Thanks For Visiting

We can’t wait for you to hear this conversation with Stephanie West, the COO of HostWise. After beginning her journey as a cleaner, Stephanie co-founded and grew HostWise into a business with over $4M in sales. HostWise manages more than 100 units in Pittsburgh and has an overall rating of 4.93. In this episode, Stephanie shares her wise secrets for building a cleaning business and finding a great cleaner for your properties. She shares why cleaners are the most important role in STRs, and why you should cater to your cleaners. We also talk about streamlining communication between hosts and cleaners, staging advice, non-negotiable boundaries with clients, and successful pricing strategies. Plus, she tells us her #1 regret when starting her business — and how you can avoid it. This is a must listen for hosts, whether you’re starting out, growing your business, or looking for a new niche. (00:01:01) #STRShareSunday: @thewooderhouse(00:05:27) Stephanie’s Start In The Industry (00:14:38) Building A Cleaning Business (00:19:23) Streamlining Virtual Assistant/Cleaner Communications (00:22:44) Her Secrets For Finding A Great Cleaner (00:36:19) Non-Negotiables For Clients (00:42:35) Staging & Onboarding Advice (00:45:25) Successful Pricing Strategies(00:49:11) Her Secret Sauce To Starting Your Business Strong Resources:• Click here for full show notes• hostwisestays.com• steelcitystra.org• #STRShareSunday: @thewooderhouse• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: How to Clean Your Airbnb - A Walkthrough for New Airbnb Hosts • 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.Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Owner Statements 101 | Save Your Seat: https://thanksforvisiting.com/courseHost Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!

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.Heather asks:I have a studio apartment that's attached to our house. We've had it on Airbnb since May of this year. I’m realizing I probably need an email address, domain name, and bank account for the rental. Should I have a Gmail business email, which costs money, or just create another free Gmail account? Any other advice? (00:03:48) How To Set Up A Bank Account For Your STR Business (00:05:58) Options To Create An Email Account & Domain Name(00:08:11) Why It Pays To Create An Inexpensive Landing Page 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 • Relay: lets.bankwithrelay.com/thanks-for-visiting• Video: The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Airbnb Business the RIGHT way• 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.Owner Statements 101 | Save Your Seat: https://thanksforvisiting.com/courseBreezeway | Get Breezeway’s full guidebook, messaging, and operations tools for just $19.99 per unit per month!

We’re thrilled to welcome Marc Hostovsky, the founder of Minoan — a brand that makes your property shoppable and helps you save up to 60% on furnishings. Minoan is a podcast sponsor and a longtime supporter of Thanks For Visiting. We use Minoan all the time to furnish and replenish our short-term rentals. They help us create beautiful, memorable experiences for our guests. In this episode, Marc tells us about something special the brand is launching — a new showroom that helps you showcase the amazing products you’ve curated for your property, so guests can purchase them for their own home. Minoan makes it easy to become a four-walled influencer. We chat with Marc about how you can grow your revenue and enhance customer loyalty as a four-walled influencer. We also discuss why you should invest in high-quality furnishings, how hosts can succeed in today’s attention economy, and the product recommendations that hosts rave about. (00:01:01) #STRShareSunday: @sandhollowsunrise_zionvacation(00:05:27) Introducing Marc & Minoan (00:08:47) Where You Should Invest Most In Your Furnishings (00:18:16) Brands & Products Hosts Rave About (00:30:40) Become A Four-Walled Influencer With Minoan (00:40:39) Growing Revenue & Customer Loyalty As A Four-Walled Influencer (00:46:25) Minoan's Replenishable Amenities Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Minoan Showroom: minoan.com/tfvshowroom• Instagram: @minoanexperience • #STRShareSunday: @sandhollowsunrise_zionvacation• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: Invest In Quality Airbnb Furniture • 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!

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.Danielle asks:I'm a new host. I would love for you guys to share some of those ‘aha moments’ of becoming first time hosts and falling into certain pitfalls. Can you share some examples where you have fallen for a trick or something to avoid while you're in your first stages of short-term rental hosting? (00:03:36) Hosting Lessons Annette & Sarah Learned The Hard Way (00:07:46) Planning Ahead & Booking Out Your Calendar (00:10:58) Guest Red Flags & Evolving Expectations 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: Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid as a Beginner Airbnb Host • 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.

