If you're managing short-term rentals, you know how vital dynamic pricing tools are to maximizing your revenue. Platforms like PriceLabs and Wheelhouse integrate seamlessly with Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com, making it easier to adjust rates daily. However, what many hosts don’t realize is that the price you see in your tool often doesn’t match the final cost your guests pay. These hidden costs—from platform commissions to payment processing fees—can significantly impact your pricing strategy and overall revenue management. In this episode, I’ll break down 6 hidden factors affecting the prices your guests see. Whether it’s Airbnb commission fees, property management software charges, or local taxes, understanding these details is key to staying competitive. We’ll also discuss how cancellation policies, STR promotions, and discounts influence your listings on platforms like Booking.com and VRBO. By the end, you’ll have actionable insights to fine-tune your short-term rental revenue management strategy for optimal results.   Key Points: Channel Commission Fees: Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com charge varying fees that directly impact the final price your guests see. Stay informed to stay competitive. Property Management Software Charges: Tools like HostAway and Guesty often add hidden fees, which can inflate the price without your knowledge. Payment Processing Fees: Credit card fees, often around 3%, are passed on to guests or deducted from your revenue, depending on the platform. Cancellation Policies & Rate Plans: Offering flexible or non-refundable booking options can change guest pricing significantly and impact your revenue strategy. Taxes & Local Fees: STR taxes, like transient occupancy fees, can vary widely by location and platform. Make sure your listings on Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com are aligned.   Pricing isn’t just about setting competitive rates—it’s about understanding the ecosystem of fees and commissions that affect your listings. By diving into these dynamic pricing insights, you’ll be better equipped to maximize your short-term rental revenue and deliver great guest experiences. If you’re looking for help with revenue management or pricing strategies, my team and I are here for you. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

Welcome back to the Short Term Rental Riches podcast! Today, we’re unpacking the latest trends reshaping the short-term rental industry, straight from the HostChella conference in Miami. One of the biggest takeaways? Travelers are opting for more budget-friendly alternatives—what Airbnb calls "destination dupes." Instead of splurging on high-demand locations like Lake Como, Italy, guests are gravitating toward nearby, affordable destinations like Lake Maggiore. This shift offers a huge opportunity for property investors looking to expand their portfolios without breaking the bank. Whether you're new to short-term rentals or a seasoned host, these insights will help you maximize bookings, improve efficiency, and stay ahead of the curve. 5 Key Takeaways: Budget-Friendly Travel Is Booming: Guests are seeking affordable "destination dupes," making secondary markets a hot spot for short-term rental investment. Maximize the 'Billboard Effect': Listing on OTAs like Airbnb and Booking.com can drive direct bookings—especially if you create a dedicated website using tools like HostAway. Adopt Dynamic Pricing Strategies: With tools like PriceLabs or Wheelhouse, adjust your rates to market demand and maximize revenue​. Plan Ahead with Open Calendars: Travelers are planning further out—up to 18 months in advance—so opening your calendar wide can increase visibility and bookings. Navigate Changing Regulations: STR regulations vary by city and neighborhood. Use services like Avalara to ensure compliance and avoid surprises​. Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode! The travel landscape is evolving, and staying informed is your ticket to success in the short-term rental industry. Whether you're adjusting to new guest trends or exploring tools to streamline your operations, there’s always an opportunity to grow. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

