Luke Carl questions whether hosts have become too focused on asking guests for five-star reviews, arguing that constantly requesting feedback can come across as desperate and may even encourage negative responses. Using Disney's customer service as an example, he explains why delivering an exceptional guest experience should take priority over chasing reviews, and suggests that hosts be more selective about when they ask for feedback. Luke also encourages property managers to trust that genuine hospitality, thoughtful service, and authentic communication will naturally inspire guests to leave positive reviews without repeated reminders.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl explains why bad guest reviews are one of the most valuable tools for improving a short-term rental business, arguing that even unfair criticism often contains a lesson worth addressing. He discusses the importance of separating legitimate feedback from unreasonable expectations, reminds hosts that vacation rentals are homes—not hotels—and encourages property managers to use reviews as motivation to refine operations, strengthen the guest experience, and continually improve. Luke also reflects on how years in the business have taught him to respond with professionalism, focus on what he can control, and treat every review as an opportunity for growth.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl is joined by Holly from Killington Mountain Homes to discuss how she leveraged her background in the tech industry to build a high-performing short-term rental management company in Vermont. Holly shares how investing heavily in systems, staff training, in-house laundry operations, and owner communication has helped her properties consistently outperform the market, while explaining why genuine care, operational consistency, and a strong guest experience are the foundation for long-term success. The conversation also explores scaling a property management business, overcoming the challenges of a seasonal market, and building a brand that owners and guests can trust.

How to connect with Holly:

https://www.killingtonmountain.com/ 

@KillingtonMountainHomes on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl shares practical advice on planning and managing short-term rental rehabs, explaining why the offseason is the ideal time to tackle major projects and why new owners should resist renovating immediately after purchasing a property. He discusses the unique challenges of working with contractors in small vacation markets, encourages investors to learn their property before making costly upgrades, and emphasizes that patience, realistic expectations, and strong local relationships are essential for successful renovations. Luke also explains why starting with smaller projects can build confidence before taking on larger rehabs, while reminding listeners that consistent planning and organization are key to long-term success.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl explains why setting clear guest expectations—what he jokingly calls "guestspectations"—is one of the most important responsibilities of a short-term rental property manager. He argues that vacation rentals are homes, not hotels, and encourages hosts to communicate a property's limitations upfront, resist unrealistic guest demands, and avoid creating expectations that can't consistently be met. Luke also shares why online travel agencies should focus on being listing platforms rather than acting as property managers, while emphasizing that honest communication and proactive expectation-setting lead to better guest experiences and fewer conflicts.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl continues his pricing series by explaining how to pair multiple base prices with customized minimum night stay profiles in PriceLabs to better match seasonal demand. He walks through how he adjusts minimum stays throughout the year, uses date-specific overrides for major holidays, and tailors orphan night strategies based on property size to maximize occupancy without sacrificing revenue. Luke also emphasizes that his recommendations are based solely on his own experience rather than affiliate partnerships, encouraging listeners to customize their pricing strategy to fit each property's booking patterns.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl shares an open-mic office hours session covering the mindset shifts that separate long-term success from short-lived wins in the short-term rental business. He encourages listeners to embrace abundance over scarcity, recognize that co-hosting is fundamentally property management, and avoid overpromising unrealistic revenue expectations that can't be sustained at scale. Luke also reflects on the sacrifices he and his wife made while building their real estate portfolio, reminding investors to be proud of where they are today, buy what they can afford, and trust that consistent hard work and patience will create future opportunities rather than chasing someone else's success.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl discusses two common challenges in short-term rental management: guests who book the wrong dates and the growing demand for early check-ins. He walks through a real example of a guest who mistakenly reserved less expensive dates and later wanted to switch to higher-demand dates at the original rate, ultimately choosing to cancel and receive a courtesy refund despite being outside the cancellation policy. Luke also shares a new AI-powered workflow that proactively offers paid early check-ins when availability allows, creating an additional revenue opportunity while reducing repetitive guest requests. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of staying calm, following established systems, and keeping emotions out of recurring guest interactions that are simply part of the property management business.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl explains why short-term rentals are still just houses, not hotels, so hosts need to manage guest expectations, maintain properties carefully, and avoid letting small issues like scratched floors or minor dust become bigger problems. He then shifts to the broader market, arguing that many sellers are still thinking like it’s the COVID-era boom, when homes sold fast and over asking, even though today’s higher rates and softer demand have changed the landscape. His main takeaway is that buyers have more opportunity now, sellers need realistic pricing, and success comes from doing your homework and being patient enough to find a real deal.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Luke Carl brings back “Luke’s Book Club” and shares a candid review of the books that have most impacted his thinking on business, wealth building, personal growth, and entrepreneurship over the past year. He discusses which books he highly recommends, which ones didn’t resonate with him, and how reading has played a major role in his personal and professional development.

A key takeaway from the discussion is Luke’s belief that continuous learning is one of the most important drivers of success. Whether the topic is entrepreneurship, money management, or personal development, he encourages listeners to read widely, abandon books that aren’t serving them, and continually seek new ideas that can improve their lives and businesses.

How to connect with Luke:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram 

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon