SmartStay Show - Short Term Rental Counsel + Coaching | Airbnb Hosting Tips

Written by: Airbnb Superhost Jason Muth + Rory Gill
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  • Summary

  • Welcome to the SmartStay Show, your go-to podcast for mastering Short-Term Rentals on Airbnb, Vrbo, and beyond. For more Airbnb tips, visit smartstayshow.com and smartstaycoaching.com. Hosted by 30-time Airbnb Superhost Jason Muth and Real Estate Attorney Rory Gill, we equip you with the tools to launch, manage, and optimize your vacation rental like a pro. Unlike other shows, we specifically cater to owners of small-but-mighty portfolios who self-manage their properties. Each episode delivers expert insights, legal tips, and proven strategies from successful hosts across the U.S. Whether you’re buying your first property, improving your listing, or looking to stay ahead of the competition, we offer actionable advice and real-life stories to help you thrive. From pricing strategies to guest communication, we provide the playbook to turn your property into a top-performing rental. Subscribe now and unlock your rental’s full potential with the SmartStay Show!
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Episodes
  • How I Fought Back Against Bad Airbnb Reviews (And Won!) | Islam Elgarhi

    How I Fought Back Against Bad Airbnb Reviews (And Won!) | Islam Elgarhi
    Feb 4 2025
    How did one property cover an entire mortgage—and spark a 30-property empire? In this episode of the Smart Stay Show, We sit down with Islam Elgarhi, a short-term rental investor and entrepreneur, to uncover how he turned a chance discovery into a thriving business. From scaling his portfolio with smart systems to creating an AI tool that helps hosts tackle unfair reviews, Islam shares his secrets for success. Plus, we explore how his martial arts background has shaped his mindset for resilience and growth in the fast-paced world of Airbnb hosting. If you’re ready to learn how innovation and discipline can transform your short-term rental game, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights! Things we discussed in this episode: Islam Elgarhi's accidental entry into the short-term rental market by renting out his upstairs unit on Airbnb. The rapid growth of Islam's portfolio from 1 property to over 30 properties, through a partnership with his brother and a friend. The importance of developing robust systems and processes to efficiently manage a growing short-term rental business. Islam's use of outsourcing to a team in Pakistan and later virtual assistants in the Philippines to handle guest communication and operational tasks. The challenges of dealing with negative Airbnb reviews and Islam's development of an AI-powered tool to help analyze reviews and provide guidance on removal. The strategy of encouraging detailed negative reviews from guests in order to build a stronger case for review removal. The benefits of promptly handling damage claims to avoid retaliatory reviews from guests. Islam's background in martial arts, including grappling and MMA, and how it has influenced his entrepreneurial mindset and success. The correlation between Islam's achievements in martial arts and his entrepreneurial success, and the importance of balancing these two passions. The potential for AI to streamline the review removal process and reduce the need for human intervention, while also highlighting the importance of human interaction in prompting and refining AI tools. Get in touch with Islam: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/islam-elgarhi/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/islamelgarhi/ Website - https://modernstayconsulting.com/ Website - https://www.reviewlawyer.ai/ #SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #Airbnb #Entrepreneurship #SystemsDevelopment #VirtualAssistants #ArtificialIntelligence #ReviewManagement #MartialArts #FocusAndDiscipline #InnovationInRealEstate Follow Us! Join Jason Muth of Prideaway Stays and Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and Real Estate Attorney / Broker Rory Gill for the first episode of SmartStay Show! Following and subscribing to SmartStay Show not only ensures that you'll get instant updates whenever we release a new episode, but it also helps us reach more people who could benefit from the valuable content that we provide. SmartStay Show Website and on Instagram and YouTube Prideaway Stays Website and on Facebook and LinkedIn Straightforward Short-Term Rentals Website and on Instagram Attorney Rory Gill on LinkedIn Jason Muth on LinkedIn Hospitality.FM SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!
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    43 mins
  • Is Bad Guest Communication Hurting Your 5-Star Reviews? | Kory Himmer + Alex Steeg

