Advertise on podcast: Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast

As of April 15th, Airbnb moved every host to a 15.5% host-only fee.If you haven't updated your pricing yet — your next booking will pay you less than you expect. Btw you can grab the spreadsheet from here : https://www.strsecrets.com/airbnbfee Also, if you want to talk to us directly: http://strsecrets.com/implement In this training Mike covers: - What the Airbnb fee change actually means: 15.5% host-only fee applies to nightly rate, cleaning fee, resort fee, pet fee — everything - Why the split fee showing back up in your account is a bug — not a reversal - The exact price increase you need to make: 18.34% minimum for direct owners - How co-hosts and property managers need to handle this differently — and why checking the listing owner's account first matters - The fee change spreadsheet walkthrough — how to model the right scenario for your business (comment FEE CHANGE to get it) - How to split the channel fee with your homeowner so nobody loses - How to track your Airbnb algorithm ranking after raising prices using Rank Breeze - Why five-star properties make 18% more in RevPAR than 4.7-star properties — and how that matters more right now - How Mike's portfolio is pacing 130% of June goals and 120% of July goals — and why - Why now is the time to get on Vrbo — Mike is seeing 10% more bookings YoY from Vrbo this year - How to retarget past guests with text messages and automated campaigns to offset any Airbnb drop - Listing optimization basics: why your first five photos, your copy, and your reviews are your most valuable assets right now This is the most important training for STR operators this month. 📲 Connect with STR Secrets: STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Apply to work with us: https://strsecrets.com/apply STR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcast Timestamps: 0:00 - What Just Happened: Airbnb's Fee Change Explained 1:16 - The Split Fee Is Not Back — It Was a Bug 2:23 - What 15.5% Host-Only Fee Actually Means for Your Payout 3:04 - Step 1: Increase Your Airbnb Pricing by 18.34% Right Now 4:27 - Step 2: Track Your Algorithm Ranking After Raising Prices 5:44 - How to Check and Confirm Your Fee Setting in Airbnb 8:21 - The Fee Change Spreadsheet Walkthrough 12:30 - How to Split the Channel Fee With Your Homeowner 14:26 - What Co-Hosts and Property Managers Need to Do Differently 15:12 - How to Make Pricing Changes Inside Your PMS 16:03 - Testing Price Increases: 15% vs 18% vs 25% — What We've Seen 18:01 - The Airbnb Algorithm: What Actually Moves Your Ranking 18:25 - Five-Star Properties Make 18% More in RevPAR 19:48 - Virtual Stays, Friends and Family Reviews and Algorithm Boosts 20:15 - Mike's Portfolio Is Pacing 130% of June Goals — Here's Why 21:03 - Get on Vrbo: Mike Is Up 10% YoY From Vrbo This Year 22:15 - Retarget Past Guests With Text Campaigns Right Now 23:45 - Listing Optimization Basics: Photos, Copy and Reviews 24:07 - Action Steps and Where to Get the Spreadsheet

Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets E just got back from the Unreasonable Hospitality Summit in Nashville — and this solo episode is his full recap. Will Guidara wrote Unreasonable Hospitality during COVID. He took Eleven Madison Park from a nice restaurant to the #1 restaurant in the world — the only restaurant to ever go from one Michelin star to three in a single year. His philosophy: service is what you do for people. Hospitality is how you make them feel. In this episode E breaks down the biggest lessons from the summit — how to systematize hospitality so your team delivers it consistently, why hiring the person over the resume matters more than you think, how to build a culture of praise and feedback that makes teams want to grow, and why the magic moments your guests remember are never accidental. He also tackles the AI question head on: the answer is not cutting your team — it is repurposing them to create more human moments in a world where genuine connection is becoming a scarce resource. The episode closes with the question Will Guidara asked the room that E says called him to greatness: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you couldn't fail?" Get the book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara New book: Unreasonable Hospitality Field Guide (released April 28, 2026) Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/implement If you want to join our weekly free training: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Most property managers and