In this week's riveting episode of Furnished Finder's podcast, The Landlord Diaries, we sit down with Tara Jenkins from Chicago, Illinois. Tara is not only a mother of three with multiple degrees in hospitality, but she also has a profound love for travel. She masterfully manages five hybrid short-term/mid-term rental (STR/MTR) properties—four local and one out-of-state in Palm Harbor, FL.

Tune in as we dlve into:

1. A Prime Location: Discover the secrets behind Tara's Wrigley Field 2 bed, 2 bath MTR, commanding $6,000 a month.
2. Luxury and Convenience: Learn about her spacious 4 bed, 3 bath rental with a 2-car garage and EV charging, which pulls in a whopping $11,500 monthly.
3. Booking Strategies: Find out how 40-50% of Tara's MTR bookings are secured through Furnished Finder.
4. Appealing Additions: Understand the impact of adding a charcuterie board and red wine to your property photos.
5. Essential Tools: See why Tara recommends adding CubiCasa to your MTR toolkit.

Join us for an episode filled with valuable insights and practical tips that can help transform your rental business. Don't miss out on learning how Tara bounced back from a significant financial loss to create a safer and more profitable landlording strategy!"

0:00 Intro

2:20 Tara’s real estate journey started w/ a 2 flat unit

3:40 Losing $30k in 2 days

5:35 Tara’s real estate portfolio

6:35 Bigger Pockets books

8:30 The ups & downs of real estate investing

13:18 Property themes

13:40 Wrigley Field 2 bed, 2 bath MTR for $6,000/mo

16:50 Norwood Park, Tara’s 2/1 house hack for $4,500/mo

19:50 Why the mid-term rental strategy felt safer

20:40 North Center 2/1 for $7,000/mo

21:35 Chicago seasonal pricing

22:20 Spacious 4/3 w/ 2 car garage & EV charging for $11,500/mo

26:15 40-50% of Tara’s MTR bookings come from Furnished Finder

27:15 Should you drop your price or change up your marketing?

32:20 Adding a charcuterie board & red wine to your property photos

33:40 The Cycling Mermaid, 4/2 in FL for $7,000/mo

35:30 Self managing an out of state property

37:45 Hybrid MTR/STR calendar management

38:45 CubiCasa

43:30 Furnishing a property out of state

45:00 HostGPO

47:15 An MTR vs. STR marketing advantage

50:35 Furnished Finder tips for securing MTR guests during off-season

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Tara.Jenkins82 

https://www.cubi.casa/ 

https://hostgpo.com/ 

The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.