Advertise on podcast: The Cohost Bros

Michael Dinwiddie is back and a lot has changed in the year since his first appearance on the show. A new baby, a burned software company, and a brand new product that might be the most practical operations tool built specifically for vacation rental managers. Matt and Austin welcome back the founder and CEO of RentalMind for a deep dive into the operating system he built to give STR operators their lives back. Michael manages 27 properties in Washington State through his company Togethere Vacation Rentals, and built RentalMind out of his own pain of trying to run a growing portfolio without a centralized system. The result is an AI-powered operations platform that combines your knowledge base, SOPs, tasks, projects, and property data into one place, and even imports your messy Google Drive and Notion exports and organizes them automatically in under a day. Here is what you will learn: Why getting your operations out of your head and into a system is the single highest leverage move you can make in your STR business, how RentalMind’s AI import feature can take your disorganized Google Drive and get 80% of your system built in less than one day, why Michael set a hard rule to never work after 5 PM or on weekends and how RentalMind made that possible, what Macaw is and how it functions as an AI that your team asks questions to instead of texting you at 11 PM, why pricing per property instead of per user is a game changer for growing property management teams, at what stage Michael recommends operators get started (hint: property three is the tipping point), and how to go from zero to a fully functional operations system in 60 to 90 days. Matt also gives a behind-the-scenes update on how Claude Code is now editing the podcast, creating reels, and writing descriptions automatically, which is kind of meta given the guest. Watch the 15-minute demo and start your free trial at rentalmind.ai/demo. Find Michael on LinkedIn and follow along on Instagram at @rentalmind.ai. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

What if the biggest revenue lever in your STR business was not your pricing tool, your channel manager, or your listing photos, but your design? Courtney Petrovich has the receipts to prove it. Matt and Austin sit down with Courtney, founder and principal of Denori Designs, a hospitality design firm specializing in short-term rentals, boutique hotels, and resorts, for one of the most ROI-focused design conversations the show has ever had. Courtney came into the STR world as an investor, not a designer. She sold off long-term rentals in 2023 to fund her first short-term rental in North Myrtle Beach, an eight-bedroom duplex in a complex where no comparable property had ever broken $185,000 in revenue. Through intentional market research, guest avatar targeting, and a design strategy built around golfers in shoulder season and multi-generational families in peak season, she generated $254,000 in her very first year. That result launched Denori Designs, and she has been helping STR operators, co-hosts, and property managers replicate that formula ever since. Here is what you will learn: Why design strategy always comes before furniture and why starting with market research and your guest avatar is the difference between a pretty property and a profitable one, how Courtney doubled the revenue of an eight-bedroom property in a market where every comp said the ceiling was $185,000, what amenitizing actually means in practice and how to decide which amenities have the highest ROI versus which ones are money pits, why she never recommends restaining floors on an investment property and how she thinks about spend decisions as an investor-designer hybrid, how Denori Designs works with property managers as a trusted full-service partner so the manager gets the keys and a beautiful listing without ever managing a contractor, why getting design-ready renderings before construction is finished lets property managers launch listings and capture holiday bookings early, and how Courtney is currently completing Cornell’s Hotel Planning and Design certification to bring hotel-level design thinking to short-term rental properties. If you have been thinking about redesigning an underperforming property or setting up a new one for maximum revenue, this episode gives you the framework to think about it the right way. Slide into Courtney’s DMs on Instagram at @denoridesigns or visit denoridesigns.com to learn more and book a consultation. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

What does it look like to build a luxury STR management company from scratch, keep your W2, win a Home Innovation Award before your second birthday as a business, and position yourself for acquisition all at the same time? Carey Antoon is doing exactly that, and this conversation is one of the most grounded and relatable episodes the show has had. Matt and Austin sit down with Carey Antoon, founder of Overnight Digs, the premier luxury vacation rental and property management company serving Hot Springs and Lake Hamilton in Arkansas. Hot Springs is a unique and thriving STR market, home to the nation's first national park, healing thermal waters, a legendary historic downtown, and the only horse racetrack in Arkansas, all of which draw millions of visitors a year looking for an experience that goes beyond a standard hotel room. Carey saw the opportunity and built a boutique, concierge-level brand to serve it. Founded in 2022 by three families and fellow investors, Overnight Digs grew from a single investment property to nearly 50 doors in under three years and was recognized with a Home Innovation Award before most companies even find their footing. The brand has become synonymous with luxury in the Hot Springs market and Carey is already thinking several moves ahead. Here is what you will learn: How Carey got into STRs after selling out of a franchise business and why he chose short-term rentals over other asset classes for the tax benefits and cash flow, how he structured his management company partnership from day one with a licensed broker on record and why that decision paid off, what it is like to build and grow an STR business while still working a W2 and managing time between two worlds, why Carey calls STRs lifestyle assets and how that framing shapes the way he thinks about his portfolio and his future, how Overnight Digs built a reputation as the luxury operator in Hot Springs and what concierge-level service actually looks like in practice, how he thinks about acquisitions and the possibility of acquiring other boutique STR brands to expand his portfolio, and why he is seriously considering attending VRMA for the first time and what he hopes to get out of it. Carey also shares his honest take on what it means to set up a business the right way from the start, even when you do not know yet how big it will become. Find Carey and Overnight Digs on all social media channels at @overnightdigs or visit overnightdigs.com to learn more and book direct. You can also email at Care@overnightdigs 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

If you have ever wondered why direct bookings feel so hard to crack, Matt Sharp has the answer and it starts with a lesson from the newspaper industry. Matt and Austin sit down with Matt Sharp, co-founder of Bookings Cloud, a performance marketing platform built specifically for short-term rental and vacation rental managers who are tired of paying Airbnb and VRBO to rent access to their own guests. Matt spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive at Advance, one of the largest media companies in the country, overseeing the Alabama Media Group and Michigan markets while also co-founding automotive tech businesses Zero Sum and Cloud Theory. He watched first-hand what happens when a platform like Google or Facebook gets between a business and its customers and strips away the direct relationship. He saw the same pattern forming in the STR industry and built Bookings Cloud to help operators fight back. Here is what you will learn: Why the OTA model is identical to what destroyed local media and why history is about to repeat itself for STR operators who are not building a direct business right now, how Facebook and Instagram retargeting works in the STR space and why it is one of the most underutilized and cost-effective tools available to property managers today, what the average vacation rental traveler journey actually looks like (71 days of research before booking) and how to use that window to capture demand before Airbnb does, why most STR operators are wasting their Facebook ad budget because they are targeting the wrong audiences in the wrong way, how Bookings Cloud uses behavioral data, pixel tracking, and paid media to drive direct bookings for property managers at a fraction of what OTA fees cost, what AI search and LLMs mean for the future of vacation rental discovery and why building your direct presence NOW is the smartest thing you can do before AI agents start booking travel on behalf of consumers, and why Matt believes operators who own their guest relationships will have a massive competitive advantage over those who remain 100% OTA-dependent. This is one of the most forward-thinking marketing conversations the show has ever had. If you manage more than 10 properties and you are not thinking about direct bookings yet, this episode is your wake-up call. Schedule a demo and learn more at bookingscloud.com and find Matt Sharp on LinkedIn. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-50481111b/

What does true hospitality actually look like in the short-term rental industry, and why are so many operators getting it wrong? Matt and Austin sit down with Jodie Odlin, Australian-born, UK-based STR host, five-time bestselling author, founder of the Hospitable Hosts book series, winner of the International Shortyz Rentpreneur Award, and founder of The Global Hospitality Collective, for one of the most refreshing and globally-minded conversations the show has ever had. Jodie's journey started with a 450-year-old stone cottage in the Cotswolds, managing properties in one of the most picturesque and sought-after destinations in the UK. With a background in hotel management and a career in five-star hotels around the world, she brought a level of hospitality thinking to short-term rentals that most operators simply never develop. During lockdown, she discovered a community of hosts just like her through the Clubhouse app and had a lightbulb moment: what if she brought their stories together in a book? That book became a number one bestseller, and she has not stopped since. The Hospitable Hosts series now spans five volumes, with contributors from all around the world, including a couples edition celebrating the unique dynamics of running an STR business together, and the STR Sisterhood edition launched on International Women's Day to celebrate the women who make up the majority of Airbnb hosts globally. Here is what you will learn: Why you do not need a luxury property with all the bells and whistles to earn five star reviews and what actually matters more than amenities, how setting guest expectations properly from the start is one of the most underrated skills in the industry, why Jodie believes the STR industry desperately needs a formal hospitality accreditation standard and what she is doing about it, how she manages properties in the Cotswolds remotely from Australia using AI tools to maintain a personal and genuine guest experience, why partnering with local businesses is one of the most effective and overlooked ways to elevate the guest experience, and how the Hospitable Hosts movement has evolved from a single book into a global community of educators, hosts, and property managers committed to raising the bar. Jodie also shares her vision for The Global Hospitality Collective, the STR Hospitality Summit, and how you can submit your own story or diary entry to be featured in an upcoming book. Find everything Jodie is doing at theglobalhospitalitycollective.com and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook as Jodie Odlin. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

What does it look like to go from defense engineer to 140 doors under management in just two years? Cameron Masters is living proof that the right mindset, the right mastermind, and a willingness to bet on yourself can compress an entire decade of growth into a fraction of the time. Matt and Austin sit down with Cameron for one of the most tactical and inspiring episodes the show has produced on the topic of scaling fast through acquisitions. Cameron started in real estate in 2020, bought his first STR in 2021, left his W2 engineering job in July of 2023 with a single management client, and by the time this episode was recorded had grown to over 140 doors across two companies: Remote Retreats, focused on the Yosemite, Oak Creek, and Bass Lake area, and Lake Tahoe Accommodations, a 46-year-old legacy company he and his business partner Jeremy acquired all around Lake Tahoe. Here is what you will learn: How Cameron went from zero to 140 doors in under two years and what actually drove that growth, why the VRMA conference completely changed his vision for what this business could become, how he found, evaluated, and structured the acquisition of Lake Tahoe Accommodations including the exact deal structure with a deferred payment instead of a holdback, why he chose to take on owner retention risk himself rather than negotiate a holdback and how he priced that risk into the deal, what the first 90 days of an acquisition actually look like and how to keep owners from walking out the door, how to think about raising capital from investors for an STR company acquisition when traditional financing is not an option, and why joining an acquisitions mastermind early is one of the highest leverage moves a growth-minded STR operator can make. Cameron also gets into the operational realities of integrating a legacy company with 46 years of history and how to modernize systems without losing what made the original business great. Find Cameron on Facebook at Cameron Masters and on Instagram at @cameron.masters_ and feel free to DM him directly. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

Some people find their way into the short-term rental industry. Jodi Cleer built her entire career inside it and has seen every angle of the business from the vendor side, the property management side, and now private equity and M&A. Matt and Austin sit down with Jodi Cleer, equity partner of Deal Sourcing at AwayDay and former CMO of I Love Vacations, for one of the most wide-ranging and candid conversations the show has produced. Jodi started in hotels in 2010, transitioned to the vacation rental space as a vendor at RealVoice in 2014, and eventually made the rare leap from vendor to property manager by joining the team at Park City Rental Properties. She helped grow that operation from 235 properties to over 800 across Park City, Sedona, Scottsdale, Whitefish, Montana, and right here in the Texas Hill Country before the company was acquired by AwayDay in 2024. She also personally owns 18 vacation rentals across several of those markets and serves on the board of the VRMA, where she is currently running for election to the board of directors. Here is what you will learn: Why the leap from vendor to property manager almost never happens and how Jodi pulled it off, the genius strategy of buying a home in every new market you expand into and why it creates instant credibility with homeowners and communities, how social media went from pretty pictures to a serious demand generation engine and what viral content actually means for your bottom line, what the M&A process looks like from the inside when you are on the buy side at a private equity backed company, why being an owner but not an operator with 18 properties is actually a smart positioning move even for someone with Jodi's experience, what it takes to get a vacation rental company acquisition-ready and what buyers like AwayDay are actually looking for, and why the VRMA conference is a must attend for any serious STR operator or property manager. Jodi also shares her unfiltered take on the "coopetition" culture in the STR industry and why she counts her competitors as some of her closest allies. Find Jodi on LinkedIn by searching Jodi Cleer, the only one in the world, and reach out directly. She responds to every message. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

Some people chase the biggest portfolio they can find. Michael Friedman did the opposite, and it might be the smartest thing he ever did. Matt and Austin sit down with Michael Friedman, CEO of Simple Life Hospitality and co-founder of Vacation Rental University, for one of the most experience-packed conversations the show has ever had. With over 35 years in hospitality, vacation rentals, and real estate, Michael has held executive roles at two of the largest franchise operations in the industry, served as COO of the Americas for the ultra-luxury Onefinestay brand where he oversaw more than 3,500 properties, and is now intentionally leading a tight, focused operation of 150 homes across Door County, the Northwoods, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Door County, often called the Cape Cod of the Midwest, is a stunning peninsula wedged between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, and it is the kind of market where relationships and reputation mean everything. Here is what you will learn: Why Michael walked away from managing thousands of luxury properties to lead a smaller, more intentional company and what that decision taught him about what really matters in this business, how Simple Life Hospitality built their entire culture around the 3 Cs: Cash, Care, and Communication, and why those three things solve almost every problem in property management, what it actually looks like to manage homes around Lambeau Field for Packers game weekends and why that niche is more lucrative than most people realize, how to think about owner acquisition in a tight geographic market and why being hyper local is a competitive advantage not a limitation, why Michael switched from ChatGPT to Claude for running analytics and KPIs and what difference it made for his business, and his bold prediction about AI search and why the operators who get their properties discovered by AI tools today will have a massive head start when AI starts booking vacations tomorrow. Michael's closing thought is one every STR operator needs to hear: technology keeps changing, but the business never has. Take care of the home, take care of the guest, tell the owner the truth, and everything else takes care of itself. Find Michael on LinkedIn at Michael Friedman and learn more about Simple Life Hospitality at simpleliferentals.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

If you want to know where the STR industry is headed, talk to someone who was doing revenue management before Airbnb and VRBO even existed. Matt and Austin sit down with Michelle Marquis, founder of The Marquis Effect and co-founder of ShortCuts4STR, for a wide ranging conversation with one of the most seasoned and respected voices in the vacation rental technology space. Michelle started her career as a hotelier doing revenue management manually, tracking pace in Excel spreadsheets before dynamic pricing tools were even a thought. She spent 12 years on the property management side before transitioning to the technology world, first at Navis (now Revinate) where she helped pioneer CRM and direct booking strategies, then at TravelNet Solutions where her leadership helped drive two massive exits, including a north of $250 million acquisition. Today she serves as a fractional CRO and CMO for STR operators and technology companies through The Marquis Effect, and sits on the board of BookingPal. Here is what you will learn: Why most STR operators are leaving serious money on the table by ignoring ancillary revenue streams and what to do about it, how distribution strategy has evolved from manual Expedia conversations to AI powered channel management and why most operators still are not using it correctly, what a fractional CRO actually does inside your business versus what a consultant does, why your KPIs need to go beyond occupancy and ADR if you want to truly understand the health of your business, how companies like Abode are generating over $2 million a year in ancillary revenue and what you can learn from that model, why Amazon affiliate links, referral commissions, and upsell services are some of the easiest and most overlooked revenue opportunities for any STR operator, and what the single biggest mindset shift is that separates operators who build real businesses from those who stay stuck. Michelle also shares her thoughts on AI adoption in the STR space, why operators who are overwhelmed by new tools need a simpler framework for deciding where to start, and why it is time to get serious about running your STR like the business it actually is. Find Michelle on LinkedIn and at themarquiseffect.com. You can also follow her work with ShortCuts4STR at shortcuts4str.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