co-hosts pitch homeowners on management fees. Mike Reilly pitches them on $100,000 in tax savings. And it closes more deals than anything else. In this Portfolio Clinic training, Mike breaks down the STR tax loophole — why it works, who qualifies, and exactly how to use it to attract high-income homeowners and win management contracts. This is not investment or tax advice. But it is the most powerful conversation you can have with a prospective homeowner — and most co-hosts and property managers are never having it. In this training Mike covers: - Why taxes are the #1 expense for every high-income W2 earner and business owner - How a doctor making $375K in California goes from a $145K tax bill to a $47K tax bill — with one STR - What a cost segregation study is and how it accelerates depreciation in year one - The two requirements to qualify for the STR loophole: 7-day average stay and 100+ hours of material participation - Why 90% of CPAs don't know this loophole exists — and how to help your homeowner educate theirs - The exact conversation flow to have with prospective and new homeowners - How Mike charges a $20-25K consulting and design fee upfront — then takes over management in year two - Real results: one homeowner got $80K back this year, another got $60K last year - How to structure the deal so the homeowner qualifies AND you get the management contract - What to do with a cost segregation study if the homeowner wants to be fully passive - How to handle depreciation recapture and when to recommend a 1031 exchange This is one of the highest-leverage strategies a co-host or property manager can learn right now. Want help implementing this in your business? Go to: https://strsecrets.com/implement 📲 Connect with STR Secrets: Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Apply to work with us: https://strsecrets.com/apply STR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcast Timestamps: 0:00 - Why Taxes Are Your Homeowner's Biggest Expense 3:20 - The Math: How a Doctor Paying $145K in Taxes Can Change Everything With One STR 6:00 - What Is a Cost Segregation Study and Why Every Homeowner Needs One 8:30 - How Much Can You Depreciate in Year One? (The 25% Rule) 10:00 - The Two Tests to Qualify for the STR Loophole 12:00 - Running the Numbers: From $145K Tax Bill to $47K With One Property 14:30 - The Exact Conversation to Have With Every Prospective Homeowner 16:30 - How to Charge a Consulting Fee and Design Fee Upfront 18:00 - Real Results: $80K Back This Year, $60K Last Year 19:30 - What If the Homeowner Wants to Be Fully Passive? 21:00 - Depreciation Recapture and When to Recommend a 1031 Exchange 22:00 - Q&A: Cost Seg on an Existing Property, Passive Losses and More

In 2016, Cara and Mark Truckey lost their 14-month-old son. He never woke up at daycare. Most couples don't survive a loss like that. Instead, it became the moment that changed everything. In this episode, E and Chris sit down with Cara and Mark Truckey — two STR Secrets boardroom alumni who have built a real estate portfolio of 65+ units across Wisconsin and Florida while raising three kids and running multiple businesses. This is one of the most honest and human conversations we have had on this show. In this episode Cara and Mark cover: - How losing their son reshaped their entire perspective on time, work, and money - How Cara quit her hospital job in 2020 and Mark quit his plumbing W-2 in 2021 - How they went from a few house flips to 65+ rental units across two states - Their first STR — a lake property in Wisconsin they bought by accident - Why Mark struggled with delegation for years — and the 80/20 rule that broke the pattern - How to find the right people for the right seats — and why belief in the vision matters more than skills - How Cara transitioned into Savvy Realty as a top agent in the Tampa Clearwater market - What actually keeps a husband and wife business partnership aligned - The daily habit that is their real superpower — and has nothing to do with business - How to change your identity before the results show up - Mark's upcoming $130 million capital campaign for a K-12 school in Wisconsin - Cara's goal: 40 STRs under management in Florida by end of 2027 - Their #1 secrets to success: courage and fighting past limiting beliefs If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want to join our weekly free training: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Connect with Cara: Instagram: www.instagram.com/caratruckey Facebook: www.facebook.com/caratruckey Savvy Realty: www.savvy.realty/cara Timestamps: 