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Thanks For Visiting

Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

Get actionable advice and the essential fundamentals of running a profitable 5-star Airbnb side-hustle or full on business. Annette’s extensive background in business operations and Sarah’s experience in high-end hospitality management and interior design make them a powerhouse duo that will deliver high impact content. With almost a decade of combined hosting experience they will not only share their own stories welcoming thousands of guests from around the world but also those of other Superhosts to deliver you a wide array of stories, insights, and profitable and creative ideas to make your listing rise to the top. Whether you’re experienced, new, or nervous to start your own Airbnb this podcast promises to be informative, fun, and from the heart.

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#575
Thursday · 13 min
575. Superhost Is Dead, Do This Instead
If you are an Airbnb host, you have probably heard that earning Superhost status is one of the most important things you can do. And it still matters. But when roughly a third of U.S. hosts have the badge, Superhost alone is no longer enough to separate you from the competition. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the two things that actually determine which Superhosts win: listing analytics and revenue management strategy. They explain how to use Airbnb’s professional hosting tools to see whether guests are finding your listing, clicking on it, and ultimately booking it. You’ll also hear how Strategic Host member Missy was already a Superhost but still underperforming in her market. Once she started combining listing analytics with stronger pricing and revenue strategy, her occupancy and average daily rate began outperforming the market. Sarah and Annette also explain why dropping your price is often the wrong first move, how booking windows and minimum stays affect visibility, and why tools like PriceLabs still require an actual strategy behind them. If you already have great reviews and Superhost status but still feel like your bookings or revenue should be stronger, this episode will help you figure out what to look at next. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Superhost is the baseline, not the whole strategy How to use Airbnb listing analytics to find booking problems Why your title or hero image may be costing you clicks How to tell when your listing is getting clicks but not bookings Why lowering your price may not solve the real problem How booking windows and minimum stays affect your revenue Why PriceLabs is not a set-it-and-forget-it solution How to compare ADR, occupancy, and RevPAR against your market Resources Mentioned: Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#574
October 22 · 20 min
574. 6 Ways to Never Get Guest Complaints and Earn 5 Stars
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!
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#573
October 15 · 12 min
573. Is The Airbnb Market Collapsing In 2026?
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! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#572
October 8 · 13 min
572. Treat Airbnb Like An Airline And Get Rich
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!
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#571
October 1 · 16 min
571. How to become a booked out Airbnb in 4 simple steps
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!
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#570
September 24 · 51 min
570. She Doubled Her Airbnb ADR by Finally Trusting the Data
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!
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#569
September 17 · 41 min
569. Why Self-Managing Changed Everything for This Airbnb Host
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#568
September 10 · 17 min
568. 10 Simple But Genius Hacks for a Better Airbnb Setup
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#567
September 3 · 16 min
567. We Made $5 Million From Airbnb Hosting (Here's What We've Learned)
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#566
August 27 · 16 min
566. How To Find Airbnb Properties No One Else Knows About
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#565
August 20 · 18 min
565. 11 Airbnb Expenses Hosts NEVER See Coming
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#564
August 13 · 55 min
564. She Turned Her Family Ski House Into a Top-Tier Airbnb
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#563
August 6 · 45 min
563. How a 700-Square-Foot Airbnb Hit $84K
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#562
July 30 · 55 min
562. How One Host Got 70% Direct Bookings
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: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#561
July 23 · 19 min
561. How to Make $100K on Airbnb Without Buying Another Property
You do not need to buy another property to build a six-figure Airbnb business. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the path they would take if they were starting with one property in 2026 and wanted to make $100K. Their answer is not buying more doors, taking on more debt, or jumping into rental arbitrage. It is co-hosting. Before you manage someone else’s property, your own listing needs to be performing. Sarah and Annette walk through the numbers, systems, and standards that need to be in place first, including cost per reservation, pricing strategy, booking funnel performance, and guest experience. Then they explain how co-hosting works, what the math looks like, why it carries less risk than arbitrage, and what you need before taking on your first client. If you already run a strong short-term rental, this episode will help you see how your current property can become the proof of concept for a bigger business. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why co-hosting can be a faster path to $100K than buying another property How to use your own listing as your proof of concept Why every host needs to know their cost per reservation What the $100K co-hosting math actually looks like Why co-hosting carries less risk than rental arbitrage What brand standards, contracts, and onboarding fees need to be in place Five steps to start building a co-hosting business Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#560
July 20 · 17 min
560. Why Wealth Builds Faster After One Rental Property
