In this episode of The Vacation Rental Show, host Lynell Gordon speaks with Mark Lumpkin, Sales Director at STR Cribs, about creating standout guest experiences in today's evolved vacation rental market where basic accommodations no longer generate premium returns.


What you'll learn:

• The "heads and beds" strategy: how to legally convert garages and dining rooms into profitable bedrooms that double guest capacity and revenue
• Why investing in quality, hospitality-grade amenities saves thousands compared to repeatedly replacing cheap alternatives that break seasonally
• How to create themed properties (Dallas Cowboys, Taylor Swift, Star Wars) that eliminate direct competition and set their own rates
• The critical importance of proper permitting and licensed contractor work to protect investments and avoid liability issues
• Why property owners who don't reinvest are losing 10% revenue annually while competitors raise their standards
• The hands-on approach new investors should take: personally cleaning, managing, and staying in properties to understand guest experiences
• How to balance luxury amenities with practical durability based on market demographics and environmental factors
• Why focusing on fewer, exceptional properties outperforms managing large portfolios of average-quality rentals
• Market-specific amenity strategies: couples retreats in Tennessee vs. family properties in Orlando require different approaches
• How 50-60% repeat and referral business demonstrates the success of quality-focused investment strategies
  
  

Mark Lumpkin is the Sales Director at STR Cribs and cohost of the STR Investing Podcast, bringing over a decade of experience in the vacation rental industry. As part of a licensed general contracting company, Mark specializes in transforming ordinary properties into highly profitable short-term rentals through strategic space conversion and amenity selection. His expertise spans themed property design, legal bedroom additions, and quality amenity curation that maximizes guest satisfaction and revenue generation. Mark's approach focuses on creating unique, competition-free properties that attract guests seeking experiences rather than just accommodations, proving that strategic investment and proper execution drive sustainable success in today's competitive STR market.

This episode is sponsored by Bluetent.
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The Vacation Rental Show is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Previous guests include: Jim DeVos of Best Beach Getaways, Stacy Wesson of Cascara Vacation Rentals, Michael Friedman of The Simple Life Hospitality, Steve Caron of Inhabit, John An of TechTape, Jessica Gillingham of Abode Worldwide, Justin Ford of Breezeway, Mahwussh Alam of One Perfect Stay, Lisa Stinnett of Inhabit, and many more.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• Vacation Rental Stories: Episode 63 - Driving Innovation and Partnership
• Homeowners Become Family with Michael Godfrey, Owner of Michael’s Vacation Rentals
• Life in Maui as a Property Manager with Scott Jordan, Owner of Maui Life Realty

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