0:00 - Highlights 1:00 - Introducing Cara and Mark Truckey 5:05 - Their Story: Growing Up in Wisconsin and Losing Their Son in 2016 7:32 - How Grief Changed Their Relationship With Time and Money 9:03 - How They Built the Portfolio: Flips, BRRRs and Their First Accidental STR 10:21 - How They Split the Business: Cara on Sales, Mark on Construction 11:56 - Building the Team: Florida and Wisconsin Operations 14:11 - Mark's Delegation Journey: The 80/20 Rule That Changed Everything 16:48 - Right People in the Right Seats: Why Belief in the Vision Matters Most 18:24 - Identity First: You Have to Become the Person Before the Results Show Up 21:33 - How to Actually Change Your Identity — Not Just Understand It 24:28 - Why Being Part of a Mastermind Has Always Been Their Edge 25:25 - Running a Business With Your Spouse — What Actually Works 26:47 - Spiritual Alignment: The Foundation That Kept Them Together Through Tragedy 27:23 - The Matthew McConaughey Analogy: You Won't Always Walk Side by Side 32:21 - How Cara Made the Decision to Join Savvy Realty 35:00 - Their Real Superpower: Health, Accountability and Alignment 38:27 - What's Next: Mark's $130M School Campaign and Cara's Management Goals 42:23 - Their #1 Secrets to STR Success

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want to join our weekly free training: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Every time a past guest books your property again through Airbnb — Airbnb takes the fee. Again. Repeat guests generate over $1 billion in revenue for Airbnb annually. And most STR operators are doing nothing to capture that themselves. In this Portfolio Clinic session, Mike Reilly breaks down the direct booking system he uses across his 30-property portfolio — and reviews a real direct booking website live with a community member. He walks through how to collect guest info from every Airbnb and Vrbo stay, how to build a 12-touch text and email funnel that brings guests back without the OTA in the middle, and how to incentivize your team to close direct bookings on your behalf. He also covers the occupancy tax process most operators get wrong, why your contact list is a business asset that increases your company's exit value, and what actually makes a direct booking website convert. If you are still relying 80-100% on Airbnb for bookings — this is the training that changes that. Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Timestamps: 0:00 - Why Airbnb Makes $1 Billion From Your Repeat Guests 2:27 - Why You Can't Build a Business on Someone Else's Land 4:36 - How Airbnb's Fee Change Impacted Revenue (And What to Do) 7:05 - Occupancy Tax: The Mistake That Could Cost You a Six-Figure Bill 9:23 - Live Website Review: Lori's Direct Booking Site 13:43 - What Makes a Direct Booking Website Actually Convert 19:53 - How to Collect Guest Info From Every Airbnb and Vrbo Stay 21:15 - The QR Code Exit Strategy That Drives Direct Bookings 21:35 - The 12-Touch Text and Email Funnel for Repeat Guests 24:34 - Why Mike Pays His Team $50 Per Direct Booking Closed 25:41 - Two Social Posts a Week — Done by Your Team, Not You 27:32 - How a 3,000-Contact CRM Protects You If Airbnb Shuts You Down 31:07 - Why Direct Bookings Increase Your Company's Exit Valuation 33:54 - Action Items and Closing Thoughts

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want to join our weekly free training: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Most STR operators don't think about regulation until it's already too late. Julie pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening in short-term rental regulation and why hosts can’t afford to stay invisible. From local politics to nationwide advocacy, this episode is a wake-up call for operators who think regulation is someone else’s problem. Here's what we covered: • How Julie went from accidental host to industry advocate • Why anti-STR arguments often hide deeper community concerns • The biggest mistake hosts make when regulations start changing • Why advocacy is not charity, but a real business investment • How small hosts can contribute without becoming full-time activists • What the Right to Rent Collaborative is building for the future of the industry Guest Bio: Julie Marks is Executive Director of the Right to Rent Collaborative (R2RC), a national initiative supporting state and local short-term rental associations in building advocacy capacity, legal readiness, and sustainable funding infrastructure. An association founder and industry advocate, Julie works at the intersection of national strategy