Final Takeaways and TipsSarah’s Tip: Track historical data to identify trends and continually improve your performance.Annette’s Tip: Set aside dedicated time monthly to review and forecast your STR performance.Mentioned in this episode:Extenteam | Receive 20% off the first 2 months with Tailwind!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

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 themed Airbnb in East Nashville. First, I want to thank you both for the thanks for visiting podcast. You both were huge help in our first year as hosts, helping us hit milestones. Like superhero status and ranking in the top 1 in our area. So, our question stems from a remodel we are doing in our Airbnb finishing this space to include a second room, which we're outfitting with a twin bed, a trundle, and an office setup. This allows us to market the property as a two-bedroom, one bath space, ideal for small families or workers or musicians. We're thinking of offering the space as a flexible parent child model where the full two-bedroom parent listing and a one-bedroom child listing for smaller groups. This way we could prioritize booking the two-bedroom but still open up availability for the one-bedroom option if we see fewer bookings coming in the full space. So, our question is about the best way to approach this change on the Airbnb platform. Should we update our current listing to the two-bedroom layout so we can retain our reviews and momentum and create a brand-new listing for the one-bedroom option? Is there a best practice for transitioning a listing like this while maximizing flexibility and maintaining a momentum to yield the best results? We'd love your advice. Thanks. (00:00) Introduction(01:27) Listener's Question(02:42) Understanding Parent-Child Listings(04:16) Advice on Listing Strategies(07:54) Maximizing Revenue with Bed Configurations(09:13) ConclusionThanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:• Click here for full show notes • PriceLabs• Video: How to Get Your Airbnb Listing Seen by More Guests (And Earn More!)• Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comMentioned 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!

We’re coming to you live from the Vacation Rental Managers Association Conference! We partnered with Hostfully to host a party at the conference, and we took the opportunity to chat with leaders in the STR space and get their tips for you. In this episode, we share our biggest takeaways from VRMA. Plus, we interview 8 major players in the STR industry — from CEOs to co-hosts to leading property managers. They offer insights and advice on leveraging AI in your business, working with influencers, and optimizing your maintenance strategies. We also talk about the biggest pain points hosts face, and how to solve for them. These conversations will give you a look into today’s STR landscape and inspire ideas for the future. (00:00:00) Introductions(00:01:26) #STRShareSunday: @hipandhistoricfrederick(00:02:26) Key Takeaways From Where We Stayed (00:07:30) Major Learnings From VRMA (00:20:25) Meghan Ketterman with Oconee Hospitality(00:26:21) Madison Rifkin, CEO and Founder of Mount (00:33:48) Casey Hohman, CEO of Scottsdale Bachelorette (00:39:24) Wendy Doris, CEO at Mostess Host(00:43:48) Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder at Hostfully (00:52:20) Arthur Colker, CEO at StayFi (01:01:15) Steve Davis, CEO at Operto(01:05:32) Chris Hawkins with Tidy.comResources:• Click here for full show notes • Meghan Ketterman with Oconee Hospitality• Madison Rifkin, CEO and Founder of Mount • Casey Hohman, CEO of Scottsdale Bachelorette • Wendy Doris, CEO at Mostess Host• Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder at Hostfully • Arthur Colker, CEO at StayFi • Steve Davis, CEO at Operto• Chris Hawkins with Tidy.com• Loctite Threadlocker • #STRShareSunday: @hipandhistoricfrederick• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: The Best Highlights From TFV Live• Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!

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.Samantha asks:We have two beach properties only listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. We're getting ready to get a PMS with the website builder so we can start doing direct bookings. As we were syncing everything up, I realized our host fee on Airbnb would change from our current 3% rate to the dreaded 15%. We can adjust our pricing to offset it, but is it really worth it? We get about 95% of our bookings from Airbnb, and I'm nervous about how our listings will compare to others in our area. Another idea is to still get a PMS and sync it with Vrbo, but not sync it with Airbnb to avoid that fee, or make a direct booking site through Squarespace and not use a PMS. That also makes my head spin, so I would love to hear your thoughts. (00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:34) Choosing Data Over Drama(00:05:48) The Fee To Connect To A PMS(00:07:02) The Dangers Of Listing Only With Airbnb(00:08:34) Direct Booking With Return Guests (00:11:40) How We Would Approach This Decision Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:• Click here for full show notes • PriceLabs• Key Data • Video: How To Create A Direct Booking Site For Your Airbnb Business • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Breezeway | Get Breezeway’s full guidebook, messaging, and operations tools for just $19.99 per unit per month!Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

We’re tackling a topic that’s near and dear to our hearts — how to avoid host burnout and take back your time. We’re joined by Rich Sippos, the Head of Sales at Extenteam, the industry’s first staffing-as-a-service company, offering a unique labor subscription model that extends local teams with professional global talent. Extenteam has an exciting new product, Tailwind, which features 24/7 guest communication for hosts. Tailwind is a game-changer because it helps you provide an excellent customer experience — without needing to be constantly glued to your phone. Rich explains how Tailwind operates, how it supports hosts, and its affordable pricing structure. We also talk about tips for hiring a reliable team, solving pain points for hosts, and the secrets to preventing host burnout so you can optimize both your business and personal life. (00:00:00) Introductions(00:01:28) #STRShareSunday: @hotelstellas(00:07:20) Rich’s Hospitality Journey (00:13:00) What Extenteam Does For Hosts (00:16:59) Building A Team You Can Rely On (00:21:28) Solving Pain Points In Hiring (00:32:34) Preventing Host Burnout (00:35:30) Are There Language Barriers With Tailwind? (00:42:05) Hiring A Dedicated Team Member With Extenteam(00:47:17) The Secret To Hiring Great Cleaners Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Try Tailwind: extenteam.com/thanksforvisiting_tailwindpromotion• Connect with Rich: rich@extenteam.com • #STRShareSunday: @hotelstellas• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: 5 Tips To Overcoming Hosting Burnout • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.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!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

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.Vanessa asks:We run a short-term rental on Whidbey Island in Washington State called Bells Beach Lookout. Thanks to you, it's been going really well. We are in the process of purchasing our second short-term rental. The seller of this house is also an Airbnb host and has done very well. She has great reviews — like 4.93 — but I learned from Airbnb that those reviews can't be transferred. What tips do you have for me to make this transition effective and make it easy for past guests to want to come back? How can I connect with this seller, and what questions or requests should I be making of her? (00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:44) Airbnb’s Terms & Conditions About Transferring (00:05:14) What To Request From The Current Owner (00:09:41) Updating & Optimizing The Listing Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Bells Beach Lookout: bellsbeachlookout.com• Video: How To Create A Direct Booking Site For Your Airbnb Business • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.

This is a unique episode all about unique stays! We’re excited to welcome Whitney Hansen, a financial coach, host of The Money Nerds Podcast, and a unique property builder. She operates the Cascade Dome, a geo-dome in the mountains, and The Flower Pot, a giant flower pot you can actually sleep in. The Flower Pot was one of 100 global winners of the Airbnb OMG Fund. Whitney joins us to talk about how she grew The Flower Pot into a flourishing business, why she’s attracted to unique stays, and the benefits and challenges of experiential STRs. Whitney gets really honest about the financials of her properties, how she sets guest expectations, and her advice for managing social media and influencer outreach. This episode gave us a lot to think about for our next property, and we know you’ll find it valuable, too. (00:00:00) Introductions(00:01:28) #STRShareSunday: @idahoflowerpot(00:04:52) How Whitney Won The OMG Fund(00:07:48) Her Journey In The STR Space(00:11:50) The Dollars & Cents Behind The Flower Pot (00:19:35) The Power Of Unique Stays(00:24:43) The Challenges of Unique Stays (00:26:50) The Cascade Dome’s Financials (00:30:35) Social Media Dos and Don'ts (00:40:42) The Benefits Of Direct Booking (00:46:56) Rapid-Fire Questions Resources:• Click here for full show notes• Airbnb.com/h/idahoflowerpot• Airbnb.com/h/cascadedome• @cascadedome• #STRShareSunday: @idahoflowerpot• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Casper Mattress: amzn.to/3YuN4Xt• The Money Nerds Podcast: themoneynerds.com• Video: How to Buy Land For Your Airbnb Glamping Business • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.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!Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 to get $500 off your subscription.

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.Madison asks:I've just completed my first direct booking at a property that I own and manage, and I'm going through the process of remitting taxes to my county and state. How do you handle this for co-hosted properties? I'd like to offer direct bookings, but would I remit taxes on behalf of the owner or is that their responsibility? (00:00:00) Introduction(00:03:09) How Sarah Remitted Taxes On Her Clients’ Behalf (00:05:19) How To Make Life Easier For Your Clients (00:06:42) Remitting Taxes Even If You’re Not Co-Hosting Please note that we are not CPAs, and this information is location dependent. We encourage you to consult with a tax professional in your area. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Video: The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Airbnb Business the RIGHT way (banking, taxes, LLC, profits)• Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.Breezeway | Get Breezeway’s full guidebook, messaging, and operations tools for just $19.99 per unit per month!

We’re unpacking the biggest announcement of Airbnb’s 2024 Winter Release — their new co-host network. The network opens up fresh opportunities for you to grow your co-hosting business and earn extra money or find the right co-host for your property. Either way, you’ll optimize your business with this free tool. We break down how the network works, requirements to be a co-host, and the approval process. Plus, we talk about more Airbnb Winter Release updates, from new messaging features to last-minute stays. (00:00:00) Introductions(00:01:26) #STRShareSunday: @hiwasseeriverretreat(00:06:05) Sarah & Annette’s Co-Hosting Journeys(00:08:30) Airbnb’s New Co-Host Network (00:12:20) Co-Hosting Opportunities For You (00:17:30) More Airbnb Updates Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Airbnb Winter Release: airbnb.com/release• Hotel Tonight app: txt.htltn.com/wPgRXh32SNb• #STRShareSunday: @hiwasseeriverretreat• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: Co-Hosting for Airbnb - How To Know You’re Ready • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Superhog | Visit superhog.com/thanks-for-visiting and book your FREE demo today!Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/tfv and use TFV100 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!