News, tips, and real talk for hosts who book direct. ✦

The hosts already filling their autumn calendar did this in August.

Hey {{first_name}} 👋 In the northern hemisphere, peak season is winding down, and the hosts who use the next few weeks wisely are the ones who stay booked through autumn and into winter. (Hosting below the equator? Your peak is on the way — same playbook, opposite calendar.)

This issue is all about what to prep, what to update, and how to make sure the guests you just hosted come back to you directly .

— The Houfy team

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Quick win ✦

5 things to do before the off-season hits

1

Update your listing for the season ahead.

Summer guests are searching for beaches, pools, and outdoor adventures. Autumn guests want fireplaces, foliage, and cozy interiors. If your description still reads like July, update it.

2

Adjust your pricing for shoulder season.

Demand drops, but it doesn’t disappear. A tighter rate with a shorter minimum stay can fill gaps that would otherwise sit empty. Test a two-night minimum and see what comes in.

3

Follow up with every peak-season guest.

A short personal message while the stay is still fresh, with your Houfy link and a return discount, is the highest-ROI tactic you can follow right now. Most hosts never send it.

4

Refresh your photos for the season.

If all your listing photos are bright summer shots, a guest booking for October can’t picture themselves there. One or two seasonal or interior shots can close that gap.

5

Check what’s happening near your property.

Harvest festivals, foliage weekends, school breaks. Local events bring demand spikes most hosts miss because they’re not priced for them.

Host spotlight ✦

Meet Denise, the host who built her own guest management system from scratch.

Denise Kirk

Orlando/Kissimmee, FL + Poconos, PA

2 properties 56 reviews 4.84 ★ rating Member since 2025

Denise manages two properties across two states: Seas Life Cottage at Margaritaville Resort Orlando near Disney, and a Camelback Poconos getaway in Pennsylvania. She found Houfy while looking for a way to offer direct bookings through her own website, and built her operation from the ground up without a PMS.

“I created a system to manage guests from booking to checkout. It’s basically my own CRM and PMS system. I can personalize the guest experience based on what they request during the booking process. I regularly have guests mention in reviews how responsive I am as a host.”

Denise’s playbook

A self-built guest management system that tracks every booking and personalizes communication from inquiry to checkout. AI tools to support marketing and stay on top of guest responses. And a growing blog on her direct booking website that she sees as a long-term traffic driver, bringing new guests to her properties without relying on OTA algorithms.

Her advice: “I haven’t cracked the code on getting the number of direct bookings I’d like yet, but there are lots of resources to help you on the way. Join the Houfy Facebook group to get an idea of what other hosts are doing as a model for you.”

Seas Life Cottage

Margaritaville, Orlando FL

See the cottage →

Camelback Poconos Getaway

Poconos, Pennsylvania

See the getaway →

From the community

How did peak season go?

We asked the Houfy community last week: how’s your peak season going so far? Are bookings landing where you expected, or did it surprise you? Here’s what hosts said:

“It was a slow start, then it was my best summer yet! Fingers crossed this continues through October.”

Greg Brooks

“The excess in summer made up for the lack in winter, so we’re right where we should be for the year, so far.”

Allen House Vacation Rental

“Getting a lot of last-minute bookings.”

Alecia Armstrong

“Bookings are steady in Northern Illinois, despite a horrendous heatwave, then a week of tornado weather. I’m trying to encourage more Houfy bookings vs. high fee platforms.”

Sonya Racine

Drop your own update in the comments. We read every single one.

Join the conversation

From the Houfy blog ✦

3 posts worth your time.

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Your First 30 Days on Houfy: A Week-by-Week Checklist

Listing setup, verification, promotion, and your first booking — week by week.

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How to Build a Direct Booking Website Without Coding

How to Build a Direct Booking Website Without Coding

A step-by-step guide using Houfy’s builder. No coding needed.

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