Thanks For Visiting

A bad review can feel personal, but defensiveness will not help you become a top-earning host. Prevention will. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down six simple, fixable ways to prevent guest complaints before they happen and create the kind of stay that earns five-star reviews. None of these fixes are complicated, and most do not cost much to put in place. But skipping them can cost you far more in guest frustration, public reviews, and lost future bookings. They cover why clear check-in instructions matter so much, especially when guests arrive tired, nervous, or in the dark. They explain why working Wi-Fi is no longer a bonus, why the sleep experience deserves real attention, and why guests should never have to make a store run for basic supplies the moment they arrive. You’ll also hear why the “forgot something” basket shows up in reviews more than it shows up as a cost, and how proactive communication can turn potential friction into a five-star moment. If you want fewer complaints, better reviews, and a more thoughtful guest experience, this episode will help you identify the small details that make a big difference. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why clear check-in instructions reduce guest frustration How to test your check-in process before guests arrive Why reliable Wi-Fi is now a must-have, not a nice-to-have Where to invest in quality inside your short-term rental Why the sleep experience matters so much for reviews How generous supplies prevent bad first impressions What to include in a “forgot something” basket Why proactive communication helps guests feel taken care of How small hosting details can lead to stronger five-star reviews Resources Mentioned: Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

If you have spent any time online lately, you have probably seen the headlines: rising costs, oversaturation, local bans, squatters, cleaning fees, strict house rules, and guests saying they are done with Airbnb. But Sarah and Annette are not convinced the Airbnb market is collapsing. They believe passive hosting is. In this episode, they break down what is actually happening in the short-term rental industry in 2026, why guests are frustrated, and why the hosts going viral for the wrong reasons may be doing professional hosts a favor. Sarah and Annette talk about the difference between real business risks and self-inflicted hosting problems. They cover why checkout chore lists, defensive review responses, Ring camera obsession, and treating guests like liabilities are pushing travelers back toward hotels — and why strategic hosts are still seeing revenue climb. They also share what has helped their own portfolio continue to grow year over year: tracking listing analytics, understanding seasonality, using dynamic pricing well, refreshing properties, taking reviews seriously, diversifying across booking channels, and building direct guest relationships. If you are wondering whether Airbnb is still worth it in 2026, this episode will help you understand which side of the market you are really on. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Sarah and Annette believe passive hosting is collapsing What viral bad-host moments reveal about guest frustration Which risks are real, including local restrictions, squatters, and oversaturation Why checkout chore lists and camera obsession are hurting the guest experience What active hosts do differently when markets slow down Why dynamic pricing needs strategy, not just software How reviews, refreshes, and direct booking relationships keep hosts competitive Why bad hosts being exposed may actually help strong operators Resources Mentioned: Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!

Most hosts think they are renting out a room, a house, or a place to sleep for the night. But airlines used to think the same way about a seat. Then they reimagined the flight experience. They built loyalty programs, unbundled extras, charged separately for convenience, and learned how to price based on demand. In this episode, Sarah and Annette explain what Airbnb hosts can learn from that same shift. They break down how to stop seeing paid add-ons as “nickel-and-diming” and start seeing them as guest-centered convenience, luxury, and service. From fridge stocking and s’mores kits to early arrival offers, celebration flowers, balloons, and high-demand pricing, this episode will help you think differently about what your listing can offer beyond the stay itself. They also make one thing clear: loyalty is not built from upsells. It is built from a five-star stay first. The extras are the bonus that make the experience easier, more memorable, and more likely to bring guests back. If you want to add revenue, serve your guests better, and price your property with more confidence, this episode will give you practical ideas you can test this week. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why airlines are a useful model for Airbnb revenue strategy How to think about upsells as convenience, not nickel-and-diming Why fridge stocking can be a guest-centered paid add-on How to add a simple touch of luxury to your listing Why early arrival offers can solve a real guest problem How to create excitement around birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and reunions Why high-demand weekends should be priced differently Why loyalty starts with a five-star stay, not the upsell Resources Mentioned: Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

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! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!

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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!