What if you could generate more revenue with 9 properties than most operators do with 50? That is exactly what Kory Rankine has built in Miami. Matt and Austin sit down with Kory Rankine, founder and CEO of Escape Luxury Hospitality, one of South Florida's premier luxury vacation rental companies catering to high net worth individuals, celebrities, and athletes in the Miami market. Kory started his career at 27 years old with zero experience in the STR industry, falling into vacation rentals after years of concierge work booking yacht charters, chauffeur services, and luxury experiences for travelers. Thirteen years later he has built a boutique portfolio of ultra luxury homes in Miami with nightly rates that would make your jaw drop, and a service model that goes far beyond what most STR operators are used to thinking about. Here is what you will learn: Why Kory spent the first decade of his business learning everything the hard way and how that experience shaped a complete restructuring of his systems and processes, what it actually takes to serve high net worth guests and why concierge level service like in person check ins, yachts, private cars, and on call guest services teams is non negotiable at the luxury tier, why Kory deliberately keeps his portfolio small and curated rather than scaling for volume and why that is a strategic advantage not a limitation, how his properties generate nightly rates that reach $40,000 and what types of guests are willing to pay that number, why portfolio character matters more than uniformity at the luxury level and how properties like his Mykonos style villa in Miami create unforgettable guest experiences, the honest truth about why most STR consultants fail their clients and what Kory had to relearn on his own, and what AI discoverability means for luxury operators and why getting found by AI tools is the next marketing frontier for high end STR brands. Kory's parting message is one the whole industry needs to hear: stop letting money be the driver, get more hands-on, and focus on building real community through exceptional guest experiences. Find Kory on LinkedIn and follow along at @escapelux on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at escapelux.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited and most competitive STR markets in the country. Over 12 million tourists a year, but also one of the toughest places to stand out when every cabin on Airbnb starts to look exactly the same. Brendan Davis figured out how to win anyway. Matt and Austin sit down with Brendan Davis, founder and CEO of Magnolia Vacation Rentals and co-founder of Southern Hospitality by Magnolia in Nashville. Before ever buying a short-term rental, Brendan spent over a decade in law enforcement including training new officers at a large agency. In 2022 he sold a long-term rental, used the proceeds to go all in on STR in the Smokies, and never looked back. He now manages over 109 properties in the Sevierville and Gatlinburg area and is actively expanding into Nashville and beyond, all while stepping out of day-to-day operations and into a true CEO role. Here is what you will learn: Why the Smokies is simultaneously one of the best and hardest STR markets in the country and what separates operators who thrive from those who fall behind in six months, what listing fatigue is and why value stacking beyond just adding amenities is the key to standing out in a saturated market, how Brendan scaled to over 100 doors in just four years starting from zero STR experience, why he hired ahead of need and how that philosophy has kept his team from burning out, how his marketing partner built a Key Holders Club loyalty program from scratch that has attracted nearly 9,000 members and an email list of 13,000 subscribers with only a 1% unsubscribe rate, why Brendan is using PriceLabs as an assistant rather than an operator and what that distinction means for his revenue management strategy, and how he thinks about platform diversification and reducing reliance on Airbnb through direct bookings and brand building. Brendan also shares why earning trust with owners and guests is the single most important thing for anyone just getting started in the STR space, and what he has learned about building a business that can run without you in it. Find Brendan on Facebook and learn more about Magnolia Vacation Rentals at magnoliavr.net. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

Some people come into the short-term rental industry chasing money. Lucas Piper came in chasing something bigger and accidentally built one of the most respected luxury STR brands in Central Texas along the way. Matt and Austin sit down with Lucas Piper, founder of Five Star Vacation Home Rentals in Austin, for one of the most genuine and inspiring conversations the show has had. Lucas started as a social worker making $26,000 a year, backpacked through Latin America for two years, volunteered with the Mayan community in Guatemala, and eventually stumbled into short-term rentals the way most people do, by renting his own home. What he built from there is anything but ordinary. Five Star VHR is now one of Central Texas' premier luxury STR management companies with over 3,000 five-star reviews, a 95% Guest Favorite rate on Airbnb, and an average property generating over $120,000 in annual revenue. Private equity firms are calling. Lucas is not rushing to answer. Here is what you will learn: How Lucas went from Goodwill furniture and a $7,000 startup to managing a portfolio of Lake Austin waterfront estates and Hill Country retreats, why he chose to grow slowly and intentionally instead of scaling fast and why that decision changed everything about the quality of his business, how Five Star VHR achieved 500 Google reviews at a perfect 5.0 rating and what that means for your negotiating power with owners and acquirers, why Lucas merged with another top Central Texas operator and what that partnership unlocked that he could not have built alone, how he thinks about the build versus buy decision for owners in the current Austin market, why Austin STR regulations have shifted and what operators and investors actually need to know right now, and the mindset shift that changed his life, that you do not have to choose between doing good work, making great money, and living a balanced life. Lucas also runs quarterly STR meetups for the Austin community and moderates two Facebook groups for local hosts and investors. If you are in the Central Texas market, this is someone you want in your corner. Find Five Star VHR on Instagram at @fivestarvhr and learn more at fivestarvhr.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

