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The HOST launches in New Orleans!
It’s the summer, which is the downtime for the tourism industry in New Orleans. That means there’s no better time to revamp your short-term rental to make it more efficient, lucrative, and manageable for you. After all, you probably got into the business to have more freedom while making more money, right? Let The HOST…
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Keeping It Clean: Tips from a Service Professional
Michelle Schindler is a busy woman. She’s a single mom to a teenager and helps take care of her 73-year-old father’s daily needs. She’s been with the HOST for a little over a year and recently promoted to Hospitality Cleaning Manager covering the greater New Orleans area. For homeowners, cleaners can often be the main…
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A Photo Is Worth A Thousand Words: Getting the Best Photographs of Your Short-Term Rental
If you’ve stayed in a vacation rental in the last 5 years, you’ve likely spent much of your time online looking at photographs. On many short-term rental sites, the photo is what attracts visitors in the first place. At the HOST, we can set you up with a professional photographer and stager to make your…
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Fighting Back with Facts: Understanding the Negative Image of Short-Term Rentals
Depending on what city you live in, you may have heard chatter over the last few years about short-term rentals being disruptive to the community. We want vacation rentals to enrich the local economy and create jobs for residents, and we’re sure you do too! So we sat down to talk to Eric Bay, President…
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Insurance & Your Short Term Rental
Homeowners who are renting out their homes are always “worried about the structure,” says Lauren Steinhardt, a producer at New Orleans commercial insurance broker, Gillis, Ellis, & Baker. “I’m worried about what if someone falls down the stairs.” When you’re renting out a property for vacation rentals, your regular homeowner’s policy just won’t cut it.…
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Is this Legal? What You Need to Know For Making Your Vacation Rental Legit
If you want to ensure the financial success of your vacation rental, that means knowing the laws, following the rules, and preparing for the financial hurdles associated with them. The HOST worked with New Orleans small business attorney Andrew Legrand to get the answers you need. Here are the four major issues he says you…
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Personality Plus: Building a Career in the Vacation Rental Marketplace
In the last few years, we’ve seen a boom in the share economy. People trying to earn extra income have turned to apps like Uber and Lyft to drive on their own schedule with their own cars. Young people looking to make an extra buck have started offering up their time to run errands on…
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It Takes a Village: Building a Management Team to Optimize Your Short-Term Rental
Imagine if you could provide your guests with all the charm of a bed and breakfast, the personal intimacy of staying at a friend’s house and the five-star amenities of staying in a world class hotel. By building a team of hospitality professionals, you can! One homeowner in New Orleans’ Garden District, Amy Heintz, demonstrates…
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An Inclusive Proposal: Nontraditional Models for Rental Management
Brittney Greene was an emerging professional in the hospitality industry when she started noticing flaws in the short-term rental arena. She had worked as private concierge for guests who stayed in homes instead of hotels, so she knew the demand for private accommodations before Airbnb had a name in the community. After working on home…
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How Can I Trust A Stranger In My House?
Many people looking to rent their property don’t feel safe allowing a rotating list of strangers into their houses. Especially if you’re renting a home remotely, it’s difficult to get over the fear that your home is left vulnerable without you. Homeowners can go crazy worrying about: Theft Damage to property Additional guests not approved…