Get Paid For Your Pad | Airbnb Hosting | Vacation Rentals | STR Revenue Management

Latest Episodes:

Building an Airbnb Listing That Beats the Competition—with Kati & Brian Greene Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

As short-term rental hosts, we ALL want to build a listing that stands out from the competition. And we know that having the right photos is crucial in getting prospective guests to book.

But what if you’re not a professional photographer, and you don’t have the money to hire one? Can you still take gorgeous listing photos if it’s just you and your smartphone?

Kati and Brian Greene are the Cofounders of Overlooked 2 Overbooked, a service that helps hosts optimize their listings to attract their ideal guests at optimal prices.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Kati and Brian join me to share their top tips for taking photos of your property and describe how to choose the best ‘magnet photo’ for your listing.

Kati explains the optimal way to order photos in an Airbnb listing and Brian discusses how to take your listing to the next level by including experience shots.

Listen in for insight on using guest reviews to improve your listing and learn how Kati and Brian can help you build a listing that beats the competition!

Topics Covered

Overlooked 2 Overbooked’s virtual photo shoot

Teach host how to operate smartphone camera
Guide through taking photos for listing on video chat

Kati’s top tips for taking photos for your listing

Lower camera to waist level and lift gaze
Point camera parallel to floor (not down at furniture)
Use rule of thirds for exterior shots

How to choose the best magnet photo for your listing

Review thumbnail photos of listings ranked above you
Choose image that stands out from competition

How to appeal to your prospective guest’s lizard brain

Use contrasting colors, include fun in photos
Make guest trust you and feel safe in space

The optimum way to order your photos in an Airbnb listing

Start with 5 best or most interesting features
Follow up with room-by-room tour of property
Wide angle shot of room first, then detail shots

Brian’s advice on serving as an ambassador of your town

Ask why people visit and what’s cool about area
Become concierge or expert re: local activities

How to use guest reviews to improve your listing

Use guest comments for insight on what to feature
Caption photos with quotes from reviews

How to take your listing photos to the next level

Set up vignettes of experience guest might have
Example—people enjoying s’mores in fire pit

Connect with Kati & Brian

Overlooked 2 Overbooked

Free Listing Assessment

Resources

Kati & Brian’s eBook

Color Wheel

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

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The Biggest Opportunity in Short-Term Rentals Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

In a recent interview with Skift CEO Rafat Ali, Brian Chesky predicted a near-future revolution in travel. A revolution that presents a big opportunity for short-term rental hosts.

As more companies offer employees the option to work remotely, Chesky believes people will take advantage of the flexibility to travel. This will increase demand for STRs, especially in secondary markets.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric and I discuss the biggest opportunity we see right now in short-term rentals, describing how we’re finding older vacation homes in drive-to destinations and converting them into unique STR experiences.

Listen in for insight on the benefit of investing in real estate for Airbnbs and learn how to upgrade an older STR property—without losing sight of what makes the local area special!

Topics Covered

Key takeaways from the recent Brian Chesky interview

People won’t go back to working in offices full-time
Affords much more flexibility to travel

Opportunities for STR hosts in this revolution of travel

Find older vacation homes in secondary markets
Convert into unique, modern STR experiences

Why we’re investing in properties in secondary markets

Financial decisions shaped by experience of COVID
People want to travel AND live there (can sell later)

What short-term rental guests will need moving forward

Fast internet, workspace for remote office
Option to disconnect and be in nature

Approach to upgrading older STR properties

Improve experience (e.g.: smart locks, guidebook)
Highlight what makes local area special

Benefit of investing in real estate for STRs

Ownership affords opportunity to build wealth
Money in properties as hedge against inflation

How the Get Paid for Your Pad podcast is changing

Mondays focus on small hosts (Airbnb101)
Wednesdays about managing STR business at scale
Fridays we share journey building hospitality brand

Resources

Brian Chesky: Travel Revolution

Remote Work at Buffer

AirDNA

The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness by Morgan Housel

Strawberry Creek Village

Sonder

Lyric

Stay Alfred

Legends X STR Accelerator

Get Paid for Your Pad

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delight Your Guests by Delivering the Unexpected—with J.T. McKay Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

If you want your guests to delight YOU with five-star reviews, return visits and referrals, then you need to delight them first by delivering the unexpected.

But what, exactly, does that look like? How can Airbnb hosts WOW their guests in every step of the short-term rental journey?