    Is Bad Guest Communication Hurting Your 5-Star Reviews? | Kory Himmer + Alex Steeg
    Jan 28 2025
    Ever wonder why some hosts seem to always get glowing reviews while others struggle? In this episode of the Smart Stay Show, I’m joined by my business partners Alex Steeg and Kory Himmer to dive into the game-changing power of proactive communication in short-term rental hosting. We break down how setting clear expectations upfront can prevent negative reviews and enhance guest satisfaction. From booking confirmations to review requests, we share a 5-step strategy to keep your guests informed and your business running smoothly. Plus, we discuss the latest tech tools to streamline communication and make your life easier. If you’re ready to take your hosting to the next level, this episode is a must-listen! Things we discussed in this episode: The importance of setting clear guest expectations to avoid conflicts and negative reviews. Cory's 5-part proactive communication strategy, including booking confirmations, pre-check-in instructions, post-check-in check-ins, pre-checkout instructions, and review requests. The challenges of guests not reading provided materials and the need for patience and understanding. The value of having physical copies of property instructions in addition to digital guides. The use of automated messaging systems and AI-powered responses to streamline communication. The significance of a host's response rate in indicating their overall communication abilities. The benefits of having friends or family test the property to identify potential quirks and questions. The importance of being proactive in setting expectations and having detailed instructions. The need for hosts to stay updated on new technologies and trends in guest communication. The overall emphasis on providing an exceptional guest experience through effective communication. Get in touch with Kory: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kory.himmer Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/603bnb/ Website - https://603bnb.com/ / https://www.smartstaycoaching.com/ Get in touch with Alex: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alex.steeg86 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexsteeg/ Website - https://www.shorewaymgmt.com/ / https://www.smartstaycoaching.com/ #SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #GuestCommunication #ProactiveHosting #AirbnbHosting #VRBOHosting #GuestExperience #AutomatedMessages #AIResponses #HostingTips #STRSuccess Follow Us! Join Jason Muth of Prideaway Stays and Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and Real Estate Attorney / Broker Rory Gill for the first episode of SmartStay Show! Following and subscribing to SmartStay Show not only ensures that you'll get instant updates whenever we release a new episode, but it also helps us reach more people who could benefit from the valuable content that we provide. SmartStay Show Website and on Instagram and YouTube Prideaway Stays Website and on Facebook and LinkedIn Straightforward Short-Term Rentals Website and on Instagram Attorney Rory Gill on LinkedIn Jason Muth on LinkedIn Hospitality.FM SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!
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    37 mins
  • Our $130k Water Damage Claim - How Proper Insurance Saved Our STR Lake Home! | Darren Pettyjohn

    Our $130k Water Damage Claim - How Proper Insurance Saved Our STR Lake Home! | Darren Pettyjohn
    Jan 23 2025
    Ever Dealt With a Water Damaged Rental Property? This Could Save You Thousands. As short-term rental owners, Rory and I have seen it all - from the good, the bad, to the downright disastrous. One fateful night, we got that dreaded 2am call about a water damaged property, and let me tell you, it was a nightmare. But what happened next is the real story. In this episode, we sit down with Darren Pettyjohn, the co-founder of Proper Insurance, to unpack why short-term rental insurance is so crucial - and how their specialized coverage saved our bacon when disaster struck. Darren pulls back the curtain on the unique challenges facing vacation rental owners, the sneaky tricks some insurance companies use, and the innovative solutions Proper has pioneered. If you own a short-term rental property, or are thinking about getting into the game, you won't want to miss this. It could be the difference between a minor headache and a total nightmare. Click play and find out how Proper Insurance can give you the peace of mind to focus on being a 5-star host. Things we discussed in this episode: Water Damaged Nightmare and Insurance Savior - Jason and Rory's experience with a water damaged short-term rental property and how Proper Insurance stepped in to help. Specialized Insurance Policies - The need for niche insurance products tailored to specific industries like short-term rentals. Proper Insurance's Unique Features - Endorsements like bed bug coverage, squatters insurance, and no limit on guest-caused damage. In-House Claims Administration - Proper Insurance's ability to control the claims process from start to finish, leading to better customer service. Differences Between Short-Term Rental and Standard Homeowner's Policies - The multi-use nature of short-term rentals and the need for a combined homeowner's, landlord, and commercial policy. Positive Claims Experience - Jason and Rory's praise for Proper Insurance's transparent communication and their ability to make the claims process smooth. Risks of Misrepresentation - The potential consequences of homeowners misrepresenting the use of their properties to insurance companies. Worcester Insurance - Proper's sister company providing business policies for professional property managers. Wave O - Proper's guest damage protection solution, offering an alternative to traditional security deposits. Importance of Employee Engagement - Darren's insights on the challenges of managing a growing business and the value of maintaining personal connections with employees. Get in touch with DARREN: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/propervacationrentalinsurance Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/properinsurance/ Website - https://www.proper.insure/ #SmartStayShow #realestate #realestateinvestor #realestateagent #RealEstateInvesting #AirbnbManagement #ShortTermRentals #ShortTermRentalInsurance #PropertyProtection #ClaimsManagement #VacationRentalOwners #RiskManagement #PropertyManagerInsurance #GuestDamageProtection #EntrepreneurialInsights #InsuranceInnovation #PeaceOfMind Follow Us! Join Jason Muth of Prideaway Stays and Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and Real Estate Attorney / Broker Rory Gill for the first episode of SmartStay Show! SmartStay Show Website and on Instagram and YouTube Prideaway Stays Website and on Facebook and LinkedIn Straightforward Short-Term Rentals Website and on Instagram Attorney Rory Gill on LinkedIn Jason Muth on LinkedIn Hospitality.FM SmartStay Show is part of Hospitality.FM, a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry, from Food + Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, Real Estate Law, and so much more!
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    42 mins

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