Landlord Diaries - The Monthly Rentals Podcast

In this episode, we're diving into the world of mid-term rentals with Shawn Costley, a seasoned expert from Huntsville Corporate Housing Solutions in Alabama. Shawn has mastered the art of rental arbitrage, securing six out of his seven mid-term rentals through this innovative strategy. Join us as we explore three essential topics for every landlord and property manager:

1. The 5 main mid-term rental traveler types in Huntsville, Alabama
2. 5 critical mistakes to avoid in the mid-term rental space
3. Best practices for successful rental arbitrage

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

0:40 What is arbitrage?

2:55 Shawn’s journey to MTR & corporate housing

4:00 ALE Solutions is a power user on Furnished Finder

4:30 Why Shawn chose arbitrage for his MTR strategy

6:45 Shawn’s 5 MTR traveler types in Huntsville, AL

7:45 Insurance displacement clients

12:00 Tech company clients such as Amazon & Samsung

14:35 Defense Industry clients

18:00 Fishing Tournament clients

21:25 Work crew clients

29:50 5 mistakes not to make in the mid-term rental space

29:55 When you stay in the property, you catch things you may not be aware of

35:25 Items frequently missing from a mid-term rental home

37:10 Don’t underestimate the power of marketing

41:40 Have reserves & be ready to pivot

44:10 Arbitrage best practices

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ 

Shawn’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Shawn%20Costley 

www.HuntsvilleCorporateHousingSolutions.com 

[email protected] 

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.

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.

Today we recap our key takeaways from the 2024 Mid-Term Rental Summit brought to you by Jesse Vasquez & Furnished Finder. If you missed this one, then we hope you plan to join us next year! Watch your Furnished Finder emails or follow www.MidtermRentalSummit.com.

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

1:20 Why Furnished Finder partners w/ Jesse Vasquez to offer the MTR Summit

2:10 Why should you consider the mid-term rental strategy? 

3:50 Why Furnished Finder is the go-to place for mid-term rentals

5:40 A Sneak Peak At Exclusive Furnished Finder stats

6:25 Top mid-term rental markets by demand

7:55 Landlord check in, are you doing your best to stand out to travelers?

8:15 Furnished Finder is not a set it and forget it platform 

8:30 40% of travelers do this…

9:05 Only 2/3rds of landlords do this…

9:25 Highlight your mid-term rental perks to stand out

11:10 Large variety of traveler types

12:05 Furnished Finder CEO & President, Jeff Hurst

13:35 Jeff wants your feedback!

15:25 News stories leading investors toward mid-term rental real estate investing

18:40 Why it’s so valuable to be in person at the next MTR Summit 2025

20:45 MTR is not survival of the fittest

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ 

Katie’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=katie.lyon8 

Kelly Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Kelly*|B. 

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.

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.

Join us for a milestone episode of The Landlord Diaries as we celebrate Furnished Finder's 10th anniversary and the exciting journey ahead. In this special 100th episode, meet our new President and CEO, Jeff Hurst, who brings over a decade of experience in the travel technology and rental industry. Jeff shares his vision for the future of Furnished Finder and how we're committed to helping landlords and tenants thrive in the rapidly growing mid-term rental market. 

Tune in to hear: 

• Jeff’s journey to Furnished Finder and his excitement about the mid-term rental opportunity. 
• Insights into what the Furnished Finder team has been working on for the past six months. 
• What you can expect from us in the coming months to enhance your experience. 
• Immediate actions you can take to prepare for upcoming changes and maximize your success. 

Whether you're a seasoned landlord or new to the mid-term rental space, this episode is packed with valuable information and actionable tips to help you stay ahead. Listen now to discover how Furnished Finder is evolving and how you can be a part of this exciting future! 

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In this episode we cover: 

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries 

2:20 It’s episode 100!!! 

4:05 Why Jeff Hurst joined Furnished Finder 

6:10 Why Jeff is primed for CEO & President at Furnished Finder 

6:40 Furnished Finder is the best kept secret in real estate 

9:35 Who are Furnished Finder landlords? 

10:45 Behind the scenes work over the last 7 months 

11:30 The new build or remodel analogy 

13:15 Listening & learning from our users, we hear you 

14:00 Furnished Finder natural beauty analogy 

14:50 Jeff's take on our traveler type 

16:00 Furnished Finder fills gap housing needs 

17:10 The mid-term rental landlord energy is contagious 

18:30 Prepare for increased ROI & demand 

22:20 Why thousands of landlords love Furnished Finder 

22:40 Is Furnished Finder going to turn into another VRBO? 

23:35 Is Furnished Finder going to change too much? 

24:05 More landlords need to do this... 

24:25 Why many MTR operators prefer Furnished Finder to other OTAs 

25:35 How should Furnished Finder landlords use the platform best? 

28:55 Jeff’s goals & visions for Furnished Finder 

30:20 We want your feedback, connect with us! 

32:45 When & where will we hear about the next big update?  

 Episode 100 Blog Post

Website Links: 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/  

https://www.keycheck.com/  

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats  

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/  

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.

Today we travel to Des Moines, Iowa. We talk with Chris Dickey about his 12+ mid-term rental units & co-ownership in Top Shelf Property Management. At this point in time, Chris advertises his mid-term rentals exclusively on Furnished Finder. 

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

2:05 Chris’s journey to real estate & mid-term rentals

3:00 Grow with the BRRRR method

3:40 Chris’s real estate portfolio & partnerships

9:05 Managing your furnishing budget

9:45 MTR coaches

13:05 Why Chris is exclusively on Furnished Finder

17:10 Your KeyCheck toolbox

18:30 The KeyCheck live chat is so helpful

19:15 The human aspect of communication

23:00 The MTR rental flow process

25:40 MTR lead time

26:05 Responding to all your tenant lead types

27:35 Start marketing your MTR before it’s furnished

28:20 Kelly’s newest MTR is a 300 sq ft ADU

31:20 Advertise ALL your MTRs for cross marketing opportunities

32:30 Misfit properties make great mid-term rentals

34:10 Mid-term travelers are flexible

35:00 Rent income difference between LTR & MTR

36:20 MTR guests leave your property better than they found it

38:10 Top Shelf Property Management- Around 500 doors

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ 

Chris’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

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

7 main properties & 6 unit features

Social Media: @ChrisDickeyRealestate 

https://www.topshelfiowa.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.

Stellar Housing Solutions is a mid-term rental company based in New Jersey with 13 active MTRs & 3 managing partners: James Hwang, Frank Louvis and Denis Um. This team has very impressive Furnished Finder guest communication tips we will discuss today including 1) preferred photo order 2) multiple users managing one account 3) well designed message templates & 4) unique video walkthroughs including interior of cabinets & QR codes. 

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

2:45 Stellar Housing Solutions stats

3:30 6 signed leases before furnishing is complete!

7:10 The value of marketing multiple listings in one area

8:15 The creation of Stellar Housing Solutions

10:35 13 mid term rentals and growing

11:40 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms fully booked

14:10 3 bedrooms are often occupied by 1-2 travelers 

17:30 Golden Tip: Start marketing your property early on Furnished Finder

18:15 Marketing your photos & top amenities properly

24:45 Round table discussion about photo order

32:00 Unique video walkthroughs including interior of cabinets & QR codes

44:50 Multiple users managing one Furnished Finder account

46:45 Tip for managing your Tenant Leads on Furnished Finder

47:30 Furnished Finder message response preferences

49:20 The 3 co-founder roles of Stellar Housing Solutions

50:55 Stellar Housing Solutions is a perfect 3 circle venn diagram 

53:15 Are you the lone ranger on your MTRs? Catch these tips

58:40 Streamline your MTR business w/ KeyCheck’s MTR tools

1:00:30 Stellar’s impressive use of Furnished Finder message templates

1:04:30 Stellar’s application process starts w/ the very first message

1:07:00 Do your guests compliment your communication style?

Stellar Housing Solutions on Furnished Finder:

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

Stellar Video Walkthroughs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3hjSIcDq5U

https://stellarhousingsolutions.com/help/ge-4-8-cu-ft-all-in-one-washer-dryer/

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.

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.

(Part 2) Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh is known as the Luxury Short Term Rental Doctor and her luxury brand is Short Term Gems. Rachel was a speaker at the 2023 Mid-Term Rental Summit and is an expert in the luxury short term, mid term rental space. Rachel has a heart for training busy professionals in how to overcome burnout and change their trajectory with what she calls the “2 Door Strategy” - 1 luxury short term rental + 1 high value mid term rental to maximize your ROI (Return on Investment) & ROE (Return on Energy).

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

2:55 Rather than worrying about vacancies, what’s my biggest ROI?

8:05 Screening tenants & MTR turnovers

14:15 Mid-term rental check out communication & process

18:15 Mid-term hybrid rental setup, bookings & calendars

28:50 Rachel’s advice on the value of Furnished Finder for larger properties

32:30 Is your property set up properly to WOW your mid-term rental guests?

39:50 Are you ready when an insurance rep reaches out?

44:20 Are you hesitant to follow up with potential tenants?

45:10 Hospitality is such an important part of the mid-term rental business

49:30 A “mathletes” advice for analyzing mid-term rental stats

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ 

https://www.shorttermgems.com/ 

Rachel’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Jesse.Gainsbrugh 

Rachel’s training on finding those “Diamond in the rough” STR/MTRs:

https://youtu.be/ynCD7DjzMW4?si=nFz5SshRDrSNvLbE 

https://www.shorttermgems.com/75gems 

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.

(Part 1) Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh is known as the Luxury Short Term Rental Doctor and her luxury brand is Short Term Gems. Rachel was a speaker at the 2023 Mid-Term Rental Summit and is an expert in the luxury short term, mid term rental space. Rachel has a heart for training busy professionals in how to overcome burnout and change their trajectory with what she calls the “2 Door Strategy” - 1 luxury short term rental + 1 high value mid term rental to maximize your ROI (Return on Investment) & ROE (Return on Energy).

In this episode we cover:

0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries

3:35 BURNOUT is real, stop exchanging your hours for dollars

4:20 Why Rachel chose short & mid term rentals as her path to freedom

6:00 Rachel’s “diamond in the rough” property

9:00 Rachel’s portfolio of 22 properties, 8 mid-term rentals, all 4+ bedrooms

10:35 Rachel’s “2 Door Strategy”

17:10 The 3 C’s of a luxury property 

19:55 Why Rachel pursues 4+ bedroom MTR properties

26:40 If your luxury properties are not pet friendly, you are leaving money on the table

29:55 The appreciation play for larger properties

30:40 Rachel’s TV appearance on the Netflix series “Buy My House”

33:00 Return metrics: ROI, cash on cash returns, cash flow & price to rent ratio

38:10 SNEAK PEAK of how Rachel advises others to find their “2 doors”

Website Links:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ 

https://www.keycheck.com/ 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats 

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources 

https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ 

https://www.shorttermgems.com/ 

Rachel’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Jesse.Gainsbrugh 

Rachel’s training on finding those “Diamond in the rough” STR/MTRs:

https://youtu.be/ynCD7DjzMW4?si=nFz5SshRDrSNvLbE 

https://www.shorttermgems.com/75gems 

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.