The Peak Season

In this solo episode of The Peak Season Podcast, Luke breaks down a practical, repeatable system for forecasting short-term rental revenue using PriceLabs and a simple spreadsheet. Instead of vague goals like “make more money,” Luke walks through how to set clear monthly revenue targets, track progress in real time, and adjust pricing strategy based on occupancy, seasonality, and lead times.

Using a real property in Northwest Michigan, Luke shows how treating pricing like a fitness goal—broken into daily and weekly actions—creates clarity, confidence, and far better results. If you’ve ever felt behind on revenue with no clear plan to catch up, this episode provides a concrete framework you can apply immediately.

• Why “I just want more bookings” is not a real pricing strategy
• Using PriceLabs portfolio analytics instead of gut feelings
• Reverse-engineering an annual revenue goal into monthly targets
• Accounting for owner stays, one-off events, and skewed data
• Occupancy-sensitive vs. price-sensitive months (and how to tell the difference)
• When to lower weekday rates to drive longer stays
• How to avoid starting the year in a revenue deficit
• Why most hosts feel behind even when they’re performing well

• Set monthly revenue goals, not vague annual hopes
• Track actuals vs. goals at least once or twice per month
• Use occupancy thresholds (50% / 75%) to decide when to chase bookings vs. hold price
• Be the first to lower prices in slow months—and the last in peak season
• Adjust weekday pricing strategically to win longer stays without discounting weekends
• Forecasting gives you clarity and confidence instead of reactive decision-making

• Hosts using or considering PriceLabs
• STR owners who hate feeling “behind” with no clear fix
• Hosts managing seasonal markets with large swings in demand
• Operators who want pricing decisions driven by data, not anxiety

This episode includes screen sharing and live examples on YouTube. If you want to see exactly how the spreadsheet is structured and how pricing decisions are made inside PriceLabs, the video version is highly recommended.

Most hosts price reactively. This episode shows how to price intentionally—with a plan, a scoreboard, and fewer emotional spirals during slow months. Progress beats panic.

The views, opinions, and information expressed in this podcast are for general informational and educational purposes only. They are not intended to be financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before making any decisions related to real estate investing or short-term rental operations. The hosts make no guarantees regarding outcomes or results discussed in this episode.

In this episode of The Peak Season Podcast, Luke shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a short-term rental at warp speed. From the closing table to live in just six days — and from over 1,000 miles away — this was not a smooth, Instagram-worthy rollout.

Between delayed closings, Midwest blizzards, scattered Wayfair boxes, canceled deliveries, marathon sourcing trips, and a smart lock that absolutely refused to cooperate, Luke breaks down the lessons learned the hard way while launching Northwoods Treehaus just days before Christmas.

Alongside Tyler, the conversation dives into what worked, what didn’t, and what Luke would never do again. If you’re setting up your first property, managing remotely, or feeling pressure to rush a launch, this episode is a reality check — and a roadmap — rolled into one.

👉 Check out the newest listing:
https://www.airbnb.com/h/northwoodstreehaus

(And yes — liking it and hitting the heart helps more than you think.)

00:00 – Intro: Launch windows and holiday chaos
00:52 – From closing table to live in six days
02:08 – Boxes in the snow before owning the house
03:26 – Lesson #1: Why scheduled deliveries will betray you
04:45 – Boots on the ground, family help, and hiring labor
05:46 – Lesson #2: Rent the minivan (always)
07:05 – Tracking missing shipments and managing delays
08:10 – DIY photos, AI edits, and getting a listing live fast
08:57 – Where to source locally when Amazon fails
10:39 – Lesson #3: Buy local, save time and money
11:04 – Lesson #4: Set up Wi-Fi and locks first
12:10 – Schlage Encode problems and router reality checks
14:52 – Backup plans for access (and backup to the backup)
15:21 – Lesson #5: Don’t buy at year-end if you can avoid it
16:14 – Why a full week on site changes everything
17:55 – When paying for professional setup does make sense
19:49 – Hiring early, hiring often, and staying in your lane
21:20 – Lesson #6: Always plan a second trip
22:39 – Cleaner SOPs, videos, and systemizing after launch
23:41 – Soft-launching with friends before organic guests
24:28 – Sharing the listing and what’s coming next

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based on personal experience and are for informational and educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making business or investment decisions. Operating short-term rentals involves risk, and individual results may vary.

In this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler break down the property management system Hospitable and how hosts can use it to streamline operations and elevate the guest experience. They cover automated messaging rules, review workflows, team communication, and smart home integrations, sharing practical tips from real hosting experience. Whether you manage one property or a growing portfolio, this episode offers actionable insights to help you save time, improve communication, and scale with confidence.

