I can still hear my mom's response when I told her my intentions of hosting guests on a short-term basis rather than a typical 1-year lease term. "Vacation rental? All those people coming and going? They'll wreck the place!" My mom's argument was the same one many people have when comparing these two rental strategies.… Continue reading Compare the Wear-and-Tear: Are Short-Term Renters Rougher On Your Property?
Stocking up: Inventory Management for Your Short-Term Rental Property
Last night I got my first "I think we're short one 'X'" text from the woman who cleans my two (at the time of writing this post) rental properties. I then spent far too long anxiously fixated on how this guest, the first one to stay in my second STR home, had wronged me, and… Continue reading Stocking up: Inventory Management for Your Short-Term Rental Property
STR House Hacking: Renting Out Unused Rooms In Your Home on Airbnb
Buying an entire home to use as a strictly-rental investment is not the only way to scratch your itch for hospitality. I mentioned rental arbitrage in an earlier post and it can be an option for those trying to get into the game without owning the home. But, what if you own your primary residence… Continue reading STR House Hacking: Renting Out Unused Rooms In Your Home on Airbnb
Should I Switch My Airbnb Property To Long-Term Rental?
If nightly rates, occupancy percentage, and revenue decline at your Airbnb, you may be forced to pivot your real estate investment strategy. In this post I will walk through my thought process as I decide whether to keep all of my units listed on Airbnb or consider safeguarding my investments through a partial conversion to… Continue reading Should I Switch My Airbnb Property To Long-Term Rental?
A Little Help: Exploring Property Management Service for My Airbnb Units
Since starting my hosting journey on Airbnb and VRBO, I have fully managed my units myself. Even with 400 miles separating me from my furthest location, I have managed to manage the operations just fine by myself. As I continue to grow and look for my next property, however, I am beginning to think about… Continue reading A Little Help: Exploring Property Management Service for My Airbnb Units
A Gas Leak Nightmare: How I Handled It From Far Away
"It smells like gas in here.." the call from my cleaner sent chills through my body. With my Airbnb 6 hours away and a 3-month guest moving in in a few hours, the heat was on to come up with a solution. In this post I'll walk you through the chaos I faced and how… Continue reading A Gas Leak Nightmare: How I Handled It From Far Away
Listing Lifesavers: Reinvigorating A Listing When Things Look Grim
When I moved into a new market for my latest short-term rental home I had high hopes. A bustling town with history, nationally-popular yearly events, great weather, and a big university down the road would surely have no problem bringing travelers in for stays... But, a couple months into operation, the reservations were still few… Continue reading Listing Lifesavers: Reinvigorating A Listing When Things Look Grim
Summertime Strategy: My Focuses As The Weather Warms Up
Every season I stop and reevaluate the next few months to come for my business. Especially being in a 4-season location like Michigan, I know that the vastly different landscapes and temperatures will mean different clientele and a different approach for maximum success as a host. Changes in Visitors While I have discussed the impressive… Continue reading Summertime Strategy: My Focuses As The Weather Warms Up
Length Matters: Pros And Cons Of Medium-Term Airbnb Bookings
In a previous post I talk about my opinion on one-night stays (spoiler: I don’t allow them). But, when it comes to hosting guests for a couple of nights versus a month or more, I’ve noticed some differences that warrant a post dedicated to the subject. Let’s breakdown what makes these types of stays, and… Continue reading Length Matters: Pros And Cons Of Medium-Term Airbnb Bookings
My Most Common Airbnb Guest Requests (And How I Respond To Them)
Every guest's booking is different for a variety of reasons; from the length of their stay to the reason for their visit, and even cultural and age differences of guests can lead to different experiences for them and for you. I get a wide range of requests from guests to help make their stay more… Continue reading My Most Common Airbnb Guest Requests (And How I Respond To Them)