Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast

Most people lose in STR because they think small. This episode breaks down exactly why $150K–$200K is now the minimum to win, and how to outpace the competition by investing in what actually matters. You’ll learn: • How Mike’s team turned a $715K property into a 26%+ cash-on-cash winner • Why outdated listings are getting crushed in today’s market • The new furnishing rule of thumb (hint: it’s not $6K per room anymore) • Why “I’ll add amenities later” is the biggest red flag from investors • Real-world examples of design ROI and creative deal structuring • How to dominate Year 2 with direct bookings, not just Airbnb If you’re serious about STR, this episode will shift how you think about budget, value, and building long-term cash flow. - Want bookings before you're even done renovating? Just click the link below to get the Free Training. https://go.strsecrets.com/podcast?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T022&utm_content=PreLaunch [https://go.strsecrets.com/podcast?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T022&utm_content=PreLaunch] - 00:03:30 – Budget Furniture and Low Investment No Longer Work in B or C Markets 00:05:00 – Reinvesting in Amenities Can Revive Underperforming Properties 00:07:15 – Pre-Launching With Mood Boards Can Generate Bookings Before Renovation Ends 00:09:03 – Investing More in Amenities Can Double or Triple Cash-on-Cash Returns 00:13:02 – You Need Direct Bookings—Don’t Rely Only on Airbnb and VRBO 00:15:01 – You’re Competing on ADR Only If You’ve Maxed Out the Amenity Strategy 00:23:29 – Borrow Amenities From Other Markets to Win in Your Own 00:25:16 – Don’t Wait to Upgrade—Do It Upfront or You’ll Lose Money Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com/

He’s not managing Airbnbs, he’s buying the companies that do. In this episode, Patrick breaks down his roll-up strategy for short-term rental management businesses, focusing on Joshua Tree. You’ll learn: • How to value STR property management companies • The hidden formula top performers are using (4.9+ reviews + max RevPAR) • How he’s creating additional revenue from Netflix, OF shoots, and more • The underrated power of real hospitality, hyper-local service, and partner alignment This isn’t just about scaling, it’s about building a legacy business in a saturated market. 00:00:11 - Become the Local Expert, Not a Nationwide Manager 00:08:45 - Three Business Lessons from Open Water Swimming 00:09:03 - Use a Roll-Up Strategy to Scale Management Companies 00:10:00 - Study High-Performing PMs for 4.9+ Ratings at Scale 00:11:20 - How to Value and Buy STR Management Companies 00:13:32 - Use Off-Market Outreach to Acquire Small Managers 00:17:00 - Full-Service PM is the Only Way to Compete in Joshua Tree 00:21:22 - Add Production Shoots to Maximize Weekday Revenue 00:25:45 - How to Get Featured by Netflix and PR Agencies 00:35:00 - Partnerships are Marriages—Choose and Lead with Trust Guest Bio: Patryk Swietek is a 28-year-old entrepreneur with a background in building tech companies since the age of 14. Ever since getting into real estate at 24 years old, he's been a thought leader in the STR industry, teaching the co-hosting model with his own Amazon best seller book and online podcast. He scaled from 5 of his own properties to managing over 100 signed properties in Joshua Tree in under 1 year. He has bought 3 STR co-hosting companies to become the #1 co-host in one of the most competitive vacation rental markets in the country. His company and homes have been featured on Netflix, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Dwell, etc. Guest Link: https://www.instagram.com/patryk_swietek Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com/ [https://group.strsecrets.com/]

The new Trump-era bill just brought back 100% bonus depreciation and STR owners are about to get a massive tax break. In this episode, we break down exactly how the short-term rental tax loophole works, how you can use it to eliminate 5–6 figures of taxable income, and what rules you must follow to stay IRS-compliant. Whether you own 1 property or manage dozens, this is one of the most powerful tools in your financial playbook. You’ll Learn: • Why this loophole can save you $40K+ per property • The 2 conditions to qualify for non-passive treatment • How cost segregation studies supercharge your deductions • Why co-hosts & PMs can charge consulting fees using this • What to avoid if you don’t want the IRS to audit you Want to directly talk about taxes and how you can make use of the tax loophole for STRs? Just click the link below: https://go.strsecrets.com/podcast?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T021&utm_content=Taxes [https://go.strsecrets.com/podcast?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T021&utm_content=Taxes] 00:05:08 – Powerful Tax Strategy to Slash Your Income 00:06:01 – How One Property Saved Me $92,000 in Taxes 00:09:02 – Must-Know Criteria to Unlock STR Tax Benefits 00:09:11 – Track This or Risk Losing Your Tax Deductions 00:10:16 – Use It Wrong, Lose It All 00:12:03 – Avoid This Common Mistake with Friends and Family 00:13:04 – How to Legally Save $40,000 with Depreciation 00:16:06 – Transform OK Deals Into Great Ones 00:17:17 – A Brilliant Offer Property Managers Should Use Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com

