All Forum Posts by: Anja Schaer

Hi Ashley - congrats on the land, that sounds like such a fun project! I've seen many STR Investors going the Tiny or Micro Resort route, setting up a couple STRs close together or on the same piece of land, so I get the excitement. My advice: start with the basics (road, utilities, zoning/permits) and build in phases so you can test demand before adding bigger amenities like a pool. Hot tubs or fire pits can be a lower-cost, lower-liability way to stand out early on. Check out Rob Abasolo with his company RoBuilt who teaches stuff like that. You've got this, Ashley!

Hi David. I've furnished over 10 STRs in the metro Atlanta area, and I totally get where you're coming from. Ask yourself if you would be comfortable designing & furnishing someone else's place. It requires a lot of attention to detail and organizational skills. For furniture, you can use group purchasing platforms specifically for STR Hosts to buy functional yet stylish items for a huge discount. I'm happy to send those over to you. Marketing-wise, I'd recommend showcasing before/after photos on Instagram and networking with local STR owners and agents - word of mouth goes a long way. All the best!

Hi Jonathan. Congrats on the new beach place! I’ve used Furnished Finder before and never had any luck getting a booking this way. But it really depends on the property and location. In your area, I’d still test it out but also list on Facebook groups or Zillow to keep bookings coming through winter. You can also increase your min. night requirements on Airbnb to attract snow birds looking for an 8 week/ 12 week stay over the winter months, offering a monthly discount. We do a Hybrid Rental strategy for our urban market, but it can also be applied to vacation rental markets with a different seasonality. Check out my book “The Hybrid Rental Strategy” on Amazon where I go deep into the details on how to do this. All the best!

Hi Sunny. That’s a tough situation. Large homes tend to attract event requests. Most hosts either ban extra guests altogether or allow them with an event fee + deposit/insurance. Clear rules upfront keep people from treating your place like a party venue at regular rates. But I would be careful, especially if you are in a residential neighborhood or your city has limits on allowed cars per home.

Hey Ben, you’re not overreacting - this kind of scam pops up more often than it should. I’ve had guests try similar “shock claims” at the end of their stay, and Airbnb almost always leans guest-first, even when the evidence is thin. The fact they ignored the fake photo but still dinged you $100 for dead batteries shows how inconsistent their process is. Best thing I’ve found is to document everything (photos, pest control reports, PMS logs) so at least you have backup if it escalates. Unfortunately, until Airbnb cracks down harder on fraudulent guests, we’re left protecting ourselves as much as possible.

Hey Lauren, I had the same reaction when I read that email - access is critical, but one hour is unrealistic when most “lock issues” end up being guest error. I use backup lockboxes, double-check codes, and give an alternate contact if I’ll be out of reach, but it’s frustrating that VRBO’s fines don’t go back to the guest, they just pocket them. Policies like this feel one-sided, especially when hosts are held to a higher standard than airlines or hotels.

Hey Lauren, I had the same reaction when I read that email — access is critical, but one hour is unrealistic when most “lock issues” end up being guest error. I use backup lockboxes, double-check codes, and give an alternate contact if I’ll be out of reach, but it’s frustrating that VRBO’s fines don’t go back to the guest, they just pocket them. Policies like this feel one-sided, especially when hosts are held to a higher standard than airlines or hotels.

Hey Timothy. For a beach 2/1, I’d lean cooktop + dishwasher and supplement with a good countertop oven/air fryer. Most guests won’t be doing heavy cooking on vacation, but they will appreciate quick cleanup and the option to heat pizza or wings without needing a full range.

Hey Naa, sounds like you've already got some great local advice here. I'd echo what others said: check directly with Pittsburgh's rental permit office for their occupancy permit process, and confirm zoning with the specific municipality and county before buying. That way, you'll avoid surprises and know exactly where you can legally operate your STR.

Hey Josh. Congrats on moving into direct bookings! I use a rental agreement from OwnerRez that covers guest responsibilities, payment terms, cancellation policy, house rules, and liability waivers. I'd recommend starting with a generic STR template (there are plenty online). That way you're protected and still save time drafting from scratch. Then have an attorney review the agreement to make sure it's state specific. We use LegalShield for Attorney services, can highly recommend them.