Trash might not be the first thing you think about when managing your short-term rental, but it’s often one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle. From overflowing trash bins to improperly sorted waste, neglecting trash management can ruin a guest’s first impression and even lead to poor reviews. The good news? With a few simple strategies, you can streamline your vacation rental operations, leaving your property sparkling clean for every check-in. In this episode, we’re diving into trash management solutions for Airbnb hosts and short-term rental property managers. You’ll discover why asking guests to take out the trash isn’t the best practice, how to coordinate with your housekeeping team, and how services like CanMonkey can simplify the process. Whether you’re managing a single property or an entire portfolio of vacation rentals, these tips will help you save time, avoid stress, and provide a seamless guest experience. Let’s get into it! In this episode, you'll learn: Leverage Your Housekeeping Team: Coordinate with your housekeepers to handle trash removal. Offer flexible scheduling or additional pay to align with local trash pickup days. Use CanMonkey or Similar Services: Automate your trash management with services like CanMonkey, which handle trash can placement and retrieval based on local schedules. Hire Landscapers for Trash Removal: If you have a landscaper who visits regularly, consider adding trash duties to their service for a small fee. Build Neighborly Connections: Foster good relationships with neighbors. They, or their kids, may be willing to help manage trash bins for a modest payment. Add Extra Trash Cans: Prevent overflowing trash by investing in additional bins, giving you more flexibility with pickups and capacity during busy guest stays. Managing trash doesn’t have to be a burden, even for busy Airbnb hosts or property managers. With these tips, you’ll not only keep your property looking great but also enhance the overall guest experience—leading to better reviews and more bookings. Whether it’s working with your housekeepers, neighbors, or services like CanMonkey, there’s a solution for every host. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

In this episode, we dive into the world of scaling short-term rentals through boutique hotel investment with Blake Dailey, a real estate investor who’s made waves in the Airbnb and boutique hotel markets. As Airbnb’s popularity shifts, many investors are looking for alternatives to increase profitability and provide unique guest experiences. Blake shares his strategies for finding high-potential boutique properties, implementing direct booking strategies, and maximizing revenue through added amenities and efficient operations. If you’re interested in passive income from real estate or learning how to scale from single-family Airbnb properties to larger boutique hotels, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. Topics Covered: Scaling Short-Term Rentals: Moving from Airbnb rentals to boutique hotel investment Airbnb Alternatives and Market Trends: Why direct bookings and boutique hotels are rising in popularity Boutique Hotel Investing Tips: Insights on finding, evaluating, and purchasing boutique hotel deals Property Management Automation: Leveraging virtual reception and tech for efficient STR operations Revenue Management and Value-Adding Amenities: Maximizing revenue through amenities and tailored guest experiences Thanks for watching today’s episode on scaling short-term rentals with Blake Dailey! From real estate investing tips to the advantages of boutique hotel investments, we’ve covered a lot of ground. As Airbnb continues to evolve, many investors are finding that alternatives, like boutique hotels and direct booking platforms, can provide a profitable and unique approach to short-term rentals. Remember, successful STR management is all about creating a memorable guest experience, making smart investments, and staying efficient with automated operations. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

In this episode, we uncover practical strategies for short-term rental cost management that every Airbnb host and boutique hotel owner should know. Tackling unexpected STR maintenance expenses, optimizing housekeeping operations, and reviewing recurring charges can be the difference between high profits and financial strain. When it comes to running short-term rentals or boutique hotels, many owners overlook the hidden costs that can add up fast. While regular maintenance, guest turnover, and general operational expenses are common in the STR industry, the way we manage these costs can make or break our profitability. A critical area to pay attention to is STR maintenance expenses. Repairing major issues like gas leaks or roof damage is costly not just for the direct repair but also for lost income from blocked days. Every day your property is unavailable translates to lost revenue, which, when added up, could mean thousands out of your pocket. In this episode, you’ll learn: Factor in true maintenance costs: Include lost income from blocked days to get a comprehensive view of STR maintenance expenses. Get business income loss insurance: Protect your rental property income against major disruptions. Avoid over-blocking for housekeeping: Ensure cleaning is scheduled efficiently to maximize availability. Audit recurring expenses: Regularly review and renegotiate your software subscriptions and utility bills. Evaluate team productivity: Check if your support staff or virtual assistants are contributing effectively to cost management. Before you move on to your next reservation or guest interaction, take a step back and evaluate your current practices. Are there recurring expenses you could cut or renegotiate? Are blocked days for housekeeping holding back potential income? Even the smallest adjustments can lead to substantial financial improvements in your short-term rental cost management. Remember, every saved dollar adds up to a stronger bottom line. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