and local execution, helping communities organize and engage effectively with policymakers. Julie founded the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance (VTSTRA) in 2021 and served on the Vacation Rental Management Association’s Government Affairs Council from 2022 to 2024. She operates Homestead Hospitality in Vermont and manages rental properties in Vermont and Washington. Connect with Guest: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemarksvt/ https://www.instagram.com/vtstra/ https://www.instagram.com/r2rcollaborative/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 8:01 - Introducing Julie Marks 8:28 - How Julie Accidentally Became an STR Advocate 10:00 - From Op-Ed to Statewide Alliance: The Vermont Story 11:26 - Why the Same Fight Is Happening in Every Market 12:23 - What Communities Are Really Upset About (It's Not What You Think) 16:19 - The Hard Truth: What STRs Have Genuinely Changed 18:34 - Why "It Won't Happen in My Market" Is a Dangerous Assumption 21:16 - How to Get Involved Without Going to Every City Hall Meeting 23:35 - What the Right to Rent Collaborative Does and How It Works 26:17 - "I'm Too Small to Matter" — Julie's Response 28:21 - The $2 Per Booking Model: Your Business Insurance Policy 29:08 - Why This Is a Branding Opportunity, Not Just an Obligation 35:52 - How to Start a Local Association From Scratch 38:23 - Where to Find Julie and Get Connected 39:36 - Julie's #1 Secret to STR Success

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want to join our weekly free training: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets This one is different. At our last STR acquisitions event at the Freedom Factory in Beverly, MA, we did something we'd never done before. We filled a hat with real homeowner objections — things operators hear every day — and had four coaches handle them live on stage in front of 50 operators. No prep. No script. No safety net. Coaches Mike Reilly, Dave, Darryl, and E took turns handling objections like "your fees are too high," "you're not local," "I don't want to be locked in," and "I want to take advantage of the STR tax loophole." Each coach handled them differently — because that's the point. There is no single right answer. There's the answer that fits your voice. This is an hour of live, unfiltered STR sales training recorded in the room. If you're growing a property management or cohosting business, this episode will change how you handle objections. Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids, talk to us: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want us to review your listing, org chart, pricing or anything related to STR business, join here: ➡ https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Most STR companies obsess over guest reviews. Blue Gems obsesses over owner profitability. And they grew to 180 properties under management doing it. In this episode, recorded live at the Freedom Factory in Beverly, MA, E and Chris sits down with Aidan Groll — co-founder of Blue Gems Management, one of Florida's fastest-growing STR companies. Aidan and his partner JB manage 180+ properties across Orlando and Clearwater Beach with a 36-person team — and grew almost entirely through organic relationships, not paid ads. In this episode Aidan breaks down: - How he went from a corporate accounting job to buying his first duplex in March 2020 - How a 400 sq ft backyard ADU made $50K in its first year and convinced him to go all in on STRs - Why Blue Gems puts owners 70% over guests — and how they pitch that to new clients - Their full org chart at 180 units: 14 in maintenance, 7 in guest experience, 3 in sales and more - Why they do ALL maintenance in-house — and why speed was the deciding factor - How they automated 70% of guest communication with AI in the last year - Their 7-day contract-to-live-listing goal and how they hit it consistently - How they choose markets based on regulatory stability — not just cash flow - Why they shut down their podcast and social media for 2+ years to focus on growth - Their plan to reach 350-400 units through acquisitions of smaller operators - The Valley of Disappointment — and why most people quit right before it gets good - Aidan's #1 secret to STR success: patience This is a masterclass in building a real, scalable STR management business. --- About Aidan Groll: Aidan Groll is the co-founder of Blue Gems Management, an Orlando-based vacation rental management company that has grown to oversee 180+ properties across Florida. Originally a real estate investor with a