We’re excited to welcome Jon Styer, a real estate broker and owner of Styer Real Estate Professionals and Styer Hospitality Co., a short- and mid-term rental management company in Columbus, OH. Led by Jon and his wife, Sara, Styer Hospitality has grown to more than 50 doors under management in just over a year. But Jon has been in the real estate space for years before that. In this episode, we talk about Jon’s journey from managing LTRs to STRs — and why he finally landed on mid-term rentals as his sweet spot. We discuss balancing STRs and MTRs, overcoming challenges as you grow your business, marketing strategies that pay off, and how to cultivate guest/host relationships. If you’re considering whether mid-term rentals are right for you — or you’ve simply been curious about them — you need to hear Jon’s mic drop advice. (00:01:08) #STRShareSunday: @VisitanaCollection(00:04:57) How We Connected With Jon(00:07:36) Jon’s Journey In Real Estate (00:12:50) His Mid-Term Rental “Aha Moment”(00:16:54) Balancing STRs and MTRs(00:22:15) Overcoming Challenges As You Grow (00:25:58) The Pros Of Becoming A Licensed Property Manager (00:29:01) The Tech Solution He Can’t Live Without (00:32:24) Tried And True Marketing Strategies That Work (00:37:03) His Approach To Furnishing (00:41:17) The Guest/Host Relationship (00:48:07) How Many Properties Are Enough Properties? Resources:• Click here for full show notes • styerrep.com• styerhospitalityco.com• #STRShareSunday: @VisitanaCollection• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: How To Market Your Airbnb Without Using Airbnb • 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.Superhog | Visit superhog.com/thanks-for-visiting and book your FREE demo today!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!

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.Leslie asks:I want to ask y'all about backup plans. I've heard you talk about what to do if internet goes down. I do not have a backup plan for this, so I wanted to hear about that. I can't wait to hear what you say about all of your backup plans.(00:02:48) Tybee Turtle Time Condo: @tybeeturtletimecondo(00:03:35) How To Not Miss Calls From Your STR Guests(00:07:12) Troubleshooting Wi-Fii Issues (00:09:36) More Backup Plans For Every Situation 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• Tybee Turtle Time Condo: @tybeeturtletimecondo• Breezeway Call Center: breezeway.io• Video: Airbnb Backups For Your Backups • 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!

We’re thrilled to welcome Alexa Nota and Dave Krauss, co-founders of Rent Responsibly. Rent Responsibly is a community building and education platform on a mission to support short-term rental operators. They bring people in the STR community together, promote fair and reasonable regulation, and give hosts the tools they need to advocate for themselves. One of those tools is the new State Of The STR Industry Report, a comprehensive look at the latest data and trends on STR hosts and managers, tech, regulations, and local policy. In today’s episode, we do a deep dive into the report and all the lessons you can take away from it. We talk about the report’s most surprising findings, common misconceptions about STRs, and how to get involved in your local government to make your voice heard on housing ordinances. Alexa and Dave shed light on the most common challenges STR hosts face — plus the biggest win-win opportunities. This enlightening conversation makes us even more excited about the future of the hosting industry.(00:01:08) #STRShareSunday: @the.bungalow.butlers(00:05:28) Introducing Rent Responsibly (00:09:05) The State Of The STR Industry (00:15:01) The Report’s Most Surprising Findings (00:21:46) Why STRs Are About More Than Money (00:31:56) How To Stay Updated On Your Local Ordinances (00:34:02) The Biggest Challenges STR Hosts Face(00:38:00) What Hosts Can Do To Move The Mission Forward (00:46:51) How To Create Your Own Marketing Buzz Resources:• Click here for full show notes • Rent Responsibly: rentresponsibly.org• Get the State Of The Industry Report: rentresponsibly.org/2024-sstri/• Learn more about Brumby McLeod, PhD: thanksforvisiting.com/podcasts/363/• #STRShareSunday: @the.bungalow.butlers• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Video: Every Airbnb Host NEEDS These House Rules• 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!

