In this episode, Ray and Silvia dive into the "behind-the-scenes" of property management when things go wrong—from cold showers in Sydney to power outages in Melbourne. We are then joined by Eloi and Emiie, the sibling duo behind Sable and Stone Stays, who share how they built a thriving Airbnb arbitrage business in Melbourne in less than a year.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Host Horror Stories: Ray’s "humid" Sydney stay and the importance of proactive hosting over sending manuals.
• What is Airbnb Arbitrage? A breakdown of the model where you lease a property long-term to sublet for short-term stays.
• The Sibling Dynamic: How an 11-year age gap and "Sable vs. Stone" personalities (the "Butterfly" and the "Grandpa") create a balanced business partnership.
• Pitching to Agents: How to build credibility with real estate agents to get them to say "yes" to subleasing.
• Automation at Scale: Using PMS and dynamic pricing to manage a portfolio while working full-time 9-to-5 jobs.

Interview with Guests: Eloi and Emiie

Eloi and Emiie are the founders of Sable and Stone Stays, a boutique short-term rental company based in Melbourne. With backgrounds in sales and insurance, they’ve combined their eye for design and technical systems to create a professional, high-standard hosting brand.

Website: Sable and Stone Stays

Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team

• Ray’s South Yarra Airbnb: View Listing
• Silvia’s Airbnb: View Listing

In this episode of Superhost Down Under, hosts Ray Yee and Silvia interview Elena Stepanova, founder of My Perfect Host. Elena discusses her transition from a corporate career to managing a portfolio of over 20 properties[cite: 122, 123, 140].

• The "Brick" Solution: Silvia shares how a host sourced bricks from a building site on New Year's Eve to raise a bed for a guest with a disability[cite: 13, 14].
• Hosting in the Suburbs: Elena explains how her Forestville listing succeeded by catering to visiting family and corporate travelers[cite: 133, 134, 135].
• Business Evolution: Starting with a family guest room 13 years ago, Elena grew her business through word-of-mouth and professional co-hosting[cite: 89, 104, 146].
• Professional Standards: Why high-quality photography is a non-negotiable requirement for any successful listing[cite: 168, 169].
• Automation & Systems: A look at the "tech stack" Elena uses, including channel managers, dynamic pricing, and automated cleaning schedules[cite: 174, 175, 176].
• Direct Booking Strategies: Using software like Truvy (formerly Super Hog) to screen guests and manage security for off-platform bookings[cite: 227, 229].

• My Perfect Host: www.myperfecthost.com.au [cite: 125]
• Hospitable Hosts (Vol. 3): A book co-authored by Elena featuring global hosting stories[cite: 254, 267].
• Truvy: Guest screening and identity verification software[cite: 228, 229].

• Acts of Service: Successful hosts often view hospitality as a "love language" and find joy in helping others[cite: 41, 49].
• Owner Partnerships: Elena "interviews" owners to ensure they will be supportive partners when maintenance issues arise[cite: 157, 160].
• Concise Communication: While automation is key, it's vital to keep messages short to avoid guest annoyance[cite: 184, 185].

Where to stay — hosted by the Superhosts Down Under team
Ray’s South Yarra Airbnb: ⁠View Listing⁠
Ray’s North Melbourne Airbnb: ⁠View Listing⁠
Silvia’s Airbnb: ⁠View Listing⁠

Sponsorship
This episode is brought to you by Riverside. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription. ⁠Learn more⁠

Ray and Silvia are joined by Carmel O’Beirne, a lifestyle host from Clifton Hill, Melbourne, who uses her one-bedroom apartment to fund travel and supplement her income as she transitions toward retirement. The episode opens with Ray sharing a challenging guest situation involving a dropped wallet, refusal to check out, and police intervention — a reminder that hosting can sometimes take unexpected turns.

Inspired by her daughter’s success paying off a mortgage through Airbnb, Carmel began hosting her “cosy nest” — an earthy, plant-filled apartment with a green urban jungle balcony in a vibrant Melbourne neighbourhood. Her approach is what she calls “lifestyle hosting”: using Airbnb income to support extended travel, including a month in India, while keeping her home active and secure.

Carmel relies on trusted neighbour friends when she travels, meeting guests in person for key handover to reinforce respect and care for her home. She is selective with bookings to maintain strong relationships in her owner-occupied building. Rather than scaling, she plans to continue hosting sustainably, avoiding “empty house syndrome” while balancing income, community harmony, and flexibility.

• How to handle difficult guest situations, including when police become involved.
• Why guest preparedness and clear house rules are essential.
• Pricing strategies: Smart Pricing vs manual or third-party tools.
• The power of clear instructions to prevent misunderstandings and bad reviews.
• Preparing a personal home for guests while protecting privacy.
• Building a reliable local support network for remote management.
• Managing neighbour relationships in owner-occupied buildings.
• How lifestyle hosting can fund travel and supplement retirement income.

Name: Carmel O’Beirne
Airbnb: View Carmel’s Listing

Ray’s South Yarra Airbnb: View Listing
Ray’s North Melbourne Airbnb: View Listing
Silvia’s Airbnb: View Listing

This episode is brought to you by Riverside. Use code Ray15 for 15% off your first subscription.
Learn more