492. Hosting Hotline: What Happens to Bookings When You Buy a Short-Term Rental?

Thanks For Visiting

Airbnb Superhosts Annette Grant & Sarah Karakaian

Society & Culture, Places & Travel, How To, Business, Education, Investing

4.9 • 590 Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2025

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week on the Hosting Hotline, we’re answering Renee’s question about buying a property that’s already operating as a short-term rental—and what to do about the future bookings that come with it.

If you’ve ever considered purchasing an “active STR,” you’ll quickly find out there’s a lot more to it than inheriting a calendar full of reservations. Sarah and Annette explain why listings follow the host (not the property), what that means for your ability to transfer bookings, and the negotiations you’ll need to have with the seller before closing.

You’ll learn:

Why STR listings and reviews don’t automatically transfer with a property sale.
How to negotiate booking transfers, co-hosting arrangements, or guest rebookings.
The tax, payout, and guest experience factors you need to consider.
How to involve OTAs (Airbnb, VRBO) in a booking transition.
Why getting everything in writing is non-negotiable.

If you’re thinking about buying a short-term rental, this episode will help you navigate the booking handoff process and avoid the pitfalls that can derail a smooth transition.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join us for our live Priced & Profitable Bootcamp.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Short-term rental hosts, booking slow where pricing feels off.
0:07.3	We're fixing it live in our booked and profitable listing audit boot camp.
0:11.5	It's four live trainings with us for just $49.
0:14.7	Bring your listing, your calendar, your pricing.
0:17.8	We are going to walk you through step by step so you know exactly what to change
0:22.1	to show up higher in the algorithm and get booked more.
0:25.7	Want personalized on your listing?
0:27.3	Then all you're going to do is upgrade to VIP for direct feedback.
0:31.0	Recap and seats and doors close on September 12th or when seats are gone.
0:35.7	Tap the link in the show notes or go to thanks for visiting.com forward slash boot camp.
0:40.3	That's thanks for visiting.com forward slash boot camp.
0:43.2	Save your seats now and then check your email for your prep checklist and live session dates.
1:00.0	Your listening. You're listening to the Thanks for Visiting Podcast.
1:04.4	We believe hosting with Heart is at the core of every short-term rental.
1:06.8	With Annette's background in business operation.
1:11.2	And Sarah's extensive hospitality management and interior design experience.
1:17.0	We have welcomed thousands of guests from over 30 countries, earning us over a million dollars and garnering us thousands of five-star reviews.
1:20.6	We love sharing creative ways for your listing to stand out, serve your guests, and be profitable.
1:27.1	Each episode, we will have knowledgeable guests who bring value to the short-term rental industry.
1:31.8	Or we will share our stories of our own experiences so you can implement actual improvements
1:37.2	to your rentals.
1:39.0	Whether you're experienced, new, or nervous to start your own short-term rental, we promise you'll feel right at home.
	...

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