Vacation Home Help

Not all STR markets are created equal. Some look amazing in headlines but flop once you dig into the numbers. Others are sleeper markets that deliver insane returns if you know where to look.

In this episode, John Andrew breaks down Step 3 of his no-BS framework: how to go from choosing the right macro market (state/city) to nailing the perfect micro market (the neighborhood or even the street).

You’ll learn:

Too many new investors make the same mistake: they buy a “dream” property in a market that looks good on paper — then find out the city, county, or HOA doesn’t allow short-term rentals. That’s how you end up with a liability instead of an asset.

In this episode, John Andrew breaks down Step 2 of his no-BS framework: the Compliance-First Market Filter. You’ll learn how to quickly spot STR-friendly markets, what permits and taxes you need to check before you buy, and why you should always walk away from “gray areas.”

What you’ll discover in thi...

🚨 Airbnb just made its boldest move yet: a host-only fee of 15.5% (16% in Brazil) and zero visible guest fees. It looks like housekeeping—it's actually a psychological flip that erases “book direct to avoid Airbnb fees” and puts price blame on you while Airbnb takes a bigger cut.

In this episode, I break down:

A No-BS Framework to Build a Profitable STR Portfolio (Part 1: The Airbnb Buy Box)

Most hosts fail before they even start — not because they don’t work hard, but because they don’t define their Buy Box. In this episode, I’m breaking down Step 1 of my no-BS framework to build a profitable short-term rental portfolio: how to set your investor thesis, choose your markets, and build a buy box that keeps you disciplined and profitable deal after deal.

You’ll learn:

In this episode of Vacation Rentals with John, we’re diving deep into one of the most frustrating realities of hosting — when guests lie just to get a refund.

I’ll break down the most common scam tactics — from false cleanliness complaints to fake pest sightings — and share real-life examples from my own hosting experience. You’ll learn exactly how to document, respond, and escalate issues so you win refund disputes and protect your hard-earned income.

Whether you’ve been burned before or just want to scam-proof your short-term rental business, this episode will give you the confid...

In this episode of Vacation Rentals with John, we dive deep into one of the most frustrating parts of running a short-term rental business: getting paid for guest damages.

We’re talking about AirCover, Booking.com, and VRBO — the platforms that promise protection but often leave you covering the bill. I break down:

In this episode, I share why I went all in on short-term rentals and how this business changed my life — from leaving corporate finance at Hilton to building a lifestyle of freedom, growth, and purpose.

I open up about how STRs helped me grow as a businessman, strengthen my relationship with my fiancée, support my parents, and ultimately design a life on my terms. I also talk real — the ups, the downs, and why this business isn’t for everyone.

If you're in this game and wondering whether to keep going — or thinking about getting s...

Weekends booked but weekdays empty? You’re leaving money on the table. In this quick episode, John shares the exact pricing tweaks he made to fill weekday gaps on his Airbnb listings. From adjusting base rates to smart use of dynamic pricing tools and embracing short stays—these small shifts can make a big impact. Tune in and learn how to turn those slow weekdays into steady cash flow.

(PS Apologies for the sound quality- recording on the go! )

👉 Need help with your pricing? Email John at john@vacationhomehelp.com for a custom review of your li...

I’m back. Here’s where I’ve been, what’s changed in STRs, and how this podcast will help you win in 2025 — one smart move at a time.

Follow the new facebook page here

Thank you so much for your support.

A couple promotions that work for my vacation rentals to attract more bookings - easy to implement changes.

Join the facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/vacationrentalswithjohn

Connect with me here john@vacationhomehelp.com

My airbnb profile https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/46582948

My cleaning company vacationhomehelp.com

Chatting with Airbnb expert Daniel Rusteen about optimizing your airbnb listings.Rate and review to show support on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Follow Daniel Rusteen https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrusteen/https://www.instagram.com/dannybooboo0/?hl=enhttps://optimizemyairbnb.com/product/optimize-your-airbnb-book/Join the new facebook communityhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/406742401333133

Airbnb actually did a pretty sneaky update to short stay clean fees.