If you've been in the short-term rental (STR) game for a while, you know how important a reliable virtual assistant (VA) can be for scaling your business. VAs can handle guest communications, bookings, and admin tasks, freeing you up to focus on growth. But with the boom in remote work, a challenge has emerged: virtual assistants working multiple jobs. While it's great for them to pursue extra income, it’s problematic when it affects their job performance and your STR management. Identifying and addressing these productivity issues is key to maintaining a successful STR business. Today, we’re going to look at the signs that indicate your VA might be multitasking with other jobs and what this means for your STR business growth. The productivity of your team affects not only day-to-day operations but also guest satisfaction and overall revenue. Key takeaways: Delayed Response Times: If your VA consistently replies late to guest inquiries or task updates, it could indicate divided attention due to other jobs. Frequent Excuses: An uptick in excuses, such as sudden technical problems or illnesses, can be a sign of multitasking. Drop in Productivity: Notable declines in work quality or output often hint at a VA handling multiple responsibilities outside your STR operations. Use of Monitoring Tools: While time tracking apps can help, focus on overall productivity to spot real issues—not just screen time. Clear Work Agreements: Outline that your VA should not work for another employer during their scheduled hours for you to maintain STR business efficiency. Managing virtual assistants and remote teams comes with unique challenges, especially when running a short-term rental business. Ensuring productivity and clear communication can keep your STR management smooth and guest experiences positive.  Remember, maintaining transparency and setting upfront expectations are vital for long-term success. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep growing your STR business! Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

The short-term rental industry is undergoing rapid changes, and the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) 2024 conference was the ideal event to catch up on the latest developments. This year’s VRMA conference highlighted the most recent trends in the vacation rental space, covering everything from revenue management best practices to AI-powered tools for hosts. Whether you're an Airbnb host with one property or a property manager overseeing hundreds of STRs, the insights from this event can make a significant impact on your operations and revenue. Key discussions centered around improving guest experiences, minimizing host cancellations, and leveraging AI tools to automate tasks and enhance STR management. In this video, I'll share my top takeaways from VRMA 2024, focusing on how major players like Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO are tackling the industry's biggest challenges, including fraud prevention and evolving regulations. You’ll learn about effective STR revenue management strategies, AI tools to boost your property's performance, and tips to handle guest issues without affecting your superhost status. If you're aiming to optimize your short-term rental business, stick around—this video will offer valuable insights that can help you boost revenue, streamline operations, and ultimately achieve more success as a host or property manager. Key Takeaways  STR Trends from VRMA 2024: Major OTAs like Airbnb, Booking.com, and VRBO discussed host cancellations, fraud prevention, and the need for clearer STR regulations. AI Tools for Airbnb Hosts: New AI solutions include dynamic pricing adjustments, automated communication, and fraud detection, all designed to make STR management easier. Revenue Management Best Practices: AirDNA data showed that professionally managed STRs saw a 6% revenue increase, while individual operators faced a 4% decline—emphasizing the importance of effective revenue strategies. Fraud Prevention Tips for STRs: To prevent fraud, use verified payment methods, obtain rental agreements, and verify guest IDs, which can help reduce disputes. Boosting STR Revenue with AI: AI-powered tools now offer personalized guest interactions, automated booking updates, and the ability to optimize pricing across platforms—key to improving STR performance. Thanks for watching my recap of the VRMA 2024 conference! As you can see, the STR industry is moving fast, with plenty of opportunities for hosts and managers to optimize their operations, boost revenue, and prevent fraud. If you’re looking to stay ahead in the short-term rental space, keep tuning in—I’ll be reviewing more insights from VRMA in the coming weeks, covering the latest tools, revenue management strategies, and regulation updates. If you enjoyed this video, please like, share, and subscribe for more Airbnb tips and STR success strategies. Let me know in the comments which topics you’d like to explore next, and I’ll see you in the next video! Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

