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.

A listener asks:

I have a rental manager that's taking care of all the rentals for our studio condo and it seems like we're getting a few lower reviews because of things that maybe she could have done a better job communicating about. How do you handle a situation like this where you know it's better to proactively communicate, but the person who's in charge isn't actually doing that?

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, visit Speakpipe.com/ThanksforvisitingAMA

Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.

It’s time for #strsharesunday! Today we are sharing Soda City Shoe Box

Ebonn... we have a question for you. Are you looking to sell your property? Asking for two friends...

This space has "small on space, big on personality" in their bio, and at under 600 sq. feet, they aren't lying! We can tell that Ebonn has put a lot of thought, time, money, and effort into very inch and every detail of this space.

The wallpaper? Amazing.The vintage door to the bedroom? So creative! (where can we get one of those?)

The abundance of mirrors? Genius.

The backyard design? Incredible.

The colors? Gorgeous.

Check out the details in this space. We *have* to come stay here, and we are inspired by you, Ebonn!

Soda City Shoe Box on Instagram

Soda City Shoe Box on AirBnB

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We would love to feature YOU, so don’t forget to use #STRShareSunday to get your chance!

Today’s conversation brings a vibrant worldly flavor to it thanks to Jenn Boyle’s sprawling global empire of STRs and invaluable hosting experiences. She is known as The Queen of Direct Booking, and we take this opportunity to get tactical about how she’s leveraged the practice for her own listings.

Raised in a hospitality family on the west coast of Canada, she gained a real understanding of the industry through her father, a retired hotel general manager. After moving to England, she found success in short-term rentals. The business she created ultimately allowed her to harness the power of direct bookings with the freedom to operate on her own terms.

In 2020, amidst the challenges of the pandemic, Jenn realized that what she was doing for her own business could help others in the hospitality industry succeed. She found her calling, coming full circle to her latest work, empowering fellow hospitality short-term rental property managers and owners to achieve more...

Welcome back to Success Unlocked, where our hosting business master membership coaches discuss operations, social media, unique builds, co-hosting strategies, and so much more. This week’s episode is Vacation Ventures, hosted by Michael Hicks, an STR host and creative builder with over twenty years of experience.

On today's show, Michael speaks with the wonderful couple behind the travel blog, Journey More, Hayden and Nikki Hughes. With years of experience staying in unique Airbnbs and creating viral content, these two have invaluable insights for hosts looking to take their properties to the next level.

We hear how Hayden and Nikki got their start, including some pro tips for up-and-coming content creators looking to work with hosts. They share what goes into crafting an exceptional guest experience through thoughtful communication and special touches. They also get their recommendations for properties wanting to improve, from small amenities to big picture experience...

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.

Zach asks:

Do you have any advice on what I should do to get started? I just bought this house and my original plan was to Airbnb the casita in the backyard, but there's no bathroom. It's going to cost over $40,000 to have one put in. I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to remedy the no-bathroom situation or on how to start up an Airbnb business with no money somewhere else.

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, visit Speakpipe.com/ThanksforvisitingAMA

Resources:

• Raising Millions Without Asking: Bill Allen’s Method for Private Lending Partnerships #281

We interrupt Day 1 of TFVCon to bring you this extra special #strsharesunday with Retro Retreats Cincy!

We have been following along for quite some time, and they have four different apartments... and they are television show themed with a retro flair! If you're a fan of Schitt's Creek, Golden Girls, Friends, or Seinfeld (or all of them), you're going to LOVE these rentals!

Can we get you on our show? Because we want to know how long it took to source all of the things in these properties. They literally make you feel like you're in the middle of a sitcom set.

Please, go give them some love!

Kudos to them for really thinking about what they wanted to do, going after it, crushing it. And they just recently opened up this year, but man, we NEED to hear about the success of going in on a niche and making it happen in Cincinnati, Ohio.

If we were two of the Golden Girls, who would be?

Retro Retreats on Instagram

Book Direct: Retro Retreats

Hello listeners! We're thrilled to have Ray Vargas join us today. Ray left his corporate job in NYC to start a vacation rental business in New York's gorgeous Hudson Valley. With local roots and a background in hospitality, Ray has built an award-winning company managing over 50 luxury properties.

He shares how Home Sweet Hudson was born out of necessity when he couldn't find help managing his vacation home, how he leveraged his local connections and hospitality skills to provide 5-star experiences for his guests, how he pressure tests homes before renting them, and his tips for hiring and retaining a top-notch team.

Other topics covered include the importance of professional photography, developing company culture and core values, and transitioning to an entrepreneurial lifestyle. Ray's story proves that, with grit and passion, you can build a thriving business – even in rural areas!

Resources:

• #STRShareSunday: @retroretreatscincy
• Website: homesweethudson.com
• Instagram: ...

It’s time for #strsharesunday! Today we are sharing The Chal-A!

This Stratton, VT a-frame is just beautiful. It's very well branded. It's a vibe. You can tell right when you visit their instagram. We know what we're going to feel when we walk in, snd the vibe we're going to have when we're there. We love all the natural sunlight, and all the snowy pictures. We know that when winter comes around, this is the place to BE!

They've done a really good job of infusing photos and reels throughout their feed.

They also have a vintage Kohler trough-style three-bay utility sink. I think they found it at the dump, but I'm going to tell you, this thing is amazing! It has three faucets, and it is absolutely gorgeous. We haven't seen that anywhere before. Well done! I think we need to hear more of the story on that.

The outdoor area is great. Fall is here, and winter is coming, snd this just looks like an awesome place to be!

Finally, the did a really good job of telling the story as they...

Hello listeners! This week, we are highlighting preferred partners who help us operate our successful short-term rental businesses. From hospitality services to insurance providers and data analytics companies, we share behind-the-scenes stories of meeting founders and CEOs of top hosting brands like HostGPo, Hostfully, Breezeway, and PriceLabs. 

We explain how each partner solves key challenges for hosts whether you're just starting out with one property or managing a large portfolio. You'll learn how these solutions can help you book more, communicate better, keep properties running smoothly, and make data-driven decisions.

Other topics covered include insurance, financing, marketing, and monitoring. Tune in to discover new tools to level up your rental business and buy you back some time!

Resources:

• #STRShareSunday: @thechalaframe
• Boostly
• Breezeway
• CanMonkey
• ETI Solutions
• Folio
• Hospitable
• HostGPO
• Hostfully (use code TFV100)
• Levinaia Estates (@levinaia_estates)
• LFG Lending
...