360 episodes

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.

Thanks For Visiting Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 534 Ratings

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.

    Problem Solving Hacks for Beginner Short-Term Rental Hosts & Co-Hosts

    Problem Solving Hacks for Beginner Short-Term Rental Hosts & Co-Hosts

    Today’s expert guest is Lynn Smith, a short-term rental host and co-host for properties in Oklahoma City and the surrounding area. Informed by a mixed background in public health, event planning, and sales, Lynn started her hosting journey in 2020.
    She’s a star member of our Hosting Business Mastery Method and has actually taught us so much over the years, that it came time to feature her unique perspective and approach on the podcast.
    Specifically, she’s a master at turning hardships into opportunities. We talk about the technology she’s used to manage her business, hard lessons she’s learned to effectively manage a team, and how she maintains healthy boundaries to keep it all running smoothly.
    (00:01:23) #STRShareSunday: @ThatLittleLodge
    (00:03:02) Lynn’s Initial Short-Term Rental Experience
    (00:10:58) Stop Losing Sleep Over Guest Satisfaction
    (00:21:53) Overcoming Roadblocks with STR Tech
    (00:28:22) Tips for Dealing with Unique Vacation Rental Guests
    (00:37:05) Operations Team Structure for a Hosting Business
    (00:46:34) Finding Clients as a Professional STR Co-Host
    Resources:
    • Lynn’s co-hosting business: stayprofamilia.com
    • Instagram: @profamilia_homes
    • Check out Breezeway Assist
    • Check out PriceLabs
    • #STRShareSunday: @ThatLittleLodge
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/thanks-for-visiting/ and use TFV100 to get $100 off your subscription.
    Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!
    Sign up at hostmasterclass.com.
    Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!
    Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!

    • 57 min
    Hosting Hotline: How Much is Too Much Communication With STR Guests?

    Hosting Hotline: How Much is Too Much Communication With STR Guests?

    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.
    Sandrine asks:
    I have a few questions regarding guest communication. How much is too much and how exactly do you handle communicating the rental agreement? Do you send the rental agreement right through the booking platform, like Airbnb, or ask for a personal email? What do you do if they don't respond or sign it by the time that they book? I know each guest is different in how much interaction they want with their hosts, so I'm just wondering what the consensus seems to be on this topic.
    (00:01:24) Appropriate Frequency of Communication with STR Guests
    (00:03:01) Tips for Communicating Your Rental Agreement
    (00:06:46) Suggested Cadence for Vacation Rental Guest Communications
    (00:09:35) Benefits to Asking for a Review Upon Checkout
    Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.
    Resources:
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.
    Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

    • 14 min
    We Fought Restrictive Local Hosting Laws (and Won): Lessons in Short-Term Rental Advocacy

    We Fought Restrictive Local Hosting Laws (and Won): Lessons in Short-Term Rental Advocacy

    Today’s expert guests are Bob and Callie Karlen. A husband-and-wife investing team, they currently house hack their primary residence near Minneapolis, own and operate Bigwater Cove – their STR cabin in Northern MN – and are hoping to scale their portfolio in 2024 in the commercial boutique motel space in the near future.
    Following last week’s informative discussion covering a painful acquisition process that didn’t quite work out, we talk to Bob and Callie about their own emotionally charged short-term rental rollercoaster – only this time, we get a (mostly) happy ending.
    Off and running with their new Minnesota-based vacation rental cabin, Bob and Callie received the kind of letter that sends shivers up your spine. They were operating without a license. To complicate things further, they learned their address was located in a township, not the city in the sale listing that they’d done deep STR homework on.
    They didn’t give up. In fact, they teamed up to bring their case to the planning commission and, over months and months, affect positive change in their community. We can’t wait for you to hear this riveting success story, and hope it inspires other hosts to fight for their own right to rent responsibly.
    (00:01:28) #STRShareSunday: @thewanderstay
    (00:03:41) Doing Their Homework to Purchase a Vacation Cabin
    (00:09:45) STR Licensing Issues: A Letter From the Planning Commision
    (00:17:18) Now What? Amending the Ordinance
    (00:26:38) Callie’s Vacation Rental PowerPoint Presentation to the Township
    (00:29:25) The Painstaking Process of Changing STR Legislation
    (00:43:54) Successfully Lobbying for Your Right to Rent
    (00:46:45) Update on Required Noise Monitoring Technology
    (00:48:22) Mindset Tips for Overcoming Restrictive STR Legislation
    Resources:
    • Website: bigwatercove.com
    • Airbnb: Bigwater Cove - Lakefront cabin near Brainerd
    • Instagram: @bigwater_cove
    • Noise Aware: Indoor and Outdoor Sensors monitor noise levels at your property and will alert you through your Dashboard or Mobile App when the noise levels go over your set thresholds. Use code TFVNA20 for 20% off ($144/year including 1 free indoor sensor) and 20% off any additional indoor or outdoor sensor: noiseaware.com
    • #STRShareSunday: @thewanderstay
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!
    Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/thanks-for-visiting/ and use TFV100 to get $100 off your subscription.
    Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!
    Join us for our...

