Enjoy Your Stay

Marketing your short-term rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo takes more than leaving it to the platform. Building your business means you need to take a boots-on-the-ground approach to advertise to new venues.

In this episode, I share different ways I have found to get the word out about our vacation home rental in the area. Branching out to get direct bookings is a great way to build the longevity of your short-term rental.

My experience co...

Communication can make or break a hospitality business. This is even more true when talking about a short-term rental you are running. Setting expectations in advance, giving clear house guidelines and ensuring a comfortable stay are key elements to success.

Listen in as I share what I have found to be the 3 keys to great communication with guests. Set yourself up for success from the start by implementing your own communications s...

Is hospitality your favorite part of owning a short-term rental? I discovered that it is one of my favorite parts of the job. What part of being in the hospitality business do you love?

Join me in this episode where I share how you can make your hospitality shine whether you are a designer, tech person, love people, or prefer to be hands-off. 

My experience comes from running my own budget-friendly family vacation home in Florida. ...

Who is coming and going in our small town Airbnb short term rental? In this last year we have had many guests from all across the country. Listen in as I share why they are coming to my town and how we used that information to improve our guest's stays.

My experience comes from running my own budget-friendly family vacation home in Florida. I list on Airbnb, VRBO and Houfy.

Learn along with me to see who really visits my small town...

This week I share my own experience renting an Airbnb to see fall colors in North Carolina. I call it our Camp Shanty Experience! It was a good reminder of our guests' perspective and what can happen when you are not hands-on in your short-term rental. We survived the trip with wonderful memories and lots of laughs from the cabin we rented. I'll share our "hair" experience, and the all-night wind tunnel complete with sound effects....

Clean and comfortable is the name of the game. If our places are not clean for our guests they will leave a bad review, not return and it will leave an impression on their vacation. 

Finding good cleaners is hard and getting them to follow how YOU want your place cleaned can be difficult. Listen in to the importance and challenges of keeping your place 5 star clean.

My experience comes from running my own budget-friendly family vac...

Learning from our guests is what makes us better as short-term rental owners. When you are just getting started the nerves and jitters can take your mind to wild places. That is exactly what happened with our second guests. This is one we will never forget. The day we saw our tv going out the front door on camera!!  However, it was with these particular guests that make me know in my heart that this was the career path for me.

My e...

Being a guest in your own short-term rental is an important step in setting yourself up for success. Actually staying in your rental is the only way small quirks can show up or where you see the need for an item or adjustment.

In this episode I share why staying in your short-term rental can be an asset as you move forward and how you should do it every so often to catch anything that might need to be changed.

My experience comes f...

What is the accessibility of your short term rental? What should your guests know about the set up before they arrive? Your listing should include how you get to the front door. Is there a step? How many? Is it wheelchair accessible? How wide are your doorways? Do your bathrooms have grab bars? All of these questions are important to many that are looking at your home for a vacation.

Sometimes we don't think about needs that others...

Debary Hall Historic Site is a local gem where my short term rental is located. The history of this site goes back over 150 years. I love to share this tour with my guests because it is a fun activity for all ages, is less than 2 miles from the rental and showcases the beauty of old Florida on the grounds. 

Sharing local sites in your advertising and with your guests gives them a connection greater than a place to sleep. It gives t...

Amenities vary from house to house and city to city. What should you offer your guests? From coffee makers to luxury linen, the list is long as to what you can offer. In this episode, I talk about amenities according to your price point, location and budget.

Coming from a budget-friendly price point and location, I have a few things to share from my experience. Listen in and see where your rental falls in the category of amenities.

Who were the first official guests to stay at River City's Retreat? Listen in as I share our first guest experience. The nerves, the excitement, and the pleasure. Hosting your first guest is a culmination of so many emotions including fear. My first guests were amazing and the true ideal guest that I had put together for this property. I share with you my feeling of their stay and what I learned. 

My experience comes from running m...

Who is your ideal guest? Do you have to know the answer before you open your doors? Your ideal guest sets the tone for decor and amenities in your rental. You may not know the answer until you get some bookings under your belt or you may know before your first booking. 

I share how to find your ideal guest and cater your home to them. When you do the bookings will come from those very guests! My experience comes from my own budget-...

This week I share my thoughts on furnishing your STR from the guest perspective. After staying in several STR's I began making a list of what I loved and what was lacking for the needs of our stay. This helped me when furnishing my own property. Get a few ideas for your own place!

 Holly speaks from her experience running her budget-friendly family vacation home in Central Florida. 

Follow Holly and her southern adventures.

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Now that you are ready to get started renting your place, how do you furnish it? Holly talks about many different ways to furnish your rental from low budget to high end. Remember your market and don't overfill your place right away. Holly speaks from her experience running her budget-friendly family vacation home in Central Florida. 

Follow Holly and her southern adventures.

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridafamilyvacation

Holly introduces herself and shares a little background on how she came to be a short-term rental owner and started her Airbnb, VRBO rental listing from scratch. 

Starting a new business can be daunting, but with a plan and a little knowledge, your dreams can come true.

Do you have a dream of starting a short-term rental of your own? Learn along with me as I venture into this fun and exciting arena for income. 

My experience comes ...