Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Lisa Graesser

Lisa Graesser has started 3 posts and replied 284 times.

Post: Are Airbnb and VRBO host fees tax deductible?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314
Quote from @Michael Baum:

What @Ryan Moyer said. You can find the fees you paid in your tax statement.

Now, cleaning fees should be a pass through the guest pays so it is not deductible. We do get some deductions on that as we pay our cleaner $300 and we charge $250. Occupancy taxes and STR license fees are also deductible.

Basically anything you pay out of pocket to maintain and run the STR is deductible. Get a good CPA and they can sort it all out. There are a lot of deductions that are not obvious. I did a free Turbo Tax run through and our CPA had a much better return for us. Worth every penny.

Don't your guests pay the occupancy tax? I collect the tax from them and remit, so not included with income and not a write off.

Post: Direct booking web.

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314
Quote from @Leon Lee:
Quote from @Lisa Graesser:

In place of a website, you can list your rentals on Houfy.com. It is free to list and no booking fees.  They also have a website builder you can pay for.

I have used Houfy for a few years and each year I have more and more direct bookings. .many repeat guests, but I also promote using the direct site to anyone that contacts me with interest in renting.


 Lisa

Thank you for the info! One quick question: can you post smart pricing on your listings on the Houfy? I took a quick look and did not find a quick way to connect the smart pricing to the listing. Thought I might have missed something and it is the best to confirm. 

Thanks

Lee


 Hi Lee,

Pricelabs does synce with Houfy. For more information you can join the "Say yes to Houfy " Facebook group

Lisa 

Post: Direct booking web.

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314
Quote from @John Underwood:
Quote from @Lisa Graesser:

In place of a website, you can list your rentals on Houfy.com. It is free to list and no booking fees.  They also have a website builder you can pay for.

I have used Houfy for a few years and each year I have more and more direct bookings. .many repeat guests, but I also promote using the direct site to anyone that contacts me with interest in renting.

Are you using the free version?

I don't know of a paid version. I think you can pay to have your listing highlighted, but I have no need for that, so I haven't looked into it.

Post: Direct booking web.

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314

In place of a website, you can list your rentals on Houfy.com. It is free to list and no booking fees.  They also have a website builder you can pay for.

I have used Houfy for a few years and each year I have more and more direct bookings. .many repeat guests, but I also promote using the direct site to anyone that contacts me with interest in renting.

Post: How do you control or treat odors between STR guests for quick turnovers?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314

@Courtney Nguyen The cleaners cleaned all the linens, floors, carpets and still had that lingering dog smell, after they ran the ozone for an hour and then opened the window s for a little while, the smell was eliminated .

Post: How do you control or treat odors between STR guests for quick turnovers?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314

I have an ozone machine at each house for the cleaner to use if needed. Our homes are "Non-smoking" but I have had a couple of guests depart with the house smelling of smoke. We do allow dogs and have had one guest that the cleaners said the house smelled of wet dog. The cleaners will run the ozone for about an hour after they have finished the cleaning and it eliminates the smell. You just have to air out the house for a little while after you run the ozone, to remove the chemical smell of the ozone machine.https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...

Post: Losing thousands - cancellations left and right due to Austin Energy

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314

I live in Buffalo, NY, and luckily I do not have my STR's here. (They are in Florida and we have to deal with hurricanes.) We had record storms that we were not prepared to handle even with our snow history. Unpredictable weather happens, and it seem this will happen more often. The current weather in Austin is rare. There is only enough manpower to fix everything in a short period of time. Things happen, there is nothing you can do except prepare for the next time and get a generator.

Post: STR slowing down/crash or ramping up?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314
Quote from @Mike Gordon:
Quote from @Lisa Graesser:

No decrease in bookings, I get inquiries daily for peak season Jan-March 2023 and 2024. I am booked through April with direct bookings in May, June and October. I think demand is determined by the popularity of the area where your rentals are located.

Hey, where are your STRs located?


 The Villages, Florida

Post: Smart lock with decent battery life?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314

Try the lithium batteries before you change out the lock. Huge difference with use of the lithium batteries. I have the schlage encode and prior to changing to lithium, I would have to change batteries every 5-7 mo. I put lithium batteries in 2 houses in November and the battery is still showing 100% today.

Post: Houfy or Avail for STRs?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 292
  • Votes 314
Quote from @Ryan Moyer:
Quote from @Lisa Graesser:

I have not used Avail, but I have been using houfy for a couple of years now, with great success, you can set up an account with stripe or square for credit card payment or take payment any other way you choose.  You can upload your rental agreement and the guest will need to sign the rental agreement and upload their photo prior to requesting to book. The site is improving all the time, with host suggestions and requests. Join the Facebook group "Say yes to Houfy" for more information on any questions or concerns you may have. 

I don't know, in what way is it confusing your guests? That would be a question to post on the "Say yes to Houfy" Facebook group 

 Does Houfy have a way to remove the Houfy banner at the top?  Even if it costs extra, seems worth it.  Seems to confuse guests.