background in corporate accounting, Aidan and his business partner JB pivoted to short-term rentals in late 2021 — building their own management infrastructure before opening to third-party clients in early 2023. Since then, Blue Gems has scaled to a 36-person team with full in-house maintenance operations, serving property owners across Orlando and Clearwater Beach. Time Stamps: 0:00 - intro 0:54 - Introducing Aidan Groll and Blue Gems Management 1:28 - What Blue Gems Does Differently (Owner-First Philosophy) 4:14 - The Real Cost of Building This Business 5:08 - Aidan's Origin Story: From Accounting Job to House Hacking in 2020 7:54 - The $50K ADU That Changed Everything 9:10 - Scaling to 180 Properties: How Blue Gems Grew Without Paid Ads 10:46 - The Contrarian Take: Why They Don't Chase 5-Star Reviews 13:46 - How to Pitch the Owner-First Model to New Clients 18:26 - Inside the Org Chart: 36 People, 180 Properties 20:08 - Why They Do All Maintenance In-House 25:38 - How AI Automated 70% of Guest Communication 29:54 - From Signed Contract to Live Listing in 7 Days 31:18 - How to Choose Markets Based on Regulatory Stability 36:49 - Why Aidan Is Selling His Portfolio to Bet on the Management Company 40:41 - The Real Cost of Building This Business 43:59 - The Future: 350+ Units and Acquiring Smaller Operators 47:15 - Aidan's #1 Secret to STR Success Connect with Aidan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidangroll/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-groll Email: [email protected] 📲 Connect with STR Secrets: Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets STR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcast

Resources mentioned in this episode are available at: strsecrets.com/clinic If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply If you want to join these live trainings: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets This is the first episode of the STR Portfolio Clinic. A brand new series where me and Mike Sjogren pull up real STR listings on screen and diagnose what's working and what's not. Live. In front of everyone. No filter. This episode is all about listings. We reviewed two real Airbnb properties from operators who volunteered to put their listings on the hot seat. First up is a brand new beach cottage in Oak Island, North Carolina. Second row from the ocean. Clean listing. But nobody's clicking on it. We broke down why and gave the owner a full game plan on the spot. Then we pulled up a riverfront property in Murphy, North Carolina. Fly fishing right off the deck. Beautiful area. Went an entire summer with zero bookings. It took about 10 seconds to see what was wrong. We also break down the ALE framework which stands for amenities, location, and experiences. This is the framework behind how we build listings across 30+ properties that generated over $5M in bookings last year. If your listing has been sitting or your bookings have slowed down, this episode will show you exactly what to fix and in what order. Want your listing or business reviewed on a future episode? Drop CLINIC in our DMs TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - What is the Portfolio Clinic 0:55 - The ALE Framework: Amenities, Location, Experiences 4:17 - Listing Review #1: Beach Cottage in Oak Island, NC 5:09 - Photo feedback: It's clean but it's too white 6:31 - How to use AI for sunset and lifestyle shots 7:15 - Staging amenities: Reilly's beach property example 8:41 - Who's your avatar and why it changes your photos 9:12 - Sjogren: The wizard room hero image strategy 10:33 - Using ChatGPT to create twilight shots 11:38 - Interior updates vs working with what you have 12:47 - Getting five star reviews on a new listing 13:52 - The combined listing strategy for side by side properties 16:58 - Aerial shot hack to show both properties 17:48 - Listing Review #2: Riverfront A-Frame in Murphy, NC 18:16 - Sjogren's first reaction: "I don't love this first photo" 19:04 - Andy's story: Zero bookings since launch 19:56 - Why you need to relaunch dead listings 20:35 - Phone photos are killing your listing 21:24 - What lifestyle photos this property actually needs 22:47 - Comp analysis: What top properties in Murphy look like 25:02 - Brutal feedback: The photos make it look dark and dated 26:35 - Staging the deck and outdoor space 28:41 - The game plan: Photos, relaunch, pricing, reviews 29:42 - The Airbnb new listing push and why Andy missed it 30:09 - Small changes that pay for themselves in one night 30:47 - Insurance and liability for offering amenities 33:23 - Bonus: Quick review of Christie's listing 35:40 - What's coming next and the Freedom Factory event