Furnished Finder’s CEO, Jeff, joins us to break down why thousands of hosts are moving away from Airbnb and into the booming midterm rental space. In this episode: • Jeff’s journey from VRBO and Expedia to Furnished Finder • Why monthly rentals are the most underserved niche in real estate • How to price your MTR listings for max profit • The 3 types of hosts who thrive on Furnished Finder • Tech upgrades, new guest demographics, and the future of midterms • Why most Airbnb hosts still don’t understand real returns Whether you’re a casual host or a pro operator, this episode will help you rethink your strategy, lower your fees, and build a more resilient rental business. Guest Bio: Jeff Hurst is the President and CEO of Furnished Finder, a role he assumed in November 2023 at the invitation of the company’s founders. Prior to that, Hurst was the Chief Operating Officer of Expedia Brands and Co-Lead of Expedia Group Marketing. Before that, he was the President of Vrbo and Chief Strategy Officer of HomeAway, where he oversaw the company’s successful sale to Expedia, Inc. Before venturing into the vacation rental industry, Hurst worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, collaborating with consumer brands on corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and pricing strategies. Hurst received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and BA from the University of Texas at Austin. 00:05:00 - Game-Changing Insights: Luxury Brands in Vacation Rentals 00:10:00 - Unstoppable Leaders: CEOs Who Shaped My Philosophy 00:15:00 - Winning Balance: How I Prioritize Family, CEO Role, & Life 00:20:00 - Bold Moves: Why I Chose Furnish Finder Over Other CEO Jobs 00:25:00 - Secret Advantage: Choosing the Right City & Team First 00:30:00 - Proven Blueprint: Advice to My Son on Career & Leadership 00:35:00 - Power Tip: Best Way to Reconnect with Furnish Finder 00:40:00 - Ultimate Secret: #1 Tip for Short Term Rental Success 00:45:00 - Smart Hack: How Hosts Save Money by Reverse-Engineering Airbnb Guest Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hurst-atx Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com/]

Airbnb quietly changed the rules, and if you’re not paying attention, you could be giving refunds you didn’t agree to. In this episode, we break down exactly what changed and what to do about it. Here’s what you’ll learn: • Why Airbnb is auto-switching hosts to a “Firm” policy, without clear consent • What happened to the original Strict policy (spoiler: it’s weaker now) • The difference between “Strict,” “Firm,” and the new “Limited” cancellation options • Real refund scenarios, who gets paid when guests cancel • Why Mike is switching to “Limited” on all new listings • How to check if your policy was changed (and how to fix it) Don’t let Airbnb rewrite your house rules without you knowing. Want to get the latest Airbnb Policy One-Pager? Just click the link below and DM the word "Policy". Link: https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T020&utm_content=Policy [https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T013&utm_content=Contract] 00:00 - Airbnb Cancellation Policy Changes & How To Adapt 01:24 - Choosing the Right Cancellation Policy: Strict vs Firm vs Limited 02:49 - How To Use Rank Breeze To Track Your Airbnb Rankings 04:14 - Opting Out of Airbnb’s Forced Policy Changes 05:39 - How New Listings Are Affected By Airbnb’s Updated Rules 07:04 - Strategies for Competing in Saturated STR Markets 08:29 - Building Repeat Clients & Getting Direct Bookings 09:54 - Protecting Against Chargebacks With Rental Agreements 11:19 - Know Your Market’s Booking Window & Adjust Policies 12:44 - Using Tools Like AirDNA & Rank Breeze To Optimize Revenue Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings: https://group.strsecrets.com [https://group.strsecrets.com/]