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April 10th, 2025

Good afternoon STR Report Community!

In today’s issue, you will find:

📱Today’s Article: 🔑 STR House Rules: Finding the Perfect Balance Between Flexibility & Control

📈 Trending Market Highlight: Spokane, Washington and Beaver Creek, Colorado

✉️ STR News: Easter 2025 Is Three Weeks Late—And It’s Scrambling Your Spring Calendar & more

💸 Mortgage Rate Watch

🐚 Unique Airbnb of the Week

🏫 Subscriber Perks: Beginner’s Guide E-Book, Guest Communication Messaging Templates, Airbnb Welcome Guide Template, STR Buy Box Template, & Tax Savings E-Book

✅ Community Perks: Property Analysis, Personal Airbnb Investment Finder, and STR Loans & More

📬 See our collection of newsletters here: Prior Newsletters

🔑 STR House Rules: Finding the Perfect Balance Between Flexibility & Control

Managing a short-term rental can be rewarding, but without clear house rules, things can quickly get out of hand. Whether you're listing on Airbnb, Vrbo, or another platform, establishing and enforcing house rules ensures that guests respect your space, neighbors stay happy, and you avoid costly damages.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set up effective house rules and enforce them, all while keeping things friendly and professional.

1. Setting the Right House Rules

Before enforcing rules, you need to define them clearly. Your house rules should be:

• Simple & Clear – Use straightforward language that’s easy to understand.

• Fair & Reasonable – Rules should balance protecting your property and providing a good guest experience.

• Consistent with Local Laws – Be sure your rules align with any local short-term rental regulations.

Here are some essential rules to consider:

• Check-in & Check-out Times 🕰️ – Clearly state the hours for check-in and check-out.

• No Smoking 🚭 – Specify whether smoking is allowed and where guests can smoke if necessary.

• Noise Curfew 🔇 – Set quiet hours, especially if your property is in a residential area.

• Pet Policy 🐶 – If pets are allowed, outline your expectations for their care and cleanliness.

• Maximum Occupancy 🏠 – Prevent overcrowding to protect your property and neighbors.

• Parties & Events 🚫🎉 – Reinforce the ban on parties, even if the platform already prohibits them.

• Damage & Cleanliness 🧹 – Set clear expectations for cleaning up spills, taking out trash, and maintaining cleanliness.

Pro Tip: Keep your house rules concise and approachable—guests are more likely to follow rules they don’t feel are too restrictive.

2. Communicating House Rules Effectively

For guests to follow your rules, they need to be aware of them. Here’s how to ensure they’re seen and understood:

• Include Rules in Your Listing 📄 – Make your house rules visible in your Airbnb or Vrbo listing.

• Use a Welcome Guide 🏡 – Provide a printed or digital guide that includes house rules, Wi-Fi information, and emergency contacts. Tools like Touch Stay can help you create a professional guide.

• Pre-Arrival Messages 📧 – Send a friendly reminder before check-in. For example: “Hi [Guest Name], we’re excited to host you! Just a quick reminder—our quiet hours are from 10 PM to 7 AM to keep our neighbors happy. Let us know if you need anything!”

• Post Signs Strategically 📌 – A small "No Smoking" sign near the patio or a "Quiet Hours Start at 10 PM" note on the fridge can serve as a gentle reminder.

3. Enforcing House Rules Without the Drama

Sometimes, even the clearest rules don’t stop guests from pushing boundaries. Here’s how to handle things without a confrontation:

• Install Smart Home Monitoring (Legally) – Use tech to help monitor your property:

  • Noise Monitoring 🔊 – Services like Minut and NoiseAware can detect excessive noise and alert you early.

  • Smart Locks 🔐 – Use locks like August or Yale, which allow you to set codes that expire after check-out.

  • Security Cameras 📹 – If allowed, place cameras outside to monitor guest entry/exit. (Never use cameras inside, as this violates privacy.)

• Address Issues Promptly and Politely – If a guest breaks a rule, handle it professionally:

  • Friendly Reminder – Most guests don’t intend to break rules. A polite message like, "Hey [Guest], we noticed some loud music. Just a reminder that quiet hours start at 10 PM. Thanks for understanding!" usually resolves the issue.

  • Escalate When Necessary – If the issue continues, reach out to the booking platform. Airbnb and Vrbo have support teams for guest violations.

  • Charge Fees When Applicable – For significant rule violations (like smoking indoors), you can request compensation through the platform’s Resolution Center.

4. Preventing Rule Breakers Before They Book

The best way to enforce rules is to prevent issues from happening in the first place. Here’s how to screen for problem guests:

• Screen Guests Before Accepting – Check their reviews from previous hosts and look for a verified profile. You can also ask a few questions, such as, "What brings you to town?" to gauge their intentions.

• Set a Security Deposit – Platforms like Airbnb allow you to charge a refundable deposit, which can help prevent reckless behavior.

• Require ID Verification – Airbnb and tools like Autohost and Superhog verify guest identities, reducing the chance of fraud or disruptive guests.

• Use a Property Management Service – If you prefer not to manage enforcement yourself, services like Guesty and Evolve can handle guest screening, messaging, and disputes for you.

5. Final Thoughts: The Art of Firm but Friendly Hosting

Successful short-term rental management strikes a balance. You want guests to enjoy their stay without turning your property into a party venue. The key lies in clear communication, the right tech tools, and consistent but fair enforcement.

By following these strategies, you’ll protect your property, maintain good relations with neighbors, and ensure guests have a great experience—all while keeping your stress levels low.

Now go ahead and be the five-star host you were meant to be! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spokane, Washington 🏞️

Downloadable Spokane, Washington Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $179.32 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 56%

• Annual Revenue Potential: $36,571.98

Beaver Creek, Colorado🗻

Downloadable Beaver Creek, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market Report

• Average Daily Rate (ADR): $867.47 per night

• Occupancy Rate: 47%

• Annual Revenue Potential: $149,204.44

✈️ Investors discuss the state of IPOs in travel
​Several travel companies, including HBX Group, Etihad Airways, Abercrombie & Kent, and Virgin Australia, are planning initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2025, aiming to capitalize on the recovering travel market and favorable economic conditions. ​

🐣 Easter 2025 Is Three Weeks Late—And It’s Scrambling Your Spring Calendar
Easter 2025 falls on April 20, three weeks later than in 2024, significantly impacting spring travel plans and short-term rental markets in the U.S. and Europe.

📲 The path to growing alternative revenue for short-term rentals
​Hosts of short-term rentals are increasingly adopting management technologies and ancillary services, exploring diverse distribution channels, and implementing direct-booking strategies to enhance revenue streams and operational efficiency. ​

💸 Vacasa’s Sale: Why It’s Not Over Yet—and What Davidson Kempner Is Now Arguing
​Davidson Kempner Capital Management has increased its bid to acquire Vacasa to $5.83 per share, surpassing Casago's offer of $5.30, but Vacasa's board favors Casago's bid due to greater certainty of closing, despite criticisms from Davidson Kempner regarding the sale process and potential insider advantages. ​

💸Mortgage Rate Watch – April 10, 2025

Current Mortgage Rates (as of April 10, 2025):

• 30-Year Fixed: 6.99% (-0.08%)

• 15-Year Fixed: 6.44% (-0.06%)

• 30-Year Jumbo: 7.32% (-0.07%)

• 30-Year FHA: 6.33% (-0.12%)

• 30-Year VA: 6.35% (-0.12%)

• 7/6 SOFR ARM: 6.85% (-0.10%)

Market Overview:

Mortgage rates have experienced a moderate decline across various loan types. This dip reflects a weaker performance in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and lower Treasury yields, which signal investor confidence in slowing inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts later in 2025.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fluctuated between 6.11% and 7.52% over the past year. Recent downward trends indicate some relief for homebuyers who have faced higher borrowing costs in the last several months.

However, affordability constraints and low inventory continue to challenge the housing market.

Rate Trends & Forecast:

• Short-Term: Mortgage rates are likely to stay within a range, with minor fluctuations based on economic data and Federal Reserve actions.

• Long-Term: The Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates will be the key factor in future mortgage rate movements. If inflation continues to ease, we could see further gradual declines in rates throughout 2025.

For real-time mortgage rate updates, visit Mortgage News Daily​.

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Subscriber Perks:

📖 Beginner’s Guide E-Book

📝 Guest Communication Messaging Templates

🏡 Airbnb Welcome Book Template

📤 STR Buy Box Template

💰 Tax Savings E-Book

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