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION Most people end Q1 the same way they started it. Behind on goals. Ahead on excuses. In this solo episode, E breaks down why that happens — and what to actually do about it before Q2 starts. This isn't a motivational pep talk. It's a direct, honest look at the real reason you keep self-sabotaging — even when you know exactly what you need to do. In this episode, E covers: - Why the brain doesn't perceive time as time — and what that means for how you're living - Tony Robbins' 3 S's framework: State → Story → Systems (and why you're skipping the first two) - The 5 core wounds that create self-sabotage: rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice - The difference between being self-centered vs. self-aware — and why it changes everything - The belief thermostat: why you always reduce yourself back to what you think you're worth - 3 questions to ask yourself right now as you close out Q1 - The one question E asks himself that "terrifies the shit out of him" — and keeps him moving If the year hasn't gone the way you planned — this episode is the reset you need. 📲 Connect with STR Secrets: Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Apply to work with us: https://strsecrets.com/apply STR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcast Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - Q1 Check-In: Are You Still Holding Your Standards? 3:57 - Why Time Feels Like It's Running Away (The Science of Memory Markers) 6:13 - Stop Just Learning — Start Experimenting 7:13 - Tony Robbins' 3 S's: State, Story, and Systems 9:23 - Why Mindset Work Alone Keeps Failing You 9:47 - The 5 Core Wounds Behind Every Self-Sabotage Pattern 11:23 - How Your Brain's 3 Layers Are Keeping You Stuck 13:38 - Self-Centered vs. Self-Aware: The Shift That Changes Everything 15:37 - The Belief Thermostat: Why You Keep Reducing Yourself 17:05 - Your Honest Q1 Review: Facts Only, No Stories 18:38 - 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Q2 Starts 20:33 - Nobody Is Coming to Save You 22:56 - "Is This the Final Version of You?"

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/apply Check out our free 6 step course: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book If you want to join these live trainings: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets If your listings aren't getting booked right now — don't panic and drop your prices. In this week's Thursday training, Mike Reilly sits down with Maryann Wahhab, revenue management expert and STR operator across 6 states, to break down exactly what's working right now to get booked at the rates you want. Maryann went from college basketball coach to full-time STR revenue manager — and now helps operators stop leaving money on the table in soft markets. In this episode, Mike and Maryann cover: - Why your slow bookings are probably a listing problem — not a pricing problem - The booking window zones every operator needs to understand (and how to price each one) - How Mike went 30% up year over year on Vrbo with one simple OTA trick - The "booking velocity" metric Maryann tracks at 7, 15, and 30-day marks - How a listing went from page 6 to page 2 on Airbnb in one week - Why virtual stays are a game changer for dead listings - The full listing re-optimization playbook for properties with no bookings in 30+ days - How to use Airbnb's rule sets and length-of-stay discounts to capture more revenue in slow season This is the training your listings need right now. --- 🎙️ About Maryann Wahhab: Maryann is a revenue management expert and STR operator managing properties across 6 states. A former Division I basketball coach, she left the game in 2023 to manage properties full-time — and now helps STR operators maximize revenue in any market condition. --- Timecodes: 0:00 - Why Your Listings Aren't Getting Booked Right Now 2:30 - Meet Maryann Wahhab: From Basketball Coach to STR Expert 6:00 - How to Read Your Market Before You Touch Your Prices 10:00 - Booking Window Zones Explained (And How to Price Each One) 15:30 - Booking Velocity: The Metric That Tells You When to Act 20:00 - How to Play the Airbnb and Vrbo Algorithm Game 25:30 - The OTA Trick That Got Mike 30% Up Year Over Year on Vrbo 30:00 - Virtual Stays and How to Reinvigorate a Dead Listing 36:00 - The Full Re-Optimization Playbook for Struggling Listings 41:30 - Length-of-Stay Discounts and Airbnb Rule Sets in Slow Season 46:00 - How to Differentiate Your Listing So You're Never in a Price War