J.T. McKay is the author of Airbnb on Autopilot: Save Time and Boost Profits for Your Vacation Rental. J.T. has been investing in real estate for over 25 years, and he currently operates 10 vacation rental units in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, J.T. joins me to discuss how to delight your Airbnb guests by delivering the unexpected, beginning with becoming a story-seller in your listing.

J.T. offers advice on building a personal connection through your house manual and automating guest messaging with authenticity.

Listen in for J.T.’s insight on WOW-ing your guests during their stay with selfie props, QR codes and V.I.G. (Very Important Guest) discounts to local restaurants and attractions!

Topics Covered

What makes Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge a popular STR market

‘Vegas for families’ (amusement parks, dinner theatre, etc.)
Attracts outdoor enthusiasts for hiking and fishing

How to delight prospective guests with your Airbnb listing

Become story-seller and make future guest hero
Shows respect for space, attracts idea guest

How to delight your guests through your house manual

Include information about YOU to build personal connection
Infuse with personality and fun, pay attention to design
Share restaurant recommendations and area info
Shoot short how-to videos (e.g.: electronic lock, thermostat)

How to automate guest messaging with authenticity

Send first morning check-in message
Use customization tags (include guest name)
Consider recording custom welcome videos

J.T.’s tips for delighting your guests once they’re in your unit

Provide basket of selfie props, incentivize sharing on social
Leverage QR codes for connecting with info quickly
Offer USB charging outlets and Bluetooth speakers
Share V.I.G. discounts to local restaurants and attractions
Give away free swag (i.e.: mugs, pens, cookbook PDF)

Connect with J.T.

J.T.’s Website

Airbnb on Autopilot: Save Time and Boost Profits for Your Vacation Rental by J. T. McKay

Email jt@jtmckay.com

Resources

Loom

You on Netflix

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Takeaways from the VRMA Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

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How to Set Up a Multilingual Airbnb—with Tracey Northcott Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

It’s your job as an Airbnb host to understand the struggles your guests might face and set them up for success.

But what if your guests are international tourists who don’t speak the local language? How can you create a multilingual short-term rental to serve guests from anywhere in the world?

Tracey Northcott is the Founder and Owner of Tokyo Family Stays, a vacation rental property management company based in Tokyo, Japan. Tracey is also the Guest Experience Specialist behind Tracey Northcott Consulting, a firm dedicated to helping other hosts improve their hospitality standards and maximize STR profits.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Tracey joins me to discuss how to set up a multilingual Airbnb, describing how she attracts large extended families of inbound tourists to her properties in Tokyo.

Tracey shares her strategies for supporting guests who don’t speak the local language, explaining the benefits of providing infographics and professionally translated information.

Listen in to understand why Google Translate is not good enough and get Tracey’s top tips for anticipating the needs of your international guests!

Topics Covered

Tracey’s ideal guest at Tokyo Family Stays

Inbound tourists or Japanese people who lived overseas
Large extended families (don’t exclude based on language)

What to think about as the host international guests

What’s common for you not standard across world
Meet people where they are, provide tools for success
Recognize common humanity of all

How Tracey serves guests who don’t speak the local language

Infographics for toilets, kitchen appliances and HVAC units
House rules, trash/recycling info in multiple languages

The benefits of providing infographics and translated information

Save time and stress fielding calls or fixing broken items
Guests feel welcome and leave 5-star reviews

Why Tracey suggests hiring a human translator over free apps

Not too expensive, supports another small business owner
Google translate = unprofessional and not welcoming

Tracey’s tips for anticipating the needs of international guests

Curated links to local recommendations and list of FAQs
Step-by-step instructions for getting to STR property

Connect with Tracey

Tokyo Family Stays

Tracey Northcott Consulting

Tracey on Instagram

Resources

Tracey’s Listings on Airbnb

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning Lessons from 13 Years’ Experience in the STR Industry Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Yes, we learn a lot from personal experience. But smart short-term rental hosts also learn from each other.

We take advantage of our peers’ and predecessors’ experiences, implementing best practices from the very beginning.

Koryn Okey is the Vice President of Client Experience at Breezeway, the leading property operations and services platform for short-term rentals. Prior to joining Breezeway in 2017, Koryn spent seven years as Director of International Accounts at FlipKey.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Koryn joins me to explain how the FlipKey model differed from that of Airbnb and explore what gives Airbnb the brand recognition it enjoys today.

