Thanks For Visiting

When an Airbnb is not getting booked, most hosts blame the price, the market, or oversaturation.

But the real reason is often hiding in four places you can actually control: your listing, your data, your calendar, and your past guests.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the four areas every host should audit before dropping their rate. They explain why your title, hero image, photos, description, and review responses all affect whether a guest clicks and books. They also show why Airbnb’s professional hosting tools can help you find the exact point where your booking funnel is breaking.

You’ll hear how one Strategic Host member improved her listing-to-booking conversion from 0.64% to 2.17% in just 10 days by fixing the right problem instead of assuming she was overpriced. You’ll also learn why calendar settings like minimum stays, blocked dates, and one-night stay restrictions can quietly cost you bookings, and how past guests can become a repeat booking engine when you build a simple loyalty loop.

If you want more bookings without defaulting to lower prices, this episode will help you stop guessing and start identifying what is actually costing you reservations.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why price is not always the reason your Airbnb is not booked
• How your hero image, title, photos, and description affect conversion
• Why review responses should be written for future guests
• How to use Airbnb’s professional hosting tools to find booking gaps
• Why your calendar settings may be blocking revenue
• How one-night stays can create hidden booking opportunities
• Why past guests are one of your most overlooked booking sources
• How to build a simple loyalty loop that brings guests back

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Shannon Leyh has been in the Thanks for Visiting world for years, but her hosting business looks very different today than it did when she first came on the podcast.

Shannon lives in Ohio and owns an out-of-state short-term rental in Snowshoe, West Virginia. For the first two and a half years, her property was managed through the resort’s rental program. But when the resort changed its housekeeping policy and Shannon realized how little visibility she had into guest issues, refunds, maintenance, and the guest experience, she decided it was time to take control.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette talk with Shannon about what it actually looks like to self-manage a highly seasonal ski-market property from five to six hours away. Shannon shares why self-management is doable but not passive, how she uses midterm rentals during slower summer months, and why knowing your numbers is non-negotiable.

She also breaks down the major pricing shift that changed her 2026 revenue. After initially deciding PriceLabs did not understand her rural Snowshoe market, Shannon gave it another chance, learned how to read her booking window, and nearly doubled her January ADR from $508 in 2025 to $944 in 2026.

If you have ever assumed your market is different, your property cannot command higher rates, or your calendar needs to be booked months in advance to be successful, Shannon’s story will challenge the way you think about pricing, self-management, and revenue strategy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Shannon left the resort management program and started self-managing
• What she gained by keeping control of her cleaner and guest experience
• Why self-management is doable, but not passive
• How she uses midterm rentals during slow summer seasons
• Why booking too far in advance can signal underpricing
• How PriceLabs helped her nearly double her January ADR
• Why higher rates led to better guest reviews
• How Shannon is testing a parent-child listing strategy
• Why revenue management is more than moving nightly rates up and down
• How fixed costs, PMI, equity, and tax planning fit into a larger revenue strategy

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Learn more about Price Labs

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Allie White did not think she could manage her own short-term rental.

After a painful long-term rental experience and an underperforming short-term rental managed by a well-known property management company, she assumed someone else would always be better equipped to run the business.

But Serenity Cabin in Wintergreen, Virginia, was bleeding money. The property management company had brought in around $16,000 when Allie had expected much more, and selling the property would have meant walking away from the investment at the wrong time.

So she decided to test one question: what if she managed it herself?

In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Allie to talk about the assumptions that almost cost her the property, the systems she put in place when she took over, and how dynamic pricing, one-night stays, pet-friendly policies, early check-in, late checkout, and better operational control helped her dramatically increase revenue.

Allie also shares how understanding her true booking window helped increase RevPAR by 25% during the off-season, why she no longer assumes large property management companies know best, and how guest feedback helps her keep improving the experience.

If you have ever wondered whether your property is truly maxed out—or whether the right strategy could still unlock more revenue—Allie’s story is a reminder to question the assumptions before you give up.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Allie moved from long-term rentals into short-term rentals
• What went wrong with her property management experiences
• How self-management changed the performance of Serenity Cabin
• Why dynamic pricing and one-night stays helped increase revenue
• How pet fees, early check-in, and late checkout created additional income
• Why booking window strategy matters more than simply raising rates
• How Allie increased RevPAR by 25% in the off-season
• Why guest feedback can become a roadmap for better hosting
• How Allie is preparing to become the kind of boutique property manager she wished she had

Resources mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Stay at Serenity Cabin

Learn more about Price Labs

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

A better Airbnb setup does not always require a renovation.

Sometimes, the details guests remember most are the smallest ones: an extra blanket they can actually find, a coffee cup they can take on the road, a backup key when the smart lock fails, or a sound machine that helps them sleep better.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette share 10 simple but genius Airbnb setup hacks they use in every property they touch. These are low-cost, high-impact details that protect your property, reduce guest friction, prevent unnecessary messages, and create the kind of stay guests mention in reviews.

They cover everything from zip encasement mattress protectors and blackout curtains to stocked kitchens, forgot-something baskets, guidebook photos, extra hooks, and a bulbs-and-batteries box that saves everyone time when something minor goes wrong.

If you want to create a smoother, more thoughtful guest experience without taking on a major renovation, this episode is your setup checklist.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why zip encasement mattress and pillow protectors matter
• How blackout curtains and sound machines improve guest sleep
• Why extra blankets should be easy to find and intentionally stored
• What to include in a better Airbnb coffee station
• Why your kitchen should be stocked beyond the basics
• How a forgot-something basket can surprise and delight guests
• Where hooks can reduce everyday guest friction
• Why every smart lock needs a backup key nearby
• How photos in your guidebook can prevent guest confusion
• What to include in a bulbs-and-batteries box

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Sarah and Annette have generated $5 million through Airbnb hosting, but not because everything went perfectly.

That number came from more than a decade of building, making mistakes, fixing systems, managing guests, growing a team, and learning what actually moves the needle in a short-term rental business.

In this episode, they break down the seven biggest lessons they wish every host understood earlier. These are not just about choosing the right property. They are about the business around the property: clean finances, the right team, backup systems, brand standards, guest feedback, booking diversification, and knowing your why.

They also explain why a full calendar does not mean much if your books are messy, why desperate hiring is expensive, why every host needs backups before they need them, and why Airbnb should not be your only booking strategy.

If you want to build a hosting business that can survive the hard weeks and keep growing over time, this episode is a practical look at what Sarah and Annette have learned after $5 million in Airbnb hosting.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why clean finances should start before your first booking
• Why your team is an investment, not just an expense
• What systems and backups every host needs in place
• How brand standards make better business decisions easier
• Why negative guest feedback can become valuable business data
• Why hosts need booking channels beyond Airbnb
• Why money alone will not carry you through the hard parts of hosting

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Most hosts looking to grow their short-term rental portfolio start in the same place: Zillow, public listings, and whatever properties everyone else can already see.

But the best opportunities often never make it that far.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down four ways to find short-term rental properties before they hit the open market. They share how co-hosting can become an acquisition strategy, why being visible and vocal matters, how Facebook groups and local communities can surface hidden opportunities, and why working with STR-specific experts can help you spot the difference between a cheap property and a property that will actually perform.

They also share the story of The Audrey, one of their own Columbus properties that started as a co-hosting relationship before becoming an off-market purchase.

If you are trying to grow your portfolio, this episode is a reminder that the next deal may not come from refreshing Zillow. It may come from the relationships you are already building.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why some of the best STR properties never hit the market
• How co-hosting can lead to future ownership opportunities
• Why your reputation as an operator can make you the obvious buyer
• How to make yourself visible to owners, agents, and local networks
• Why Facebook groups and online communities can reveal off-market leads
• What to look for in an STR-specific real estate expert
• Why relationships can matter more than listing sites when finding your next property

Resources Mentioned:

Apply and Learn about Strategic Host!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Most Airbnb hosts plan for the obvious costs: the mortgage, furnishings, cleaning fees, and maybe a few supplies.

But the expenses that hurt the most are usually the ones no one planned for.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down 11 short-term rental expenses that commonly catch hosts off guard. Some are small recurring costs. Others can wipe out thousands of dollars if they are missing from your forecast, budget, or profit and loss statement.

They cover everything from short-term rental insurance and permits to platform fees, tech stack bloat, credit card processing fees, chargebacks, utility spikes, seasonal photography, furniture replacement, and the professional team every host should have before they need one urgently.

They also name the most expensive hidden cost of all: hosting without a pricing strategy.

