Welcome to Adventures in Airbnb
Our publication is about more revenue, less work, more automation, and happier guests.
Welcome to Adventures in Airbnb! Whether you're already managing an Airbnb or just planning to start, this newsletter is your essential companion for making the most of your rental journey. Each issue covers key insights like:
Streamlining your short-term rental business with smart automation tips
Proven strategies to boost revenue and maximize occupancy
Effective ways to elevate guest experiences and earn 5-star reviews
Budget-friendly design ideas to make your space unforgettable
Tips for handling guest communication and setting clear expectations
Advice on optimizing your listing for better visibility
Essential tools and software for self-managing like a pro
Lessons learned from real experiences to help you avoid common pitfalls
Join us as we uncover everything you need to thrive as an Airbnb host!
Our story - how we started
Our story began over 10 years ago when we purchased an older 4-plex with a friend/acquaintance. We were the passive partners. We invested a bit more funds and had no control over the management of the 4-plex, but in turn, we learned quite a lot about real estate, appreciation, permits (or lack of permits), property management, fires, and more. Looking back, this could have been a disaster, but it turned out well primarily due to appreciation.
When we were beginning to consider how to ‘exit’ our partnership, we received a call from our ‘friend’ who said he was thinking of selling the quadplex as he needed the cash for something else. Perfect. In fact, he already had the listing up, and this was more of a courtesy call since we were the passive investors.
After three months, the property sold for a good price, and we now had extra funds to invest.
We had to decide between investing in another multifamily home or something else.
We had read several books on real estate investing, appreciation, multi-family investing, and AirBnB/STRs. STRs seemed very interesting to us as we loved to travel, and both of our jobs allowed for a certain amount of work remotely. In addition, we had a few vacation spots that we kept returning to repeatedly.
As if the stars aligned, a property appeared on Minnesota’s north shore that met all the criteria: A-frame cabin, 4 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, large deck with a view of Lake Superior, close to Ski resort, lake view, room for expansion, and fiber internet (a must-have). A couple of months later, we closed on the property. The house did need a bit of cosmetic work and one major item—a new septic system within 12 months.
How hard could this STR business be?
This was the start of our Adventures, which eventually led to Airbnbs in various cities in the US and one in Mexico.
We hope to share many of the tips and tricks and dos and don’ts we have learned while self-managing the properties remotely.
Someone once asked how we would categorize our Airbnb business in one short sentence: A hospitality business with great automation and customer service geared towards delighting guests.