Koryn offers advice on optimizing your property listings, and we discuss when hosts should start using a tool like Breezeway to manage their STR portfolio.

Listen in for insight on investing in tech early on in your Airbnb business and master Koryn’s top three habits of highly successful STR hosts!

Topics Covered

What differentiated the FlipKey model from Airbnb

Host paid per lead vs. percentage of booking
Get guest contact info, communicate directly

Koryn’s advice on building a listing for your STR

Ask friends for honest feedback
Compare to other listings in market

How Koryn thinks about choosing a lead photo

Consider why guests coming to your market
Pick image to stand out from competitors

What made Airbnb more successful than FlipKey

Focus on urban markets, young travelers
Mind for design = user-friendly site

How Breezeway technology serves STR hosts

Operations and guest services platform
Ensure space clean, functional and safe

When hosts should consider tools like Breezeway

Any time manage listing(s) remotely
Essential once responsible for 5 properties

The benefit of implementing tech right away

Leverage best practices from beginning
Efficiency gains, avoid mistakes

Koryn’s top 3 habits of highly successful hosts

Invest in technology early on
Build community (learn from others)
Know what’s happening in industry

Connect with Koryn

Breezeway

Koryn on LinkedIn

Email vip@breezeway.io

Resources

FlipKey

Jeremy Gall on Get Paid for Your Pad EP387

Breezeway’s STR Inspector Course

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International Travel Ban to US Will Be Lifted in November Sep 24, 2021

Show notes

On Monday, September 20, the US government announced that it is lifting its Covid-related ban on international travel starting in November.

The new rules allow entry for vaccinated visitors from the EU, India, China and 30 other countries deemed high-risk back in March of 2020 when the ban went into effect.

So, what does this mean for you and your Airbnb business?

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric and I discuss the details of the March 2020 travel ban and describe how lifting it is likely to impact the US short-term rental market.

We look at the AirDNA report comparing STR demand in August of 2019 with August of 2021, exploring why domestic travel compensated for the loss of foreign tourists in North America—but not Europe.

Listen in for insight on the increasing demand for unique Airbnb stays and larger properties and find out what recovering lead times means for your hosting business!

Topics Covered

The travel ban that went into effect in March 2020

Travelers from EU, China and other high-risk countries
Cannot enter US if from/touch ground in last 2 weeks

How the rules are changing in early November

Ban lifted for vaccinated travelers
Must also have negative COVID test

Why we predict a spike in travel to the US once the ban lifts

EU and China huge market for Airbnb hosts in US
Urban areas likely to benefit most

AirDNA’s stats comparing STR demand in August 2019 vs. 2021

North America down just 2%, Europe down 25%
Easier to drive through states vs. countries

The increasing demand for unique short-term rental stays

Up 31% in France over last 2 years
Farm stays, tiny homes and castles most popular

Why larger properties are recovering better than small ones

Travelers bring friends/family, create own experience
Opportunity to relax and disconnect from chaos

What recovering lead times mean for Airbnb hosts

Back up to 60 days in many markets
Shift in pricing strategy, increase in general demand

Resources

‘After Months of Bans, Fully Vaccinated Travelers Will Be Allowed to Fly to the US’ on NPR

Trump’s March 2020 Proclamation

Vacation Rental World Summit

AirDNA

AirDNA’s Report for the Vacation Rental World Summit

2021 VRMA International Conference

Campfire

Eric on TikTok

Eric on Instagram

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ideal Operations to Scale your Airbnb hosting business Sep 17, 2021

Show notes

You might be surprised to hear that the most downloaded episode of Get Paid for Your Pad so far this year is a show about systems. While operations is not the sexiest aspect of running a short-term rental business, it may be the most important.

So, what is involved in building out the operations for an Airbnb business? And how does creating systems benefit you as a host?

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric and I sit down to discuss the ideal operations to scale your STR business, describing how to identify the most efficient processes and save time and brain power.

We explain why it’s crucial to write down everything you do for your vacation rental business and offer advice on how to start the documentation process.

Listen in to understand what STR operators can learn from McDonald’s and find out why focusing on operations is the prerequisite to scaling your Airbnb hosting business!

