HOSTING - AIRBNB & VRBO

Thoughtful hosting, practical lessons and the small details that make a stay feel easy, welcoming and memorable. This is where I share what I’m learning about creating a short-term rental that feels both beautiful and well run.

What I share here comes from actually doing it — managing a family lake house that we also rent to guests, learning what works, what doesn’t, and what I’d do differently along the way.

❋ Hosting & Guest Experience

The practical details that help a short-term rental run smoothly — from communication and guest expectations to the small touches that make people want to come back.

Designing, furnishing and stocking a rental so it feels welcoming and personal while still standing up to real guest use.

❋ Rental Design & Setup

The less-polished side of owning a short-term rental — maintenance, renovations, platforms, unexpected problems and what I’m learning as we go.

❋ Behind the Rental

See what I’m writing about on Hosting - AIRBNB & VRBO…

Featured
Repairing or Renovating an Airbnb With Guests Booked: What We’ve Learned
Repairing or Renovating an Airbnb With Guests Booked: What We’ve Learned

After nearly 10 years of renting our lake house, we’ve learned that repairs rarely happen at a convenient time. From broken appliances and emergency service calls to a major exterior renovation, here’s how we handle repairs when guests are staying or already booked—while keeping communication and the guest experience at the centre of it.

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Can a Family Lake House Really Work as an Airbnb?
Can a Family Lake House Really Work as an Airbnb?

Can a family lake house really work as both a cherished family retreat and a successful Airbnb? After nearly ten years of welcoming guests into the place we love most, I've learned that operating a vacation rental isn't about creating a perfect property—it's about creating a home people genuinely love spending time in.

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Airbnb vs. Vrbo for Hosts: Why I List My Lake House on Both
Airbnb vs. Vrbo for Hosts: Why I List My Lake House on Both

Listing our lake house on both Airbnb and Vrbo has given us more visibility, more booking opportunities, and a better sense of which platform performs best for our property. Here’s my honest experience managing both platforms, avoiding double bookings and why I’d still choose to be on both.

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The One Thing that Every Airbnb Host Needs
The One Thing that Every Airbnb Host Needs

When people think about what makes an Airbnb special, they usually think about decor, amenities, or location. But for us, the one thing that matters most happens behind the scenes — and it has shaped the guest experience at our lake house more than almost anything else.

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What Makes a Short Term Rental Work: Lessons from our Lakehouse
What Makes a Short Term Rental Work: Lessons from our Lakehouse

Practical lessons learned from hosting a short-term rental for nearly a decade, including how to prepare an Airbnb and/or VRBO guests love — from cleanliness and communication to thoughtful design details and everyday essentials that elevate the experience.

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