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.Diana asks:I am trying to furnish my first Airbnb, and I'm in the throes of figuring out which mattress to choose. You mentioned a hybrid, and I can't find links to the one you recommend. What do you suggest? (00:02:59) The Hybrid Mattresses We Use & Recommend • Helix Hospitality Mattress from HostGPO• Why HostGPO is worth the investment • Lucid Mattress from Amazon (00:04:39) Advice For Choosing Linens • Why linens are just as important as the mattress itself • The pros of standard textile linens(00:05:30) Handy Resources For Airbnb Hosts • Hosting Handbook• Airbnb Essentials ChecklistThanks 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 • Helix Hospitality Mattress from HostGPO: members.hostgpo.com/users/apply/?via=0755e5• Lucid Mattress: amzn.to/3yK6GwL• Video: The Best Airbnb Bedding For Your Guest • Hosting Handbook: thanksforvisiting.com/handbook• Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Join us for a Damage Waiver Crash Course: thanksforvisiting.com/courseStayFi | 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!Hosting Handbook | Get everything you need to fast track your way to Superhost at thanksforvisiting.com/handbook

Today, we’re excited to pass the mic to one of our longtime Hosting Business Mastermind members, Tanya Rooney. Tanya interviewed us for her podcast, Tribe Builders, and we’re sharing the full conversation here. Through our Hosting Business Mastermind, Tanya found her tribe in the short-term rental space. The women she met in the mastermind helped inspire her real estate, business, and personal growth. In this episode, we talk about the importance of community in buying and running short-term rentals. We give advice on how to build and nurture community through online engagement and in-person events. We also share our biggest surprises, wins, and misses in building our business. And we get real about the limiting beliefs that we’re still working through — and how they will fuel our next steps. If you’re ready to find your tribe in the short-term rental space, this episode is a must-listen! (00:01:08) #STRShareSunday: @elranchitopoconos(00:04:08) Introducing Tanya Rooney (00:07:44) Tanya Interviews Us! How We Built A Community Around Short-Term Rentals (00:16:59) Nurturing Community Through Online Engagement & In-Person Meet-Ups(00:24:42) Building & Choosing Community With Intention (00:28:27) The Biggest Surprises Of Our Community Building Journey (00:37:47) Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs (00:44:26) Leaning On Your Tribe (00:50:22) Our Biggest Wins & Misses (00:55:42) What We’re Looking For Right Now Resources:• Click here for full show notes • #STRShareSunday: @elranchitopoconos• Submit your property for our next #STRShareSunday at strshare.com• Hosting Business Membership: https://thanksforvisiting.com/join• Tribe Builders Podcast: tanyarooney.com/podcast• Video: 10 Beginner Steps To Setting Up Your Airbnb Business • 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!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!Join us for a Damage Waiver Crash Course: thanksforvisiting.com/course

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:I have a pet-friendly apartment on 5 acres in rural Florida and added 7 wildlife warnings to my welcome book. Is this too much information, or is it better to warn guests about potential risks?(00:01:42) The Importance of Providing Clear & Concise Safety Information to Guests• Validating the intent of providing warnings and being guest-centric• Safety is always essential when providing information to guests!(00:03:43) Advice for Providing Nature Warnings• Our advice for providing nature warnings for guest pets and children• How you can address this warning in multiple places(00:05:08) Unique & Memorable Ways to Share Important Information with Guests• Memorable ways to inform guests of important warnings• How to inform guests about safety in a fun way• Pet-Friendly Airbnb Listings: Welcoming Dogs to Your Short-Term Rental (Episode 335)(00:06:41) Making Messaging Clear, Positive & Visible• Highlighting nature as a feature of your property in a positive way• The importance of visual warnings in different areas of the property for all guests • Reference the National Park Service for inspiration on messaging (00:08:23) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Feedback!• How to ask your guests for feedback about this updated messaging• Building rapport with guests and knowing who might be receptive to sharing feedbackThanks 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:• Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Hosting Handbook | Get everything you need to fast track your way to Superhost at thanksforvisiting.com/handbookQuiz | 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.