Here's a question for you. When did you last actually stay in your own short-term rental?

If the answer is "never" or it's been a very long time, this episode is going to make you uncomfortable. In the best possible way.

I'm talking today about why staying in your own property is one of the most important things you can do as a host, and why relying on your best friends or family to test it first is a terrible idea. (They love you too much to tell you the truth. You need someone who will actually say the mattress is awful after you spent a small fortune on it!).

Because here's what the research tells us, guest satisfaction in hospitality is disproportionately affected by tiny inconveniences, not by big standout features. The low pressure shower. The WiFi code that took ten minutes to find. The annoying bin in the wrong place. The curtains that don't quite block out the 5am sunrise. Those are the things that end up in reviews.

I'm also sharing why staying in other people's properties - competitors, boutique hotels, glamping businesses - is genuinely the smartest market research you'll ever do. And yes, it is tax-deductible too.

This isn't just about fixing snagging issues. It's about understanding what your space actually feels like from the guest's point of view because until you've lived it, you're guessing. And you can't market a feeling you've never experienced yourself.

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Key Takeaways:

1. Trial guests are non-negotiable before you open your doors, but choose carefully
2. Guest satisfaction is disproportionately impacted by small inconveniences, not big features
3. Staying in your own property properly reveals the micro irritations you simply cannot spot during a changeover, from a humming fridge to a bin in the wrong place
4. Staying in other people's properties two or three times a year, not just competitors but boutique hotels and other glamping businesses, consistently throws up ideas to elevate your own guest experience
5. Once you've genuinely experienced your own space as a guest, your marketing becomes easier and more confident

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Do you have a marketing roadmap for your business?

No more winging it and feeling like you are in constant marketing chaos! Create your easy-to-follow marketing roadmap for the year ahead. My Direct Bookings Bootcamp is now available ON DEMAND! Let’s make this the best year yet for direct bookings! Head to my website for more info.

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Are you currently rely on Airbnb or another online agent (OTA)?

Take Sarah's FREE quiz here - it's time to give them the boot!

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