This is a rare opportunity for live instruction via the Zoom version of the STR Certification Course. It's divided into four seminars to allow students from different cities and countries to earn this certification and interact with other STR professionals.

Students who register for the 4-Seminar bundle are allowed flexibility in how and when they will complete the course. They can select the date they will attend the Part 1 Seminar live via Zoom and choose between several live via Zoom dates or the online self-study course for the other three seminars. When registering, the student selects the date and time for a fifteen-minute orientation appointment with the lead instructor, where they can discuss possible options and create a plan. The selected dates and seminar options are confirmed by email.

Renting an entire home or a room to guests for short stays can be profitable—or it can create loss and liability. Understanding and applying vacation home and lodging industry "best practices" can benefit you, your business, and your guests.

People who list their STRs on popular reservation platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb soon learn that this emerging industry can be confusing and require more knowledge and work than initially expected. We share time-honored practices, strategies, knowledge, and tips that can make hosting guests more profitable, enjoyable, and successful.

This internationally respected certification course is a comprehensive overview of proven short-term rental (STR) management best practices, including:

• How to determine if a real estate property can become a successful and profitable STR,
• Significant legal and management differences between long-term rentals (LTRs) and vacation homes/short-term rentals (STRs),
• Where to find STR-specific laws, regulations, and legal information for hosting guests in different cities, states, and countries.
• How to apply laws and standards to STR management best practices,
• Examples of the regulation elements, zoning allowances, and hosting opportunities in diverse cities,
• Why being code-compliant (obeying STR laws and standards) can be beneficial and profitable for STR investors and managers,
• STR business licenses, permits, registrations, inspections, and code enforcement procedures and tips,
• What types of units are allowed for STR in different areas?
• Marketing, promoting, pricing, and accepting desirable reservations from multiple sources for each unique STR (beyond popular  reservation platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, or Tripadvisor),
• Managing reservations through platforms, agents, social media, promotional campaigns, and direct bookings,
• Creating Reservation Agreements (contracts), House Rules, and hosting policies,
• Guest communication and responding to complaints (from guests or about guest behavior),
• Earning 5-Star reviews (from guests, hosting platforms, review experts, neighbors, your staff, and government officials),
• Financial protocols, systems, tools, record-keeping, and accounting best practices,
• Transient Lodging Tax collection, reporting, and remittance to the proper government entities,
• Using independent contractors, employees, and external team members,
• Team building, host burn-out remedies, proven policies and procedures, and business management resources,
• Housekeeping, safety, security, and maintenance practices, routines, and tips,
• STR design, furnishing, amenities, tips, and how to incorporate experiences and other extras for guests,
• Roles and expectations for STR property owners, investors, property managers, local contacts, vendors, and team members,
• Essential STR-related terminology and definitions,
• STR insurance and how to prevent having to use it,
• How to avoid or avert potential liabilities, scams, tragedies, and legal actions,
• STR governance best practices, advocacy, community involvement, and neighbor relations,
• Why an industry that has been around for centuries is now in disruption (and how to stabilize it),
• Dealing with STR industry misconceptions that create confusion, contention, and frustration about STR,
• Tools for managing one or multiple STR properties,
• How to run a small business (or a large property management company),
• What do realtors, property managers, government officials, vendors, and hoteliers need to know about STR?
• Technology systems, apps, service-providers, guest-friendly monitoring devices, and other management support tools,
• and more.

This instruction costs thousands of dollars when offered through coaching programs, association education, and boot camps. Why is the tuition price so low for this four-seminar live instruction via Zoom? Cities mandating STR education for license/permit applicants asked the instructors to offer this comprehensive education at a discounted price for their constituents. The instructors provide this course version as part of their community service (otherwise, we could not offer such a remarkable discount).

In 2016, this course was written at the request of city officials in Las Vegas, Nevada, who understood that they couldn't communicate everything STR license applicants need to know about laws and how to apply regulatory standards to their businesses. They wanted an educator who had proven success in managing short-term rental homes to share best practices with their STR license applicants. Once other cities learned about the STR education course's effectiveness, affordability, and popularity, they asked if it could be offered in their areas (and it has gone global, offered in many cities and countries). Some officials have incorporated the course as approved STR education required for STR license applicants, their designated local contacts, and property managers.

The STR Certification Course has been vetted and approved in many states by Higher Education Divisions, Real Estate Divisions (for approved RE CE), colleges and universities for inclusion within degree programs, international trade associations, and government officials requiring STR education for STR owners and managers. 

STR hosts, property managers, realtors, and government officials quickly registered because they wanted to learn about STR management best practices. After cities mandated the STR education, some students came to class begrudgingly, thinking they already knew everything about STR hosting. But they soon learned valuable information and tips. The course and instruction have received excellent ratings for more than eight years it has been offered. Thousands of course graduates from across the country and worldwide use the STR Certification Seal in their STR listings to show that they have taken their STR knowledge to a more professional level.

The course versions include live in-person 2-day classes in many cities, online self-study courses, hybrid classes, and live seminar sessions via Zoom. This bundle is for the four live Seminar classes via Zoom. Students report that taking the class in segments via Zoom allows them to better understand and retain the valuable information, using the acclaimed e-Textbook, Vacation Rental Management 411, to look up and review information they've learned in class. These live Seminars via Zoom allow students worldwide to interact and learn together in sessions lasting less than four hours each.

The STR Certification Course is divided into a series of four seminars (each can be taken as a stand-alone seminar, but all four must be completed to qualify to take the STR Certification Exam). The seminars are:

• Part 1: STR Laws and Essential Best Practices Seminar (Live via Zoom).
• Part 2: Vacation Home Design and Maintenance Seminar (Live via Zoom).
• Part 3: STR Reservations, Marketing, and Systems Seminar (Live via Zoom).
• Part 4: STR Property Management and Investment Seminar (Live via Zoom).

There are usually two date options for each Seminar Series bundle for you to select.

Join other STR professionals in earning the STR Certification by registering for this course.

There are different date options for the set of seminars. The registration date will be for the Orientation Appointment to create the study schedule. The instructor will confirm the dates you wish to attend the other seminars (to allow flexibility). (See all date options for this seminar series, which are currently available for the STR Certification Seminar courses at the STR Certification website.)

Please see more details in the Requirements section below. Other dates may be added to accommodate groups (please contact the instructor). Space and dates for these live classes are limited, so please register as soon as possible.