All Forum Posts by: Sarah Kensinger

We don't message the guest the week before, only at the time of booking to confirm we received the booking. Then all check-in instructions and a link to our digital guidebook is sent 24 hours before check-in. Then the rest would be the same, except we wait until the morning after check-in to see how things are going since some guests are late arrivals. Also we give guests check-out instructions the afternoon before they're supposed to leave. 

One thing I well note...you may want to take your number off the messages and just put it in a digital guidebook or hardcopy guidebook in the home. If something goes south with a guest and Airbnb sees you may have taken communication off platform...whether you did or not...they'll take the side of the guest no matter what. They want proof to back up what was said, or not said.

This is almost a little too much, and I say that as a STR guest of 50 different stays! Check out my Instagram for a reel that helps hosts figure out the right number of messages for each guests stay.

Don't and I do repeat DON"T replicate any STR in your market! If you want to stand out and be eye-catching over all the other competitors your property must be different! Hiring a designer, even a virtual package, may be a good option for you especially if this is your first property.

All the above that has been mentioned plus a hot tub and firepit for sure!

Airdna is the best site to get STR rental numbers. They gather data straight off Airbnb, VRBO, and a few other major STR rental companies that sell their data. If you would like to talk with someone is the Louisville area, I think we have a fellow STR colleague there but would need to double check on their service area.

Nope, too much of a security issue! 

Many people love hosting influencers and others not so much. I would do some research on it, especially talking with other hosts who have done it. I know a number that have been very successful with influencers, but of course the host knew how to use them correctly. People search on social media where to travel long before they would on the OTA platforms! Instagram especially is becoming a major marketing tool! I highly doubt you'll find anyone here, but DM STR accounts on Instagram may help you connect with a host who has done it.

If you're in FL I would sell it furnished and advertise it as a STR. But also advertise it for a local family to purchase as well. You never know who might come along interested in purchasing the property.

In our experience a LTR tenant is MUCH harder on a property then any STR guest. Dealing with damages on a former LTR as we type! The nonsense on rental arbitrage is just that, nonsense. The risk of rental arbitrage and all the reasons I regularly hear on this forum why a landlord shouldn't allow them; are the exact reasons we kicked a tenant out and why many other landlords kick tenants out.