by Paris Achen | Feb 5, 2026 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Property Care, Safety
For nearly a week after Hurricane Michael tore through Panama City in the Florida Panhandle in October 2018, Annie Holcombe couldn’t make a phone call. The Category 5 hurricane wiped out power and cellphone towers, disabled water systems, destroyed 1,500 buildings,...
by Paris Achen | Nov 19, 2025 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Property Care
If you manage your own direct bookings, the answer is simple: yes, you need a rental agreement for every stay. The debate begins when a booking comes through Airbnb, Vrbo, or another online travel agency (OTA). Should you still ask guests to sign a separate agreement...
by Paris Achen | Oct 29, 2025 | Guest Communications, Hosting and Management, Property Care
Mid-stay cleans are a service that can either elevate or complicate a short-term stay, depending on how they are handled. They can offer an extra layer of hospitality and a chance to check on your property, but they also can be a logistical headache for guests and...
by Paris Achen | Jun 24, 2025 | Hosting and Management, Property Care, Short-Term Rental Regulation, STR Advocacy 101
When Merilee Karr co-founded the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) in the UK in 2017, she kept hearing the same frustrating refrain from government leaders and traditional hospitality groups: short-term rentals had no standards. Never mind the growing ranks...
by Paris Achen | Apr 2, 2025 | Hosting and Management, Property Care, Safety
If you own a short-term rental, you may have noticed an alarming trend: STR insurance coverage is harder to get, more expensive, or disappearing altogether. From California to Florida and everywhere in between, homeowners are receiving policy nonrenewal notices just...
by Paris Achen | Mar 24, 2025 | Hosting and Management, Property Care
A professionally cleaned short-term rental is vital to delivering a satisfying guest experience, but selecting the cleaning service requires know-how, planning, and well-defined expectations. In this guide, vacation rental cleaning experts will share what to do to...
by Paris Achen | Feb 28, 2025 | Hosting and Management, Property Care, Safety
As recent tragedies have magnified, preparing your property for natural disasters and other emergencies is becoming increasingly urgent each year. 2023 was a record year for weather and climate disasters, with at least $1 billion in damages. These record 28 individual...
by Paris Achen | Dec 31, 2024 | Hosting and Management, Property Care
Every routine business activity needs quality control measures, and in the short-term rental hosting business, turnover inspections are one of our most important. “Regular inspections are more than just keeping things tidy; they’re your secret weapon for protecting...
by Paris Achen | Dec 16, 2024 | Hosting and Management, Property Care
“The most luxurious item is a beautiful bed and beautiful, simple sheets.” – Former American fashion journalist Andre Leo Talley From soft, durable sheets to plush 100% cotton towels, a simple, high-quality linen program can enfold your guests into the welcoming...
by Paris Achen | Dec 2, 2024 | Hosting and Management, Property Care
Welcoming guests to a pristine home is a nonnegotiable element of staying in business as a short-term rental host – let alone earning a 5-star review. In this guide, we’ll explain how a turnover clean and a residential clean differ and outline the essentials of...
