by Paris Achen | Feb 18, 2022 | Accessibility, Hosting and Management, Property Care, Responsible Renting, Safety
Making your short-term rental more accessible isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. Small changes – that cost $100 or less – can literally open your doors to a whole new pool of potential guests. Increasing the accessibility of your home isn’t just the right thing to...
by Paris Achen | Feb 12, 2022 | Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Property Care, Responsible Renting
For Lorraine Woodward, the barrier to taking a family vacation was finding a wheelchair accessible vacation rental. “I remember a trip to New York City,” Lorraine Woodward said. “The boys each were in their scooters, and I was in my wheelchair, and we were crossing...
by Alexa Nota | Jan 7, 2022 | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Marketing, Responsible Renting, Safety
Today, LGBTQ+ travel platform FabStayz announced the opening of pre-registration for its upcoming FabUniversity, an education and certification program for vacation rental operators to make their properties and hosting practices safe, inclusive, and welcoming to...
by Paris Achen | Dec 24, 2021 | Hosting and Management, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, News, Rent Responsibly News, Responsible Renting, STR Advocacy 101
Covid-19 vaccinations ushered in a year of travel rebounds and burgeoning growth in the number of stays at short-term rentals in 2021. With the industry’s unparalleled boom, came regulatory disputes on how to best manage the growth in certain jurisdictions, such as...
by Paris Achen | Dec 22, 2021 | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Humans of Short-Term Rentals, Responsible Renting
As a single mother, Danielle Lindsey had no time to lose with her teenage daughter. But her job as a brand ambassador often took her out of town on business trips. Moonlighting as a short-term rental host quickly demonstrated that she didn’t have to choose between...
by Paris Achen | Oct 13, 2021 | Nuisance Prevention, Responsible Renting, Rules and Regulations, Taxes
Following all applicable laws is a critically important part of operating a short-term rental responsibly – or at all. Cities are increasingly imposing hefty penalties for failure to comply with local short-term rental ordinances, ranging from expensive fines to...
by Paris Achen | Aug 3, 2021 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Nuisance Prevention, Responsible Renting
Setting house rules is crucial to responsibly operating any vacation rental. Effectively communicating those rules holds equal importance but requires a little more social finesse. How do you come across as hospitable even as you tell your guests what they may and may...
by Paris Achen | Jul 26, 2021 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Nuisance Prevention, Responsible Renting
If you self-manage a short-term rental, you have probably fielded some challenging questions or requests from guests, including those that indicate guests would inadvertently – or intentionally – skirt your house rules. Sticking to your house rules and booking...
by Alexa Nota | Jul 9, 2021 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Marketing, Responsible Renting, Safety
Hosts of The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals looking up the ladder of the Bird’s Nest at Firefly Eco Lodge in Bali – Courtesy Netflix You know the vacation rental industry is officially no longer “alternative” when Netflix has multiple original...
by Paris Achen | Apr 9, 2021 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Nuisance Prevention, Property Care, Responsible Renting
Guests often choose short-term rentals for the experience of living like a local in a home-like atmosphere. But we can’t forget that they’re temporarily living amongst locals, too – our neighbors – so it’s important that we prevent vacation rental...