Connect with Sean: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean_bakhtiari/ Check out Seacoast 2 Summit: https://www.seacoast2summit.com Check out our free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets What happens when a corporate finance guy from Boston decides he's done working for someone else — and bets on short-term rentals? Sean Bakhtiari is the co-founder of Seacoast 2 Summit Vacation Rentals and The Bakhtiari Group, a top-performing real estate sales team across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. As an active STR investor, his work sits at the intersection of real estate, hospitality, and investment strategy throughout New England. After 9 years in Boston's financial district, Sean bought his first STR. Then a second. Then started building a management company. At 12 properties, he hit a wall. He was good at business development and client relationships. But systems, operations, and scale? Not his strengths. That's when a serendipitous call from Chris changed everything. Today, Sean and Chris co-run Seacoast to Summit Vacation Rentals — managing 120+ properties across the New Hampshire seacoast, lakes and mountains region, and North Shore of Massachusetts. Almost entirely on referrals, with virtually no paid marketing. In this episode, Sean and Chris pull back the curtain on: - How they identified each other as the right partner (and what 3 things you need to align on before you sign anything) - Sean's "help first, never sell" philosophy — and why it's responsible for most of their growth - Why they've said no to 10+ deals in the last 3 months (and why that's the right call) - The two fears they stay up at night thinking about as they scale - How to delegate without feeling like you're losing control - What it takes to keep your team culture intact as you grow - Why boutique hotels might be the next frontier for this business This is a rare episode — a founder bringing on his business partner and pulling off the veil on how a real, values-driven STR company actually works at scale. --- Timestamps: 0:00 - Introducing Sean Bakhtiari: Chris's Business Partner 2:45 - How Sean Went From Corporate Finance to STR Management 6:30 - Building Seacoast to Summit: From 12 to 120 Properties 10:15 - How Sean and Chris Found Each Other (The Serendipitous Call) 15:00 - The 3 Things You Must Align On Before Partnering 18:30 - The "Help First" Sales Mindset That Built the Business 23:00 - Why They Said No to 10 Deals in 3 Months 27:00 - The Two Fears They Have About Growing Too Fast 32:30 - How to Delegate Without Losing Control 37:00 - Keeping Team Culture Intact at Scale 42:00 - What the Future Looks Like: Boutique Hotels and Brand Building 46:00 - Sean's #1 Secret to STR Success

Connect with Jeremiah: Instagram: @jeremiahkwatson Business: www.affluentvacays.com Check out our free 6 step course: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book STR Secrets FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets He did everything people told him to do. Got clean. Went to college. Got a good job. Made good money. And he was still unhappy. In this episode, we talk with Jeremiah Watson. Jeremiah just quit his corporate job. He now runs an 18-property cohosting business in Los Angeles. He is the 73rd person to leave their job through STR Secrets. Here's what you'll learn: → How Jeremiah went from addiction and jail to building a real business → Why he lost $50K his first year — and what he changed → How he got his first cohosting deal with one cold call → The small team that runs his business today → His goal: 66 properties by the end of 2026 This is what actually doing the work looks like. Timestamps: 00:00 - Who Is Jeremiah Watson? 03:12 - From Addiction and Jail to Turning His Life Around 08:11 - Why He Chased the Corporate Dream 11:36 - He Tried STRs and Lost $50K in Year One 13:16 - How He Found Cohosting and Got His First Deal 16:36 - How He Grew From 1 to 18 Properties 19:11 - His Team and How the Business Runs Today 21:27 - His Big Goal: 66 Properties by End of 2026 22:45 - What to Do If You Have a Job and No Time 27:06 - How to Balance Drive With Gratitude 31:57 - Why This Business Is About More Than Money