What if you could get more bookings, give back to veterans, and list your properties for free all at the same time? That is exactly what Matt Hammlett and the team at Crew Dogs have built. Matt and Austin sit down with Matt Hammlett, COO of Crew Dogs and a seriously impressive STR operator in his own right, for a conversation packed with operator insight and a genuinely compelling platform that every host and property manager should know about. Before landing at Crew Dogs, Matt built a vacation rental management company from scratch near Yosemite National Park, scaling from 4 properties to 200 in just four years before selling to Vacasa in 2021. He then took a stint at Guesty before joining Crew Dogs, a military-exclusive travel platform built by veterans, for veterans, that perfectly combines his background in military service and STR operations. Here is what you will learn: How Matt scaled to 200 units in four years starting from zero STR experience, what Crew Dogs is and how the platform connects STR hosts with verified military guests who get a 10 to 20% discount on every booking, how a portion of every booking goes to a military nonprofit of the host's choice including Fisher House and K9 for Warriors, why listing on Crew Dogs is completely free for hosts with no monthly fees and only a 1 to 2% transaction cost on bookings, how the platform integrates directly with your PMS so your calendar, pricing, and messaging all stay in sync, why military guests are some of the most trustworthy and respectful guests you will ever host (and what happens if they are not), how tax collection and government travel bookings work on the platform, and what is coming next as Crew Dogs prepares to expand to 70 to 80 thousand properties with a big UK launch on the horizon. Matt also shares the story of how Crew Dogs got its name, rooted in military aviation culture and what it means to be someone you truly want on your team. List your properties for free at crewdogs.com and connect with Matt on LinkedIn as Matthew Hammlett, COO of Crew Dogs. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

there is one person in the vacation rental industry who has literally seen and done it all, it is Steve Trover. Matt and Austin sit down with the co-founder and CEO of Better Talent for a conversation that every STR operator and property manager needs to hear. With over 30 years in the space, Steve has founded 16 companies, built and scaled a four-location vacation rental management company to 400 properties, co-developed LiveRez (one of the first SaaS PMS platforms in the industry), served as President of the VRMA, and helped launch VR Nation as a national trade association. He has seen the entire evolution of this industry up close and has the scars and wisdom to prove it. Today, through Better Talent, the industry's first subscription-based talent acquisition company, Steve helps over 500 vacation rental and STR companies hire the right people using a combination of technology, behavioral science, and a database of over 700,000 industry professionals. Here is what you will learn: Why the people side of your STR business represents 40 to 60% of your entire cost structure and why most operators barely think about optimizing it, why hiring based on a resume is one of the most common and costly mistakes in the industry and what to do instead, how behavioral profiling and personality assessments tell you more about a hire than five years of experience ever will, why Steve always recommends building your org chart with your name in every box first, and then systematically removing yourself from the roles you hate most, what a People Stack is and why every STR operator should have one alongside their tech stack, why Steve would take the right personality profile over industry experience every single time if forced to choose, and what is coming next with VR Pro, Better Talent's new LinkedIn-style profile for STR professionals. This is one of those rare episodes where you get a true industry legend who has seen it all from the ground floor and is still actively building. Do not miss it. Connect with Steve at bettertalent.com, book a demo, or find him on LinkedIn at Steve Trover. You can also email him directly at [email protected]. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/

Not everyone gets into the short-term rental industry by owning or managing properties, and Stephanie Rounds is proof of that. Matt and Austin sit down with Stephanie, Owner Relations Manager at Beachside VR on Florida's Space Coast, who found her way into the STR world over 12 years ago through photography and conference work with VRMA, eventually landing at Better Talent as a Talent Relationship Specialist before transitioning to the property management side of the business. This one is a fun, candid conversation about what the owner relations role actually looks like from the inside, what owners really complain about, and why building genuine human relationships is still the most important skill in this industry. Here is what you will learn: How Stephanie built her career in STR entirely through relationships and networking rather than property ownership, what surprised her most about the owner relations role (hint: it is a lot more revenue management than you would expect), why "why is my property not booked more" is the most common owner complaint and how to handle it, how to set realistic revenue expectations with owners from the start before it becomes a bigger issue, why reviews, maintenance, and proactive communication are all connected and how one small fix can prevent a cascade of problems, and what it looks like to work for a fast growing company like Beachside VR that currently manages over 300 properties on the Space Coast. Stephanie also gives a great reminder that there are many ways to build a career in the short-term rental industry beyond owning or managing properties, whether that is through photography, recruiting, hospitality operations, or owner relations. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn and find out more about Beachside VR at beachsidevr.com. 👥 Follow The Show The Co-Host Bros Podcast Instagram: @cohostbros Facebook: @cohostbros YouTube: @cohostbros TikTok: @cohost.bros ⸻ Follow the Hosts Matt Codd Instagram: @creativecodds TikTok: @creativecodds Facebook: @matt.codd.3 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-codd-9a3761375/ Austin Spitzenberger Instagram: @austin_spitzz TikTok: @austin_spitzz Facebook: @austin.spitzenberger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-spitzenberger-70481111b/