    • 1 hr
    Hosting Hotline: Recommended Training Tools & Software for Your STR Business

    Hosting Hotline: Recommended Training Tools & Software for Your STR Business

    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.
    Holly asks:
    What systems and processes do you use to train virtual assistants and other staff members? Where do you store them, how do you build them, and on what platforms? We are trying to systemize every single process so that we can control everything we can.
    (00:01:23) Question About Training STR Systems & Processes
    (00:02:15) Using Zoom & Loom to Stay Connected to Your Team
    (00:04:59) Recommend Asana for Training Management
    (00:09:11) Building Personalized Trained Protocol
    (00:10:36) Other Enterprise Tools & Suggested Software
    (00:11:40) Breezeway for Maintenance, Inspections & Cleaning
    (00:13:28) 3 Hot Tips for Operational Efficiency
    Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.
    Resources:
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    • Asana Training: Paul Minors YouTube Channel
    • Software Tools: Asana, Notion, Trello, Hubspot, Slack, and Voxer
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.
    Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

    • 18 min
    Broken Motel Dreams: Behind the Scenes of a Failed Real Estate Deal

    Broken Motel Dreams: Behind the Scenes of a Failed Real Estate Deal

    Today’s export guest is Tanya Rooney, a creative real estate seeker, life guide and owner of BAFS Real Estate + Yay You’re Here Properties. We’re thrilled that she’s taken the time to join us today to talk about a very important, and very on-trend, topic in our industry: motels and mid-term rentals.
    She gives us the low down on a painstaking deal that did NOT go through, sharing important lessons so you can better understand and take action on your own real estate opportunities in the future. We’re talking underwriting, we’re talking numbers, we’re talking inspections – all the juicy behind-the-scenes nuance that you won’t see on TikTok or in YouTube comment sections.
    Tanya joined our membership years ago and has always been a champion of masterminds, really leveraging the power of networking. She’s a great resource for other hosts and a perfect example of how, even when things don’t go exactly as planned, they can be of benefit to our end goals.
    (00:01:26) #STRShareSunday: @elylogcabin
    (00:05:42) BTS of Tanya Rooney’s Short-Term Rental Business
    (00:12:34) Setting Up an Exciting New Real Estate Deal
    (00:24:36) Inspecting a Potential Motel Acquisition
    (00:26:58) Leveraging Her Network to Underwrite the Deal
    (00:35:29) Interior Design on a New STR Space
    (00:37:53) When (and How) a Motel Deal Breaks Down
    (00:44:37) Important Lessons & Tough Takeaways
    (00:50:28) Making the Magic Happen Through Networking
    Resources:
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    • #STRShareSunday: @elylogcabin
    • Sign up for STRInsights: app.strinsights.com
    • Instagram: @tanyarooneymn
    • Get ahold of Tanya: tanyarooney.com
    • Yay You’re Here Minnesota: yyhmn.com
    • Read: Hospitable Hosts 3
    • Mike Hicks: Instagram and TikTok
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!
    Breezeway | Go to breezeway.io/tfv to claim your free implementation when you start a Breezeway account.
    Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!
    Hostfully | Go to https://www.hostfully.com/influencers/thanks-for-visiting/ and use TFV100 to get $100 off your subscription.
    Join us for our live, free, host masterclass and learn how to OWN your digital real estate!
    Sign up at a href="https://www.hostmasterclass.com"...

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Hosting Hotline: Beginner Steps to Host a Parent-Child STR Listing

    Hosting Hotline: Beginner Steps to Host a Parent-Child STR Listing

    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.
    Whitney asks:
    Can I create a parent-child listing for two homes that are next door to each other? I own one of them and my neighbors own the other. I'm the co-host for their house. I would like to create a parent-child listing to accept large groups that can stay in both homes, but I'm also aware that there may be tax consequences or other complications I may be missing by accepting a booking for both homes at once.
    I'm wondering if there's a way to create a parent-child listing and accept inquiries – and then when they do visit the page to book both – direct them to each individual listing. Any insight would be really helpful.
    (00:01:21) Question About Listing Neighboring STR Properties Together
    (00:03:00) What is a Parent-Child Short-Term Rental Listing?
    (00:05:38) Pro Tips for Hosting a Unique Parent-Child Vacation Rental
    (00:08:27) Leverage Data to Make Better STR Decisions
    Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. To hear your voice on the show and send a question to Sarah and Annette, submit your burning hosting questions at: hostinghotline.com.
    Resources:
    • Visit thanksforvisiting.com/workshop to watch our Hosting Business Mastery Method workshop!
    • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.com
    • Hosting Hotline: Listing Your Airbnb As A Parent-Child Setup #232
    • Parent Child Listings for Airbnb Properties - How To Create
    • Sign up for Relay
    • Recommended STR analytics tools: PriceLabs, AirDNA, and KeyData
    Thanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.
    Mentioned in this episode:
    StayFi | Go to www.stayfi.com and enter TFV to get 50% off your first three months.
    Quiz | Take our quiz to reveal your hosting personality style!

    • 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
534 Ratings

534 Ratings

FFerenczi ,

The best energy!

Sarah and Annette bring such good energy to this topic and are clearly extremely expert and experienced. TFV is a must listen for anyone who has or is thinking about having a Short-Term Rental property.

SandrineL37 ,

Godsend of a resource

This review is long overdue. I am so incredibly thankful for these ladies and the guests they’ve hosted on their show. This has allowed me to learn and take vigorous notes over the last 3 years that my partners and I are now implementing with our first STR. While we are still newbies, the confidence level of being able to implement learnings from experienced hosts is priceless. Thank you for caring equally about the guests and hosts by sharing your wealth of knowledge for the rest of us that are eager and learning! - Sandrine

BabyChanFred ,

They gave me courage

From advice on marketing to property management and guest experience, Sarah and Annette share a wealth of valuable knowledge and inspiration. They gave me the courage and resources I needed to create Monarch Park B

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