All Forum Posts by: Anja Schaer

Hey Drew, welcome to the forums! As an STR host and co-host in Metro Atlanta, I get the frustration with Pricelabs—Wheelhouse is a great alternative with a more user-friendly interface. BeyondPricing is another solid option to check out. For management, Guesty or Hostfully could be worth a look if Hospitable isn’t cutting it. For WiFi access and guest data capture, look into StayFi—it lets you collect guest emails for marketing while providing a seamless login experience. Hope this helps, and best of luck scaling your portfolio!

Hi Itay, as an STR host and co-host in Metro Atlanta, I understand your concerns. Protecting your property comes down to smart screening, clear house rules, STR insurance, and monitoring tools. Require ID verification, avoid last-minute/one-night bookings, and use smart locks, Ring cameras, and noise monitors to deter parties. Airbnb’s AirCover helps, but STR insurance is a must, especially for VRBO/Booking.com. Setting higher minimum stays and strategic pricing also attracts responsible guests. Wishing you a smooth hosting experience!

As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I handle lost items by first messaging the guest through the booking platform and offering to ship them back if they cover the cost. I typically charge a flat fee of $25-$30 plus shipping for retrieval and mailing. For convenience, I use services like USPS or Sendle for easy, trackable shipping. If the item is valuable, I coordinate with my cleaner to handle the process for an additional fee. Keeping a lost & found bin has also been helpful for common items like chargers or sunglasses, as many guests don’t bother retrieving small things, but valuables like keys are usually claimed right away.

As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I'd recommend using a mix of tools for underwriting:

• AirDNA & STR Insights – Good starting points but don’t rely solely on them.
• BNB Calc & Pricelabs Dashboards – Helpful for forecasting and pricing trends.
• Manual Research – Check Airbnb/VRBO comps, occupancy rates, and nightly pricing.
• BP STR Calculator – A solid Excel tool for underwriting.

Financing Tip: DSCR loans focus on projected STR income, but second-home loans (if eligible) often offer better terms. Lenders may require 15-25% down, and STR loans typically have slightly higher interest rates.

Once you narrow down a market, connect with an experienced, investor-friendly Realtor in that area to confirm numbers. Combining local expertise with solid research will help you make an informed decision. Which market are you targeting?

Hey Sheldon,

As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I'd say your numbers look tight, especially in the slow season. Living in it for a year lets you test MTR demand and refine your STR strategy. High open nights (60%+) in Pensacola is a red flag—double-check demand. If you PCS, budget 20-30% for a manager. Consider a backup LTR option and connect with an investor-friendly Realtor to gauge demand. It could work, but not a slam dunk.

Hey Katie, as an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I'd say it depends on your market and guest demand. In lakefront locations, larger rentals often attract families and groups, leading to higher ADRs and fewer turnovers. However, listing both separately and combined could maximize bookings—just ensure pricing justifies the extra cleaning and management work.

We don’t have direct experience with parent/child listings since we don’t currently manage a property set up for that, but I do know other hosts who use this strategy successfully. Again, it really depends on the market. Check AirDNA, BNBcalc, and competitor listings to compare revenue potential. If managing two units doesn’t add at least 20% more net income, keeping it as one rental may be the better move. All the best with this strategy!!

Hey Yair, as an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I'd say don't rush just for tax benefits—make sure the deal actually works. STR Insights is a great resource to find lucrative markets based on your budget and buy box—I highly recommend booking a demo call with them. Use AirDNA/RABBU to validate numbers and ensure you can meet 500+ material participation hours. Focus on long-term profitability over urgency.

Hey Ashley, As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say it depends on your time vs. value. If you're local and have the flexibility, cleaning yourself can save money and ensure quality. But as you scale, it can become too much to handle.

Staging is key for guest experience—if you hire cleaners, train them to place pillows, set up decor, and follow a checklist to maintain consistency. Many professional cleaners will include this if you communicate your expectations upfront.

You can also test it out—start by cleaning yourself to understand the process, then decide if outsourcing is worth it. Your time is valuable—invest it wisely!

As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say you’re on the right track. Since you have good personal credit but no capital, house hacking is a great way to start—live in one unit, rent the others, and leverage low down payment loans.

To build business credit, start with a business bank account, business credit card, and small vendor trade lines. Also, networking with local investors and lenders can help you find creative financing options like DSCR loans, seller financing, or partnerships.

I would be happy to connect and share insights! Keep pushing forward!

Hey Jessie, Love to see your drive at 20! As an STR/MTR host & co-host in Metro Atlanta, I’d say you’re on the right path with house hacking—it’s a smart way to start. Either with a duplex or a home with a basement that has a separate unit downstairs. While saving up, focus on networking with investors, joining local REI meetups, and learning market trends. BP forums, Facebook groups, and in-person investor meetups around ATL/Cobb are great for connecting. The Atlanta REIA is a great place to connect to local Investors, so I would definitely check that out. They do in-person meetups but also onsite walkthroughs, which are super helpful especially for beginning investors like you.