In this episode, we're discussing emergency preparedness for short-term rentals and how to protect your Airbnb. Natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are becoming more frequent, and as short-term rental hosts, it's our responsibility to be prepared for when they strike. If you operate in areas prone to these events, ensuring you have the right insurance coverage, clear guest communication strategies, and a well-thought-out disaster management plan is crucial. We'll explore how you can protect your business from loss of income due to natural disasters, navigate Airbnb cancellation policies, and handle emergency guest management during power outages or severe weather events. If you've experienced something like Hurricane Milton or a wildfire affecting your property, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you get through it. 5 Key Takeaways:  Get the right STR insurance: Make sure your short-term rental insurance covers natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, and fires, along with loss of business income. Clear guest communication is key: Keep your Airbnb guests updated with real-time information during emergencies, especially regarding power outages or evacuation protocols. Plan for cancellations and refunds: Understand Airbnb’s cancellation policies during disasters and have clear rules in place to manage cancellations or refunds fairly. Offer alternative accommodations: If you manage multiple properties, offer guests an alternative Airbnb location or a credit toward future stays if they need to cancel due to a natural disaster. Prepare for loss of income: Ensure your STR insurance includes loss of business income to cover any period when your property is uninhabitable, so you don't suffer financial losses.   Dealing with emergencies is stressful, but by being proactive, you can protect your Airbnb or short-term rental business and your guests. Make sure your STR is prepared by having the right insurance, setting up clear guest communication during disasters, and planning for cancellations or refunds when necessary. If you manage properties in disaster-prone areas, review your insurance policies and guest communication strategies now—before the next emergency strikes. Thanks for tuning in! I hope this episode gave you practical tips on preparing for emergencies in the short-term rental space. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

In this episode of Short Term Rental Riches, we're exploring how to maximize rental income using Padsplit, a platform that allows you to rent by the room instead of the entire property. This rental strategy is especially valuable if you're in a market where short-term rental regulations have gotten stricter or if you're looking for an Airbnb alternative to increase your rental revenue. Padsplit offers a unique way to rent rooms for semi-long-term stays, with average stays lasting 8 months, helping both landlords and tenants. In this episode, you'll learn: What is Padsplit and how it works to boost rental income. Why renting by the room can increase revenue. How Padsplit helps landlords reduce vacancy risks. Why this model works well in urban areas and college towns. How to get started with Padsplit today. If you're looking for an Airbnb alternative or a way to keep your rental income stable, Padsplit could be your answer!Thanks for tuning into this episode! If you’re looking for ways to increase rental income without the headache of nightly turnovers or if you’re in a market where short-term rental regulations are getting stricter, Padsplit might be the perfect Airbnb alternative for you. Renting by the room offers a steady income stream and helps reduce vacancy risks. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!

Managing a successful short-term rental requires more than just a beautiful property—how you communicate with guests and manage their experience directly impacts your reviews and, ultimately, your revenue. Airbnb reviews have a huge influence on how often your property gets booked and at what price. Recently, I spoke with a short-term rental owner who experienced a steep revenue drop after shifting from self-management to using a property management company. Despite having a great property, their Airbnb reviews tanked, resulting in their earnings dropping from $75,000 to $23,000. This shows just how important it is to maintain high Airbnb ratings and ensure your guests are satisfied. In this episode, we’ll break down exactly how bad reviews can affect your short-term rental revenue and how you can boost your Airbnb guest reviews to maintain high occupancy and income.  Let’s dive into how you can keep your reviews high and your short-term rental profitable. Airbnb Reviews & Revenue: A low average rating (below 4.5) can significantly reduce your Airbnb bookings and slash your revenue. Effective Guest Communication: Quick and personalized communication is essential for earning 5-star Airbnb reviews and improving guest satisfaction. Managing Guest Expectations: Align your property description and photos with reality to prevent negative feedback and keep your short-term rental revenue steady. The Risk of Poor Property Management: Switching to a property manager with bad reviews can drastically impact your income, as seen with this owner’s revenue drop. Recovering from Bad Airbnb Reviews: Focus on improving communication and hospitality to bounce back from bad reviews and regain high Airbnb ratings. As we’ve seen, bad Airbnb reviews can severely affect your short-term rental revenue. It all boils down to guest communication and setting the right expectations. If you’re struggling with maintaining high Airbnb ratings or have seen your revenue drop, take a close look at how you’re managing guest interactions and your reviews. Need help managing your short-term rental and you don’t want to go it alone? Shoot us a message here and we’ll see if we can help. Are you enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe, leave a rating and a review, and share it! This helps us reach others that may find the info helpful as well. You can find all of our links here including our website, recommended resources, upcoming live event, short-term rental playbook, Instagram, and more!