{"id":186689,"date":"2026-01-30T11:27:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=186689"},"modified":"2026-01-30T11:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:28:51","slug":"6-ways-airbnb-hosts-are-leaving-money-on-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/6-ways-airbnb-hosts-are-leaving-money-on-the-table","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways Airbnb Hosts Are Leaving Thousands on the Table\u2014But What You Can Do to Fix It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/guides\/the-ultimate-guide-to-short-term-rental-properties\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">short-term rental<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> hosts wake up and do the same thing: check occupancy, tweak pricing, and hope the bookings keep rolling in.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, they&#8217;re missing six much easier ways to add serious money to their bottom line. We&#8217;re talking $10,000, $20,000, even $50,000 in extra annual revenue that&#8217;s just sitting there.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I manage over 20 STR units that gross $1 million annually, and I can tell that most <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/guides\/the-ultimate-guide-to-short-term-rental-properties\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">short-term rental<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> hosts wake up and do the same thing: check occupancy, tweak pricing, and hope the bookings keep rolling in.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, they&#8217;re missing six much easier ways to add serious money to their bottom line. We&#8217;re talking $10,000, $20,000, even $50,000 in extra annual revenue that&#8217;s just sitting there.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I manage over 20 STR units that gross $1 million annually, and I can tell you the hosts who actually build wealth aren&#8217;t just filling calendars. They&#8217;re maximizing every guest and stay.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I just dropped what might be my <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ErRwUL6WPbQ&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;themeRefresh=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">most useful video yet<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> on the BiggerStays YouTube channel<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">breaking down all six of these strategies with real numbers and actual examples, from hosts who are using them right now. But if you want the quick version before watching, here&#8217;s the breakdown.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Sell Experience Packages<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your guests are already celebrating something: a birthday, an anniversary, taking a much-needed vacation. They&#8217;re excited, and they&#8217;re already in spending mode. So give them an easy way to make it even better.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Experience packages are simple:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Charge around $200 to the guest.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pay your cleaner $50 to set it up.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Spend $50 on reusable supplies (LED candles, nice signs, serving trays).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Keep $100 in profit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The key is \u201creusable items.\u201d I used to run to Party City for balloons that got thrown away after every setup. Then I switched to quality, reusable stuff. Buy it once, use it forever.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bonus:<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Guests take tons of photos with the setup and post them on social media. That\u2019s free marketing you didn&#8217;t have to pay for.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Stop Paying Retail for Furniture<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you&#8217;re buying furniture at West Elm or HomeGoods, you&#8217;re doing this wrong. I use platforms like Minoan for almost all my properties now. It offers wholesale pricing on everything: linens, furniture, soap, decor, all of it.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I know a host who furnished two Colorado cabins for $27,000 instead of the $36,500 it would&#8217;ve cost retail. That sauna she wanted? $5,000 instead of $10,000.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You&#8217;re not just saving money. You can afford better quality with the same budget, which means better reviews and higher nightly rates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Upsell Extra Nights<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Someone books Thursday through Sunday. You&#8217;ve got Wednesday empty before they arrive, and Monday empty after they leave.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That guest is already packing and driving to your place. There&#8217;s a decent chance they&#8217;d add another night if you just asked\u2014especially with a small discount.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most hosts never ask. They just let those nights sit empty. The smarter move:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Message guests after booking with a discount code for extra nights.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Offer early check-in or late checkout for a fee.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Use automation tools to do this for you automatically.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s cheaper to keep a guest longer than deal with constant turnover. And those extra nights add up to thousands per year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Partner With Local Businesses<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your guests are spending money all over town: restaurants, boat rentals, fishing guides, wineries, and tours. Right now, you&#8217;re not seeing a dime of it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Partner with these businesses for referral commissions. Most are happy to give you a promo code or affiliate link because you&#8217;re sending them customers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Build a digital guidebook that includes your partnerships. Once it&#8217;s set up, it runs itself. Some hosts make an extra $3,000 to $5,000 per year just from doing this.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Make Your Property Shoppable<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A guest sits on your couch and thinks, &#8220;I love this. I wish I had one at home.&#8221; Right now, that thought goes nowhere.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With platforms like Minoan, you get a QR code guests can scan. It pulls up everything in your property that&#8217;s available to buy: furniture, linens, coffee makers, and decor. They purchase it, and you earn a commission. You&#8217;re basically turning your rental into a showroom that generates <\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/money-571\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">passive income<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> on top of your nightly rate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Be Pet-Friendly, and Charge for It<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;Pet-friendly&#8221; is Airbnb&#8217;s most-searched filter. If you&#8217;re not allowing pets, your occupancy is suffering.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yes, pets create extra work. That&#8217;s why you charge for them. Here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$100-$150 flat fee per pet, per stay<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Or $25-$50 per pet, per night<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I have a friend who made over $100K last year just on pet fees.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Guests with pets expect to pay extra, and they&#8217;re willing to do it. You open your property to a larger group of travelers, boost your occupancy, and make money.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These aren&#8217;t complicated or require buying another property or renovating. They&#8217;re small operational tweaks that take a few hours to set up.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But here&#8217;s the thing: They stack. You&#8217;re not choosing one. You&#8217;re doing all of them at once.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A few packages here, some pet fees there, extra night upsells, affiliate commissions, and a couple of furniture sales, and suddenly, you&#8217;re looking at an extra $20,000+ per year, per property.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most hosts are leaving this money on the table because they&#8217;ve never thought about it. Now you have.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most short-term rental hosts wake up and do the same thing: check occupancy, tweak pricing, and hope the bookings keep rolling in. Meanwhile, they&#8217;re missing six much easier ways to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613755,"featured_media":160851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7271],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-186689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-short-term-rentals"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613755"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}