Short-Term Rental Software Directory: 109 Airbnb & Vacation Rental Tools
A free directory of 109 short-term rental tools sorted by job: market data, pricing, PMS, cleaning, screening, owner acquisition. No affiliate links.
Host strategyAirbnb's Single 15.5% Fee: How the Rollout Unfolded (and What Vrbo Is Doing Next)
Airbnb is replacing its split fee with a single 15.5% host fee, first for hosts on property management software and then for everyone else. Every dated checkpoint through October 13, 2026, the repricing math, and Vrbo's 12% follow-on.
Host strategyVrbo's 12% Commission Comes With a Catch: You Can't Just Raise Your Vrbo Rate
Vrbo moves every host to a flat 12% commission on October 29, 2026. The new Host Terms also require your Vrbo rates and fees to be at least as favorable as every other channel. Here is the math and what to do before the deadline.
Host strategyVrbo's 30-Day Off-Platform Rule: What It Actually Says, and Where It Came From
A new clause in Vrbo's Host Terms lets it charge commission on direct bookings that follow a Vrbo inquiry within 30 days. The fee is eight years old. What is new is who has to report it and who carries the burden of proof.
Host strategyDescribe the Property, Not the Guest: What Airbnb Lets Hosts Say About Children and Accessibility
Airbnb retired "not a good fit for children." Here is what its public policies let hosts say about kids and accessibility, what they forbid, and how to rewrite the lines that cross over.
Host strategyAirbnb's Free Photo Shoot Offer: Is It Real, and Should You Accept It?
Airbnb is offering some hosts a free professional photo shoot, by invitation only. How it works, what to check before you accept, and whether it is worth it.
Host strategyWhy Guests Leave Bad Airbnb Reviews (and How to Reply)
We read all 683 sub-4-star reviews across 4,000 Southeast cabins in full. Here's what actually drives a bad Airbnb review, and the host-reply playbook that works.
Host strategyAirbnb vs. Mid-Term vs. Long-Term Rental: The Real Math on the Same Property
Most STR vs LTR comparisons use gross revenue and get the answer wrong. We run one property through all three strategies, expenses included, and show where the profit actually lands.
Host strategyAirbnb Review Intelligence: Guest Reviews Are a Dataset, Not a Score
Nearly 95% of Airbnb listings rate 4.5 or 5 stars, so the star average carries almost no signal. Here's how to mine your comp set's reviews for pricing, amenity, and early-warning data the score can't show you.
Host strategyWhat Your Airbnb Title Signals (And What It's Costing You)
A data study of 9,577 Southeast Airbnb listings: what hosts lead their titles with, what each opening earns, and 5 concrete changes to test on your own listing.
Host strategyThe Social Proof Gap - What 9,577 Airbnb Listings Reveal About Guest Trust
Only 1 in 13 Southeast Airbnb listings use any social proof, and about half of that isn't real guest voice. We scanned 9,577 listings to find what actually moves the Guest Favorite badge.
What Amenities Actually Pay Off in Smoky Mountain Cabins
Hot tubs, theaters, game rooms, EV chargers — ranked by revenue lift, using real comp-set data.
Georgia Lakes: Lanier vs. Oconee vs. Burton STR Returns
Which Georgia lake delivers the best — and worst — STR returns, and why the regulations differ as sharply as the revenue.
What a Smoky Mountain Cabin Really Earns
A realistic revenue reality check by bedroom count and area — measured against the calculators that oversell it.
5 Pricing Mistakes Quietly Costing Gatlinburg Hosts Money
Minimum-stay settings, event-weekend rate gaps, and the calendar habits that leave nights unbooked.
How Leaf Season Reshapes Smoky Mountain Cabin Rates
Foliage timing and Blue Ridge / Smokies cabin demand, and how to price for the shoulder-season swing.
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