In this episode I will walk you through my vacation rental cold outreach method I use to find new owners, guests, and clients for my short term rental businesses. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be...

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.Articleshttps://skift.com/2023/10/06/exclusive-hopper-terminates-booking-com-partnership-in-preemptive-strike/https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/evolve-second-layoffs-round-2023/

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com

This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Read Business Insider ArticleRead Fortune Article Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com

This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Source article: https://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending/homeowner-tied-up-by-man-he-rented-room-airbnb/6KIGXAPW3ZCOBDS5XZTHGH7HUA/Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Read it here: https://www.keydatadashboard.com/blog/summer-2023-us-vacation-rental-market-winners-and-losersConnect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

When this happens, it is never a good situation, and prevention is always better than having to fix it. So this episode will go into prevention methods and ways you can make it right for your guests.Identify the WHY it happened after you fix the problem. Take care of the guest firstIdentify the cause so you can prevent in the futureHow to handle the guest How to handle the cleanerHow to handle yourself Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that...

How to choose vacation rental sites to list on (...besides Airbnb and VRBO) If you. need more exposure to fill up your calendar, here is a 5-minute exercise you can use to find the most effective vacation rental websites.

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.com

This episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting...

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

One of our listeners had a 'guest from hell' - they do have a shared space, but I have dealt with a difficult guest who was dead-set on breaking every rule possible. Hope this never happens to you, but if it does...here are some practical steps you can take to ask them to stop and if it fails, how to get the platform to cancel the reservation.Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things...

Should I leave a welcome gift for my Airbnb guests?This short episode will dive into a couple of ideas to improve your guest experience.Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe...

Sometimes guests have to leave early. Storms, wildfires, illness in the family, or just because they want to go home early. Here is how I deal with it.Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free...

Just a couple of things I think about and do when dealing with guests who break house rules. Note: This episode is probably more suited to beginner hosts. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's X Tweet - https://twitter.com/bchesky/status/1704465615954584043Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Today, we have Zach Busekrus from Sponstayneous on to talk short term rentals.Connect with Zach on InstagramLast Minute Airbnb Deals on sponstayneous.comConnect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

If your guests won't leave your property in time, here are some practical steps you can take. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Read the article by The Atlantic 'Airbnb Really Is Different Now"https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/09/airbnb-hotel-hosting-cleaning-fees/675355/Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

A little neat trick to help you rank higher with the algorithm...Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Big changes with VRBO's cancellation policy and Premier Host ProgramIf the host cancels a booking 48 hours before the stay, they will be charged 50% of gross booking value — that’s the most harsh penalty. If it is canceled between 30 days to 48 hours prior, the penalty is 25%; prior to 30 days, the penalty is 10% with a minimum of $50. Hosts can get a waiver for unavoidable cancellations, such as those attributable to natural disasters. Vrbo confirmed that, for now, only hosts in the U.S. will face the penalties. Updates to eligibility requirements for the Premier Host program will start January 2024. The new requirements aim...

How I do short term rental bookkeeping in under 30 minutes a weekLinks to help with creating your chart of accounts (you do not need these softwares, these are just to reference to get your chart of accounts)https://blog.bnbtally.com/airbnb-costs-and-chart-of-accounts-to-considerhttps://www.doorloop.com/blog/property-management-chart-of-accountsConnect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but...

Airbnb retires email aliases. What hosts need to knowConnect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

We got a situation! How to handle a guest pressuring for a refund through complaints.Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this week in the short term rental world including apps, books, tech, new hacks, tricks, articles, and other weird but interesting short term rental stuff of value that I stumbled upon. It's free and will always be free. You can subscribe here.

Sometimes the numbers may be a bit confusing whether you are reading the transaction activity report (the airbnb spreadsheet download) or your reservation detail.I recommend checking the reservation detail to understand the numbers that go into your payout spreadsheet that you can download from Airbnb. This episode I am going over numbers from a reservation I had to explain how they show reservation details. Connect with Me: john@vacationhomehelp.comThis episode is brought to you by the Vacation Rentals with John Newsletter my very own email newsletter every Friday that features 4 bullet points highlighting cool things I found this...