Scaling a short-term rental company isn’t just about getting more properties. It’s about building the team that can support the growth. In this episode, Chris and E sit down with Alex Hall — talent advisor and leadership strategist — to break down the real challenges STR operators face when building teams. From job clarity and org structure to burnout, hiring, and leadership development, Alex shares the frameworks that help operators scale from a handful of listings to a real company. If you're trying to grow beyond the stage where you do everything yourself, this episode is a masterclass in leadership and people management. Inside this episode: • Why most STR companies don’t actually know who reports to who • The biggest hiring mistake operators make while scaling • How to structure a team from 10 to 100+ listings • Why burnout happens during fast growth • The leadership habits that retain great talent • When to introduce equity or long-term incentives If you want a real business — not just a portfolio of properties — it starts with leadership. Guest Bio: Alex Hall is the founder of Valinor Talent Solutions, where he serves as a fractional HR executive helping growing companies build strong people strategies, leadership development, and scalable teams. With over a decade of experience in talent and organizational development, he partners with businesses to create high-performing workplaces. Alex works with short-term rentals to develop their talent strategy so they can focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences through thoughtful design, strong systems, and hospitality-driven service. Guest Contacts: [email protected] www.valinortalent.com Get FREE Access to our 6 STEP course: https://www.strsecrets.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Most Teams Don’t Know Their Role 02:00 – Success, Identity, and Leadership Growth 04:30 – Introducing Alex Hall: Talent Advisor for STR Operators 07:25 – When STR Businesses Actually Need HR Support 09:20 – The 3 Levels of Team Structure as You Scale 12:40 – The Most Common Hiring Problems in STR Companies 14:00 – Why Job Clarity and Accountability Are Missing 17:10 – The 33% Rule: When Leaders Outgrow Their Team 20:05 – Burnout Signals Every Operator Should Watch 23:20 – Building Org Structures for 10–100 Listings 26:00 – Why Systems Matter More Than Org Charts 27:00 – How Great Leaders Reward and Motivate Teams 30:00 – Equity vs Performance Bonuses for Key Employees 33:00 – The 3 Rules of Leadership: Clear, Kind, Respectful 36:10 – Leadership Lessons for First-Time Founders 39:50 – AI’s Role in Future STR Operations 42:40 – Final Advice for Building a Great STR Team

Want the resources mentioned in the training? Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/mikereillync/ Follow this link for the Free training: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-book You want to grow a property management business, you will eventually hit the same wall: You become the person slowing things down. In this video, I share the exact playbook we built before hiring our first salesperson. Inside this training you’ll learn: • The perfect type of property we target • The exact type of homeowner we want to work with • The biggest problems Airbnb owners face today • How we show our value to sign new clients • The "UI Method" for finding struggling Airbnb properties • The exact numbers and goals we set for our sales team • The best ways we find and talk to new owners • Our step-by-step sales process and first phone calls • What happens right after an owner signs with us If you want to grow your company to 30, 40, or 50+ properties, you need a sales plan that works every single time. This episode shows you exactly how we built ours. Subscribe for new weekly videos ➡️ https://bit.ly/2Nrn4XO Timestamps: 00:00 – Why You Need a Sales Plan 01:12 – The 4 Steps of Our Sales Playbook 02:10 – Finding the Perfect Property 03:05 – The Perfect Homeowner 04:18 – Problems Airbnb Owners Face 05:45 – Creating a Strong Offer 07:00 – Why You Need a CRM Software 08:50 – Sales Goals and Numbers to Track 10:20 – The Experiment: 120 Calls in 6 Weeks 11:35 – Our Sales Win Rates 12:18 – How to Find Leads: The UI Method 13:30 – Using Referrals and Partners 14:05 – Direct Mail and Ads 15:05 – Running Facebook Ads for Leads 16:10 – Our Sales Process 17:20 – The First Call and Asking Questions 18:15 – Handling Owner Concerns 19:05 – Bringing on a New Owner 20:00 – Weekly Sales Tracking 21:10 – Hiring and Testing a Salesperson Connect with us on other social media platforms: STR Secrets FB group ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecrets Michael Sjogren FB Page ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/theAirbnbGuy Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/miike.sjogren Linkedin ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesjogren