This spot in Sigriswil sits literally on Lake Thun with full-on Alps views. 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4, and it’s one of those quiet places where you just sit on the balcony and stare for a while.
Super peaceful, a bit remote, and yeah… expect bugs and no AC, so it’s not trying to be fancy, just real nature vibes.
Would you chill here for a few days or get bored without city stuff?
Replying to every guest message used to run my life. Morning coffee, answering questions. Late night, still replying. Kinda exhausting.
I started grouping messages instead of reacting to each one. Morning check, afternoon check, then I’m done. Anything common gets a saved reply. Check in, wifi, parking, same questions every time.
Big shift was letting the system send stuff first so I’m not always on call.
It’s not perfect, still get random messages at weird hours.
How are you handling guest messages without it taking over your whole day?
Maintenance gets skipped when it lives in someone’s head or buried in messages. That’s where noise starts.
I used to rely on chat threads and memory. Small issues stayed small until they weren’t.
What worked was one simple flow. Issue logged, owner assigned, status visible. No duplicates, no chasing.
If it needs reminders to exist, it won’t last. Quiet systems make tasks obvious.
How are you tracking maintenance without things slipping through?
Guest messaging templates. Scheduled cleaners. Auto reviews. Nothing flashy, but these simple setups seem to account for a big portion of the 5 plus hours hosts say they save each week
More advanced automations can be useful, but in many cases a straightforward setup already covers most day to day needs
What is the one automation you keep coming back to that consistently makes a difference?
Came across this chalet in Grindelwald with five bedrooms, a sauna, hammam, and a big living space facing the mountains. It’s close to the gondola and train, so getting around looks easy, but the place itself feels like somewhere you could just stay in and enjoy.
Would you spend more time outside exploring or just stay in and relax here?
Had a rough stretch last year. Three bad months in a row.
Guest trashed the place. Cleaner missed a same day turnover. Then a review hit the location.
Big issue, I was running everything manually. Messages, cleaner follow ups, constant app checking. No structure.
I didn’t change mindset. I fixed the workflow:
• set message templates for key touchpoints
• automated check in instructions
• built a simple task system for cleaners
Now I check twice a day. Still not perfect, but it runs without me chasing everything.
If you hit a breaking point before, what system change made the biggest difference?
I used to chase max occupancy with pure short term stays. Revenue looked fine on paper, but operations felt unstable week to week.
I shifted to a mix, around 40% short term, 60% mid term, 14 to 90 nights. Treated it like a system change, not a quick test.
What improved:
• cleaning costs dropped
• guest quality went up
• revenue became more predictable
• fewer turnovers, easier team coordination
What got harder:
• pricing needs tighter market tracking
• longer booking cycles, less last minute fill
• most tools aren’t built for hybrid setups
That last one creates friction. You feel it when your workflow doesn’t match the system.
Have you tried mixing short and mid term stays, what worked or didn’t on your side?
Came across this place and the windows really stand out. The whole space opens up to the lake, so it feels quiet and open without much going on inside. It’s simple, not overdesigned, and the view kind of carries the space.
Looks like the kind of spot where you’d just slow down and not feel the need to go anywhere. What would you end up doing most of the time here?
I'm building CSV import support for a rental property accounting tool. I already support Airbnb, VRBO, and Hostaway exports, but I want to add more platforms.
If you use Own\*Rez, Guest\*, Lodgif\*, Hospi\*able, or any other PMS and can share a sample CSV export (with personal info removed), that would be a huge help. Just need to see the column headers and format, not real financial data. A few rows of dummy numbers is plenty.
You can DM me or drop it in the comments. Happy to give you free access to the tool once your platform is supported.
Thanks in advance.
Airbnb just released its 2026 list of Preferred Software Partners, and Hostaway made the cut again as a Preferred+ Partner. That’s 4 years in a row.
Not something I track daily, but it does say a lot about reliability and how well it connects with Airbnb. Especially if you’re running multiple listings and need things to stay in sync.
For those using Hostaway, have you noticed a difference in stability or fewer sync issues compared to other PMS tools?
90 night annual cap. Permit required. Registration with the council. All landed right after I finished a full refurb.
First reaction, this kills the model. Spent two weeks reading threads and running worst case numbers.
Then I treated it like a system problem:
• got the permit sorted fast
• updated listings to stay compliant
• built a mid term stay funnel to fill gaps
That shift changed things. Fewer turnovers, lower cleaning costs, better guests overall. Margins stabilized.
Now I run a mix of short and mid term stays. More predictable. Less chaos.
If regulations hit your area, what adjustments worked on your side
Hello!
I'm looking for advice and your personal experiences with managing other peoples STR's. I manage my own two STR properties in Fayetteville, NC (not a vacation destination but we do get people visiting family at Fort Bragg and Methodist University) for 6 years now. I'm very familiar with Airbnb, VRBO, Houfy, Outdoorsy, and RVShare (I also rent and deliver a travel trailor). I would like to manage other's properties and start a small PM business for local STR's specifically. I also have experience renting properties long term for my father for several years before he passed away. My dad was an attorney so I have all the contracts and legal stuff down fairly well, thankfully I got a lot of knowledge from him about those things. I was the office manager for a commercial refrigeration/hvac company for several years. I did payroll, invoicing, accounts receivable, calls, emails, quotes, ordering, all of it! I loved it and I think my experience with that will be helpful. Before I start a new business I like to get advice from people who have actually done it before me so that's what I'm here for today, thank you!
Luxury 6-bedroom, 5.5-bath cabin for up to 12 guests near Castle Mountain with scenic views throughout. Enjoy a hot tub, cedar sauna, theatre room, games, chef’s kitchen, and spacious outdoor areas. Perfect for families, groups, and pet-friendly stays.
Ready for your next mountain escape?
Room count. Amenities. Location. Done.
That's how most descriptions are written. It's also why most listings convert below where they should.
The algorithm factors in conversion rate. If people click and don't book, that signal hurts your ranking. Better copy = better conversion = better placement.
Three changes I made that moved my conversion by roughly 30%:
Lead with the guest outcome, not the feature. Wake up to harbour views beats property has sea views
Answer the three most common objections in the first paragraph. Parking, WiFi, group suitability
Use the final section to set expectations clearly so you attract the right guest, not just any guest
Better descriptions also filter out bad-fit guests before they book. That alone is worth the rewrite.
When did you last actually rewrite your description and did it change anything?