All Forum Posts by: Sarah Kensinger

This is kind of a hard question since your international. I always tell people to choose areas that they would enjoy going to visit, and then narrow that down to the place that would give the best return. If that can be helpful to you, I would advise narrowing down your possible areas that way.

That area is hard to do STR, it's hard to convince landlords to allow you to do rental arbitrage, and unfortunately, this forum is a bit down on that strategy. For a little help in how to start a business model like this, check out Michael and Elizabeth Chang who have been extremely successful with rental arbitrage, and I believe TJ Tijani has some good info as well.

As of a year ago Proper Insurance was the only company that covered for rental arbitrage. You as the homeowner can check into them, but Proper would cover the couple and I believe you as well under their policy. But it wouldn't hurt for you check into the company yourself and then have the couple get their own "renters' policy".

I have connections in Atlanta, and I'll see if I can get some STR realtor recommendations for you.

You need to get off Airbnb smart pricing as it's not that smart at all and get pricelabs or something similar. Also do you offer monthly stays during the winter that could help you out in the slow season?

Just out of curiosity, which complex is your studio in?

Have you tried a medium to heavy weight blanket and possibly keeping two on hand. Then the cleaner can take one with the set of sets to wash and put a fresh blanket for the next guest.

I would highly suggest contacting a professional that services hot tubs and ask them. You should be hiring someone experienced in hot tubs to do maintenance anyway. There have been several people that have become severely sick or even died due to a hot tub not getting proper maintenance. You don't want that to backfire on you and/or the cleaner. And since the question of news links comes up regularly, I'm sure I can find the news articles about that when I get the chance if someone would feel more comfortable reading them....

It's hard to cashflow in most places right now, so don't let that hold you back from the Myrtle Beach area.

Definitely a themed-out game room! Be cautious about adding a bunch of beds in the bonus room, if there are not large living spaces. You need enough sitting at the dining room table and in the living room for as many as the house sleeps.

Try to find a group or mentor that has been successful and learn all you can! My biggest piece of advice is to educate yourself and never stop learning about the industry. And if you can find people to advise and help you along, it'll expedite the process of building a co-hosting business.

Oh, and if you haven't already, please go stay in some STR.... there are way too many hosts that don't have a clue what it's like from the guest's side! In my opinion a good host has to know the guest's side of the STR industry.