If you are only looking at gross revenue, this episode will help you understand what your Airbnb is actually costing you—and where those expenses belong in your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why AirCover is not a replacement for short-term rental insurance
• Which licensing and permit costs hosts need to plan for
• How OTA commissions and platform fees affect actual profit
• Why tech subscriptions should be audited quarterly
• What direct booking hosts need to know about processing fees and chargebacks
• Why high occupancy can create higher utility costs
• How seasonal photography can impact bookings
• Why cheap furniture often costs more over time
• Which financial professionals belong in your hosting business
• Why a missing pricing strategy can cost more than anything else

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

PriceLabs: Revenue management for hosts and property managers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Gale Golden did not start with a perfect short-term rental strategy.

She started with a family ski house in the Adirondacks, a property that sat empty for years, and a decision: rent it or sell it.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Gale to talk about how Five Star Lodge went from a beloved family property to a more intentional, more profitable short-term rental business. Gale shares how she first got into real estate, why she started hosting, and what changed when her market became more competitive after COVID.

She also breaks down what happened when she stopped treating the property like a side project and started treating it like a business. From learning revenue management and watching PriceLabs every morning to investing in professional photography, improving operations, building her team, and positioning the property around its actual guest experience, Gale’s story is a clear reminder that optimization changes everything.

If you have a great property that is underperforming—or you know there is more revenue sitting inside your current listing—this episode will help you see what can happen when you finally run the numbers and make the business match the property.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Gale turned a family ski house into a short-term rental business
• Why market saturation forced her to get serious about pricing
• How revenue management helped unlock stronger performance
• Why professional photography changed the way guests saw the property
• How better systems improved cleaning, maintenance, and team performance
• Why direct booking opportunities may already exist inside your current network
• How Gale’s property was selected for Staycation USA
• Why the right guest experience can outperform generic amenity checklists

Resources mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Learn more about PriceLabs!

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Steve Marquis did not stumble into short-term rental success.

Before buying his first Gulf Shores property, he was running seven or eight pro formas a day, studying markets, comparing opportunities, and trying to find the right investment. But once he finally bought his first condo, the real work started.

In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Steve to talk about how he went from teacher to real estate agent to short-term rental investor, and how he used a data-driven approach to outperform his original revenue projections.

Steve shares why he chose Gulf Shores, how he renovated and repositioned his first beach condo, and why small family-friendly amenities helped him stand out in a market full of generic beach listings.

He also breaks down how he learned to track booking windows, stop panic-dropping rates too early, build a remote team, market to snowbirds, use email to encourage repeat guests, and keep pushing revenue without chasing 100% occupancy.

If you have ever wondered whether your property can make more than the market data says it can, this episode is a reminder that the right mix of numbers, positioning, systems, and guest experience can keep raising the ceiling.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Steve chose Gulf Shores over more expensive beach markets
• How he used pro formas to evaluate investment opportunities
• Why family-friendly amenities helped his condo stand out
• How booking window data changed his pricing strategy
• Why revenue matters more than chasing 100% occupancy
• How he manages properties remotely from Ohio
• Why he plans to keep building in one market
• How email marketing and direct bookings can increase guest lifetime value

Resources Mentioned:

Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

PriceLabs: Revenue management for hosts and property managers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.

Kim Kelley did not buy her Annapolis home with an Airbnb business plan.

She bought it so her family could be close to their daughter, Lizzie, while she attended the United States Naval Academy and played varsity lacrosse. After Lizzie graduated and was commissioned into the Navy, Kim had a decision to make: sell the house or turn it into something more.

So she “threw it on Airbnb.”

In this episode, Sarah and Annette talk with Kim about how The Goat Getaway became much more than a second home. Kim shares what it took to get licensed in a strict market, why her second guest immediately exposed the need for a stronger team, and how she built boots-on-the-ground support while hosting remotely from Dallas.

She also breaks down the strategy that changed everything: learning PriceLabs, raising her base rate, adjusting minimum stays, creating parent-child listings, and building direct booking demand through the Naval Academy community.

If you have a property with untapped midweek demand, a strong niche audience, or a direct booking opportunity hiding in plain sight, this episode will show you what happens when you stop guessing and start operating like a real business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Kim turned a family home into The Goat Getaway
• Why remote hosting requires a trusted local team
• What her early guest issues taught her about operations
• How PriceLabs changed her pricing strategy
• Why parent-child listings helped unlock midweek demand
• How she reached 70% direct bookings
• Why one bad guest pushed her toward a stronger business model
• How she uses weekly metrics to keep improving the listing

Resources Mentioned:

Join us live & learn about Strategic Host!

Pricelabs: Revenue management for hosts and property managers.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Get More Bookings Bootcamp.