Topics Covered

The 3 things you need to grow an Airbnb business

Vision
Operations
Scale

What we mean by the term operations

Goes beyond tech tools for automation
Document processes for every task

Why it’s crucial to document your operations

Easy to hand off tasks to team members
Takes you out of business asap
Gives you option to sell business in future

Why we’re documenting every step of our STR takeover

Use as blueprint for future acquisitions
Smooth transition from previous owner

The benefit of documenting systems from the get-go

Forces to create most efficient process
Save time and brain power on repetitive tasks

Our advice on how to start the documentation process

Start with voice notes or Zoom videos
Transfer to spreadsheet or document later

What to ask yourself as you refine your STR systems

Can I remove steps from this process?
How do I simplify this system?

How a STR business is like a McDonald’s franchise

Get clear on vision and build operations
Maintain brand standard in multiple locations

Resources

Eric on TikTok

Eric on Instagram

How Systems Make Your Life Easier as an Airbnb Host on GPFYP EP376

Overnight Success

The Founder

Legends X 90-Day STR Accelerator

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Leverage Virtual Assistants to Scale Your Hosting Business—with Kim Herrlein Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

Are you still trying to do it all yourself in your short-term rental business? If you’re afraid to be away from your phone even for a few minutes or worried that you forgot to follow up with a guest, it’s time to consider hiring a virtual assistant or two—before you burn out!

So, what do you need to know about hiring VAs? How can they help you scale your STR hosting business?

Kim Herrlein is the founder of Purveyors of Leisure, a short-term rental management company headquartered in the Coachella Valley of California. Kim’s team focuses on large group travel, combining the comfort of a vacation rental with the luxury of resort-style concierge services.

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Kim joins me to explain how hiring virtual assistants has been a game changer for her Airbnb business, describing what her VA team does and how she trained them.

We discuss the common misconceptions around hiring Filipino VAs, and Kim describes the advantages of hiring virtual assistants through an agency like Sphere Rocket or Virtual Staff Finder.

Listen in to understand how hiring VAs has helped Kim transition from Hectic Host to Rising Star and find out how YOU might benefit from adding the services of a virtual assistant to your STR team.

Topics Covered

How Purveyors of Leisure caters to large group travel

Boutique hotel with 6+ bedrooms on private resort
Host weddings, retreats and corporate meetings
Host on the ground available from 9am to 9pm
Offer concierge services, e.g.: private chef, massage

Why Kim hesitated to hire a VA for her STR business

Questioned that there’d be enough work for VA
Wasn’t organized enough to hand tasks over

The benefits Kim sees from hiring a team of VAs

Fresh eyes on business, implement new ideas
VAs do guest communication so Kim can unplug

Kim’s unique approach to training her virtual assistants

Share recurring questions + create own cheat sheet
Study for 2 weeks before communicate with guests

What Kim is focusing on now that she’s built a VA team

Identify new properties to expand portfolio
Design work and project management

Why Kim recommends hiring VAs through an agency

Get help with hiring process, contracts, etc.
Educates you on how to best use VA’s skills

The projects Kim’s VAs are leading in her STR business

Creating social media marketing plan
Build email list for existing guest outreach

The most common misconceptions about hiring Filipino VAs

Don’t speak English well, can’t do complex tasks
Being taken advantage of with low wages

Kim’s advice to hosts on working with virtual assistants

Give sense of ownership and autonomy
Check in regularly and ask for feedback

Connect with Kim

Purveyors of Leisure

Resources

Sphere Rocket Virtual Assistants

Hicksville Trailer Palace

Virtual Staff Finder

Legends X Short-Term Rental Accelerator

Get Paid for Your Pad on YouTube

Email jasper@getpaidforyourpad.com

Sponsor

Hostfully [Discount Code PAD]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why You Need a Vision for Your Airbnb Business Sep 10, 2021

Show notes

Don’t think you need a vision for your Airbnb business?

If you’re trying to grow a short-term rental company, but you haven’t given any thought to what you want the business to look like, you’re likely to get caught in the trap of trying to please everyone.

And in trying to please everyone, you please no one—least of all yourself!

On this episode of Get Paid for Your Pad, Eric and I sit down to discuss why you need a vision for your Airbnb business, explaining how it guides the systems you build and helps you stand out in the marketplace.

We explain how a clear vision helps you attract the right team members, challenging you to get clear on your core values and invite your employees to hold you accountable.

Listen in to understand how having a vision benefits even hosts with one or two listings and learn what questions to ask yourself as you build out the vision for your STR business!