Had a conversation last month that I've now had some version of about a dozen times.

Couple with W-2 jobs buys a cabin, puts it on Airbnb, gets a cost seg study done. Big paper loss, and they're counting on it to wipe out a chunk of their wages. So I ask the boring question: how many hours did you two put into the place this year, and how many did your cleaner?

They had no idea. No calendar, no notes, nothing. We spent the better part of a week rebuilding it from texts, Airbnb messages and Home Depot receipts.

Here's why it matters. With average stays of 7 days or less, that loss can offset your other income, but only if you materially participate. For most people with day jobs that comes down to more than 100 hours and more than any other one person. Your cleaner counts. So does your handyman. Two turnovers a week adds up faster than you'd think.

They ended up fine, barely. I still wouldn't want to defend that rebuilt log in an audit.

It's October. If you bought this year, there's still time to start writing it down.

So, STR owners: do you log your hours? And has anyone here added up their cleaner's?