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Hosted by Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

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Episodes

583

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Get actionable advice and the essential fundamentals of running a profitable 5-star Airbnb side-hustle or full on business. Annette’s extensive background in business operations and Sarah’s experience in high-end hospitality management and interior design make them a powerhouse duo that will deliver high impact content. With almost a decade of combined hosting experience they will not only share their own stories welcoming thousands of guests from around the world but also those of other Superhosts to deliver you a wide array of stories, insights, and profitable and creative ideas to make your listing rise to the top. Whether you’re experienced, new, or nervous to start your own Airbnb this podcast promises to be informative, fun, and from the heart.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 13, 202654 min

564. She Turned Her Family Ski House Into a Top-Tier Airbnb

Gale Golden did not start with a perfect short-term rental strategy.She started with a family ski house in the Adirondacks, a property that sat empty for years, and a decision: rent it or sell it.In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Gale to talk about how Five Star Lodge went from a beloved family property to a more intentional, more profitable short-term rental business. Gale shares how she first got into real estate, why she started hosting, and what changed when her market became more competitive after COVID.She also breaks down what happened when she stopped treating the property like a side project and started treating it like a business. From learning revenue management and watching PriceLabs every morning to investing in professional photography, improving operations, building her team, and positioning the property around its actual guest experience, Gale’s story is a clear reminder that optimization changes everything.If you have a great property that is underperforming—or you know there is more revenue sitting inside your current listing—this episode will help you see what can happen when you finally run the numbers and make the business match the property.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Gale turned a family ski house into a short-term rental businessWhy market saturation forced her to get serious about pricingHow revenue management helped unlock stronger performanceWhy professional photography changed the way guests saw the propertyHow better systems improved cleaning, maintenance, and team performanceWhy direct booking opportunities may already exist inside your current networkHow Gale’s property was selected for Staycation USAWhy the right guest experience can outperform generic amenity checklistsResources mentioned: Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host! Learn more about PriceLabs!

August 6, 202644 min

563. How a 700-Square-Foot Airbnb Hit $84K

Steve Marquis did not stumble into short-term rental success.Before buying his first Gulf Shores property, he was running seven or eight pro formas a day, studying markets, comparing opportunities, and trying to find the right investment. But once he finally bought his first condo, the real work started.In this episode, Sarah and Annette sit down with Steve to talk about how he went from teacher to real estate agent to short-term rental investor, and how he used a data-driven approach to outperform his original revenue projections.Steve shares why he chose Gulf Shores, how he renovated and repositioned his first beach condo, and why small family-friendly amenities helped him stand out in a market full of generic beach listings.He also breaks down how he learned to track booking windows, stop panic-dropping rates too early, build a remote team, market to snowbirds, use email to encourage repeat guests, and keep pushing revenue without chasing 100% occupancy.If you have ever wondered whether your property can make more than the market data says it can, this episode is a reminder that the right mix of numbers, positioning, systems, and guest experience can keep raising the ceiling.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Steve chose Gulf Shores over more expensive beach marketsHow he used pro formas to evaluate investment opportunitiesWhy family-friendly amenities helped his condo stand outHow booking window data changed his pricing strategyWhy revenue matters more than chasing 100% occupancyHow he manages properties remotely from OhioWhy he plans to keep building in one marketHow email marketing and direct bookings can increase guest lifetime valueResources Mentioned:Join us Live and Learn about Strategic Host!PriceLabs: Revenue management for hosts and property managers.

July 30, 202655 min

562. How One Host Got 70% Direct Bookings

Kim Kelley did not buy her Annapolis home with an Airbnb business plan.She bought it so her family could be close to their daughter, Lizzie, while she attended the United States Naval Academy and played varsity lacrosse. After Lizzie graduated and was commissioned into the Navy, Kim had a decision to make: sell the house or turn it into something more.So she “threw it on Airbnb.”In this episode, Sarah and Annette talk with Kim about how The Goat Getaway became much more than a second home. Kim shares what it took to get licensed in a strict market, why her second guest immediately exposed the need for a stronger team, and how she built boots-on-the-ground support while hosting remotely from Dallas.She also breaks down the strategy that changed everything: learning PriceLabs, raising her base rate, adjusting minimum stays, creating parent-child listings, and building direct booking demand through the Naval Academy community.If you have a property with untapped midweek demand, a strong niche audience, or a direct booking opportunity hiding in plain sight, this episode will show you what happens when you stop guessing and start operating like a real business.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Kim turned a family home into The Goat GetawayWhy remote hosting requires a trusted local teamWhat her early guest issues taught her about operationsHow PriceLabs changed her pricing strategyWhy parent-child listings helped unlock midweek demandHow she reached 70% direct bookingsWhy one bad guest pushed her toward a stronger business modelHow she uses weekly metrics to keep improving the listingResources Mentioned: Join us live & learn about Strategic Host! Pricelabs: Revenue management for hosts and property managers.

July 23, 202618 min

561. How to Make $100K on Airbnb Without Buying Another Property

You do not need to buy another property to build a six-figure Airbnb business.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the path they would take if they were starting with one property in 2026 and wanted to make $100K. Their answer is not buying more doors, taking on more debt, or jumping into rental arbitrage. It is co-hosting.Before you manage someone else’s property, your own listing needs to be performing. Sarah and Annette walk through the numbers, systems, and standards that need to be in place first, including cost per reservation, pricing strategy, booking funnel performance, and guest experience.Then they explain how co-hosting works, what the math looks like, why it carries less risk than arbitrage, and what you need before taking on your first client.If you already run a strong short-term rental, this episode will help you see how your current property can become the proof of concept for a bigger business.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why co-hosting can be a faster path to $100K than buying another propertyHow to use your own listing as your proof of conceptWhy every host needs to know their cost per reservationWhat the $100K co-hosting math actually looks likeWhy co-hosting carries less risk than rental arbitrageWhat brand standards, contracts, and onboarding fees need to be in placeFive steps to start building a co-hosting businessResources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host!

July 20, 202616 min

560. Why Wealth Builds Faster After One Rental Property

Short-term rentals are not passive income. They take work, systems, pricing strategy, guest experience, and real operational discipline.But that work is also what creates the opportunity.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down why short-term rentals can build wealth faster than traditional long-term rentals when they are run like a business. They compare the revenue ceiling of a fixed monthly lease with the earning potential of a well-managed short-term rental during peak demand windows, then explain how guest-paid mortgages, appreciation, and equity growth can create momentum toward the next property.They also talk honestly about the risks: seasonality, higher operating costs, slow months, and the danger of treating peak-season revenue like a salary.If you are thinking about buying your first rental property—or wondering whether your current property is performing the way it should—this episode explains why the first one is often the hardest, and why learning to operate it well can change everything.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why short-term rentals are active income, not passive incomeHow STR revenue potential compares to long-term rental incomeWhy guest payments can help build equity over timeHow one property can create a path to property number twoWhat risks hosts need to plan for before scalingWhy systems, pricing, and financial discipline matter from day oneResources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host!

July 9, 202620 min

559. The Airbnb Payout Routine Every Host Needs

Your Airbnb payout hitting your bank account is not the same thing as knowing your business is profitable.In this episode, Sarah and Annette walk through the monthly payout routine they use to track revenue, catch missing money, compare actual payouts against forecasts, and move income into the right financial buckets.They break down why every hosting business needs a dedicated business bank account, how to audit payouts against reservations, and why relying on your bank balance at the end of the month is not a real business metric.You’ll also learn how they use the Profit First method to separate money for operating expenses, owner’s compensation, taxes, and profit—so every dollar has a job the moment it lands.If you’ve ever looked at your Airbnb payouts and wondered where the money went, this episode will help you build a clearer, more consistent routine.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why your Airbnb payouts should go into a dedicated business accountHow to audit every payout against every reservationWhat to do when Airbnb or another OTA underpays youHow to compare actual revenue against your forecastWhy your bank balance is not a profitability metricHow to use Profit First buckets for expenses, taxes, owner’s pay, and profitResources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host!Mentioned in this episode:Save your workshop seat!

July 2, 202619 min

558. Why Your Airbnb Isn't Getting Bookings

Your Airbnb might be beautiful, but that does not mean guests are going to book it.When hosts struggle to fill their calendars, they often blame demand, competition, or the Airbnb algorithm. But the real problem may be sitting right inside the listing.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down six common mistakes that cause guests to scroll past a property or abandon it before booking. They cover everything from photography and listing titles to descriptions, reviews, pricing, and booking settings.You’ll learn why real estate photography is not the same as short-term rental photography, how generic AI-generated titles disappear in crowded markets, and why lowering your nightly rate is not a real pricing strategy.Before you discount your property again, use this episode to audit the entire guest booking experience.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why your listing photos may be costing you bookingsHow to write a title that gives guests a reason to choose youWhat your description needs to communicate before “Show More”Why a full calendar can mean you are underpricedHow reviews influence both trust and pricing powerWhich Airbnb settings may be creating unnecessary booking frictionResources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host!

June 25, 202622 min

557. How to Beat the Airbnb Algorithm Without Guessing

If you've ever blamed the Airbnb algorithm for slow bookings, this episode might completely change how you think about your listing.Sarah and Annette break down what the Airbnb algorithm is actually looking for—and why most hosts are focusing on the wrong things. Instead of chasing algorithm "hacks," they explain the five controllable factors that determine how often your listing appears in search and whether guests ultimately book.From availability and minimum stays to hero images, reviews, pricing, and conversion rates, this episode offers a practical framework for diagnosing why your property isn't performing and what to fix first.Whether you're launching your first Airbnb or managing a growing portfolio, these are the metrics that actually move the needle.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the Airbnb algorithm isn't working against youThe five ranking signals every host should monitorHow minimum stay rules can quietly hurt occupancyWhy your hero image matters more than you thinkThe pricing mistakes that reduce visibility and revenueHow to improve conversion without lowering your ratesResources Mentioned:Apply for Strategic Host!

June 18, 202619 min

556. 4 Hotel Upsells Airbnb Hosts Are Giving Away for Free

Most Airbnb hosts are leaving money on the table without realizing it.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down four common guest requests that hotels routinely charge for but short-term rental hosts often provide for free. From early check-in and late checkout to pool heat, grocery stocking, and celebration setups, these services take time, coordination, and operational effort.The hosts share real examples from clients who turned these requests into meaningful revenue streams, including one host who added thousands of dollars per month simply by charging for services guests were already expecting to pay for.If you've ever felt guilty charging for extras, this episode will help you rethink the difference between hospitality and uncompensated labor.In this episode, you'll learn:Why early check-in and late checkout should be treated as premium servicesHow to price pool heat without creating guest confusionWhat hotels charge for concierge-style amenity setupsHow to structure grocery stocking and fridge-fill servicesThe mindset shift every host needs to stop giving away valuable servicesResources Mentioned: Apply for Strategic Host!

June 11, 202622 min

555. Never Turn On These Airbnb Settings (They're Costing You Bookings)

Think your bookings are down because of the algorithm, seasonality, or increased competition? The real problem might be hiding inside your Airbnb settings.In this episode, Sarah and Annette break down the Airbnb features that could be creating friction for potential guests and limiting your visibility in search. They share three settings they recommend turning off immediately and five settings every host should review and enable to improve conversions, increase booking velocity, and create a smoother guest experience.You'll learn why required booking messages can hurt conversion rates, the hidden downside of extra person fees, why Airbnb Smart Pricing may not be serving your revenue goals, and how tools like Instant Book and Professional Hosting Tools can help you attract more bookings.Whether you're managing one property or a growing portfolio, this episode is a reminder that your settings aren't "set it and forget it." Small adjustments can have a significant impact on your bottom line.Resources Mentioned:Apply for Strategic Host!

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