Short-term rentals are not passive income. They take work, systems, pricing strategy, guest experience, and real operational discipline. But that work is also what creates the opportunity. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down why short-term rentals can build wealth faster than traditional long-term rentals when they are run like a business. They compare the revenue ceiling of a fixed monthly lease with the earning potential of a well-managed short-term rental during peak demand windows, then explain how guest-paid mortgages, appreciation, and equity growth can create momentum toward the next property. They also talk honestly about the risks: seasonality, higher operating costs, slow months, and the danger of treating peak-season revenue like a salary. If you are thinking about buying your first rental property—or wondering whether your current property is performing the way it should—this episode explains why the first one is often the hardest, and why learning to operate it well can change everything. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why short-term rentals are active income, not passive income How STR revenue potential compares to long-term rental income Why guest payments can help build equity over time How one property can create a path to property number two What risks hosts need to plan for before scaling Why systems, pricing, and financial discipline matter from day one Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#559
July 9 · 20 min
559. The Airbnb Payout Routine Every Host Needs
Your Airbnb payout hitting your bank account is not the same thing as knowing your business is profitable. In this episode, Sarah and Annette walk through the monthly payout routine they use to track revenue, catch missing money, compare actual payouts against forecasts, and move income into the right financial buckets. They break down why every hosting business needs a dedicated business bank account, how to audit payouts against reservations, and why relying on your bank balance at the end of the month is not a real business metric. You’ll also learn how they use the Profit First method to separate money for operating expenses, owner’s compensation, taxes, and profit—so every dollar has a job the moment it lands. If you’ve ever looked at your Airbnb payouts and wondered where the money went, this episode will help you build a clearer, more consistent routine. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your Airbnb payouts should go into a dedicated business account How to audit every payout against every reservation What to do when Airbnb or another OTA underpays you How to compare actual revenue against your forecast Why your bank balance is not a profitability metric How to use Profit First buckets for expenses, taxes, owner’s pay, and profit Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#558
July 2 · 20 min
558. Why Your Airbnb Isn't Getting Bookings
Your Airbnb might be beautiful, but that does not mean guests are going to book it. When hosts struggle to fill their calendars, they often blame demand, competition, or the Airbnb algorithm. But the real problem may be sitting right inside the listing. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down six common mistakes that cause guests to scroll past a property or abandon it before booking. They cover everything from photography and listing titles to descriptions, reviews, pricing, and booking settings. You’ll learn why real estate photography is not the same as short-term rental photography, how generic AI-generated titles disappear in crowded markets, and why lowering your nightly rate is not a real pricing strategy. Before you discount your property again, use this episode to audit the entire guest booking experience. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your listing photos may be costing you bookings How to write a title that gives guests a reason to choose you What your description needs to communicate before “Show More” Why a full calendar can mean you are underpriced How reviews influence both trust and pricing power Which Airbnb settings may be creating unnecessary booking friction Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#557
June 25 · 23 min
557. How to Beat the Airbnb Algorithm Without Guessing
If you've ever blamed the Airbnb algorithm for slow bookings, this episode might completely change how you think about your listing. Sarah and Annette break down what the Airbnb algorithm is actually looking for—and why most hosts are focusing on the wrong things. Instead of chasing algorithm "hacks," they explain the five controllable factors that determine how often your listing appears in search and whether guests ultimately book. From availability and minimum stays to hero images, reviews, pricing, and conversion rates, this episode offers a practical framework for diagnosing why your property isn't performing and what to fix first. Whether you're launching your first Airbnb or managing a growing portfolio, these are the metrics that actually move the needle. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the Airbnb algorithm isn't working against you The five ranking signals every host should monitor How minimum stay rules can quietly hurt occupancy Why your hero image matters more than you think The pricing mistakes that reduce visibility and revenue How to improve conversion without lowering your rates Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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#556
June 18 · 20 min
556. 4 Hotel Upsells Airbnb Hosts Are Giving Away for Free
Most Airbnb hosts are leaving money on the table without realizing it. In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down four common guest requests that hotels routinely charge for but short-term rental hosts often provide for free. From early check-in and late checkout to pool heat, grocery stocking, and celebration setups, these services take time, coordination, and operational effort. The hosts share real examples from clients who turned these requests into meaningful revenue streams, including one host who added thousands of dollars per month simply by charging for services guests were already expecting to pay for. If you've ever felt guilty charging for extras, this episode will help you rethink the difference between hospitality and uncompensated labor. In this episode, you'll learn: Why early check-in and late checkout should be treated as premium services How to price pool heat without creating guest confusion What hotels charge for concierge-style amenity setups How to structure grocery stocking and fridge-fill services The mindset shift every host needs to stop giving away valuable services Resources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host! Mentioned in this episode: Make More Money This Year | Join our LIVE Workshop!
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