• How automated messaging improves guest experience and consistency
• Using Hospitable to manage reviews and guest communication efficiently
• Streamlining operations with team notifications and workflows
• Leveraging smart home integrations to save time and reduce issues
• Why testing and refining automation leads to better bookings and reviews

00:00 Introduction to Hospitable and PMS basics
05:20 Messaging automation and guest communication
10:18 Automated reviews and responses
16:42 Team management and operations
19:27 Smart home integrations
27:35 Final thoughts and what’s next

Luke and Tyler sit down for a real-time catch-up as Luke races to bring two new short-term rentals online before year-end. One is Alm Haus, Luke’s first major renovation, and the other is a newly acquired “tree house vibe” property near Bellaire.

They unpack winter booking softness, renovation realities, vendor coordination during the holidays, and why soft openings with trusted guests can save you from costly mistakes. The episode also dives into the tax-driven urgencybehind getting properties live, smart amenity decisions in ski markets, and why sometimes “good enough” is better than waiting for perfect.

If you’ve ever tried to launch a property in December… this one will feel very familiar. 😅

• Winter bookings may feel softer than previous years and require more active pricing and listing tweaks
• Major renovations create compounding delays if timelines aren’t tightly managed
• Soft openings with friends, family, or trusted guests help identify issues before full-price bookings
• To capture first-year tax benefits, properties must be operational and meet short-stay requirements
• Bookings that cross into the new year count toward next year, not the current one
• Sleep setup matters: multiple king bedrooms often outperform bunk-heavy layouts
• In ski markets, hot tubs are table stakes, not a luxury
• Differentiation matters: geo domes vs barrel saunas should align with your guest avatar
• Wayfair Professional and Amazon Business can be leveraged for scheduled deliveries and faster setups
• Strong local relationships can solve operational problems faster than throwing money at them
• Launching with solid DIY photos is acceptable short-term if professional photos are scheduled

• 00:06 Intro and the reality of launching under pressure
• 02:24 Winter booking slowdown and active pricing strategies
• 03:36 Alm Haus renovation update and lessons learned
• 05:30 Holiday staffing challenges and contingency planning
• 06:30 Soft openings and using trusted guests to work out issues
• 07:38 Why year-end timing matters for STR tax strategy
• 10:53 The “Tree House” property and why the prior owner struggled
• 13:28 Bedroom layouts and multi-family demand
• 14:17 Why hot tubs are non-negotiable in ski markets
• 15:17 Amenity decisions based on guest avatar
• 17:36 Wayfair Pro delivery scheduling and rapid setup planning
• 19:25 Outsourcing time-intensive tasks during short property visits
• 22:08 Creative vendor solutions and relationship-driven operations
• 24:31 Photography strategy: launching now, upgrading later
• 26:45 Wrap-up and call to action

• “The only show where you get to take pleasure from our pain.”
• “The name doesn’t matter nearly as much as whether I can get the domain.”
• “You have to get up and running at some point.”
• “People up north are just a different breed — and that matters in this business.”

This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Always consult with your own attorney, CPA, or financial professional regarding your specific situation.

In this Real Talk episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke opens up about something every short-term rental host eventually hits: end-of-season burnout. Between wrapping renovations, racing toward year-end tax deadlines, juggling slow-season bookings, and navigating holiday stress, it’s a lot.

Luke shares the simple mental framework he leans on when the entrepreneurial pressure cooker gets too hot — a three-part reset he calls State, Story, Strategy. You’ll learn how to quickly get out of your own head, regain clarity, and turn overwhelm into manageable action steps. It’s practical, it’s honest, and it’s something you can use today.

short-term rentals, burnout, host stress, holiday season, renovation pressure, STR business, mindset for entrepreneurs, coping strategies, end of year tax planning, overwhelmed hosts, productivity reset, STR tips, property management stress

• Burnout shows up fast when renovations, deadlines, and holiday chaos collide.
• Before tackling your to-dos, reset your state — your physical condition.
• Your story shapes your emotional reality. Reframe overwhelm with gratitude.
• Most stress comes from narratives we repeat, not actual tasks on our list.
• Breaking down stressors into actionable micro-steps creates real momentum.
• Many tasks aren’t solvable today — and that’s okay. Identify the ones that are.
• Temporary stress is often the price of long-term, meaningful growth.
• A clear mind leads to a clear strategy — and far better execution.

The Three S Reset: How Hosts Can Beat End-of-Season Burnout

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Always consult with a professional who understands your specific situation before making decisions related to your business or finances.

Summary

In this solo episode, Luke takes listeners behind the curtain of PriceLabs and breaks down the features most hosts overlook—Market Dashboards and comp sets. Luke shares how he analyzes competitor pricing and occupancy, how he builds comp sets that reveal real market patterns, and why triangulating data leads to smarter, more profitable pricing decisions. If you’ve ever opened PriceLabs, clicked around, and pretended you knew what you were looking at… this episode will get you genuinely dangerous (in the good way).

Takeaways
A deep dive into the parts of PriceLabs most hosts never touch.
How Luke builds comp sets that give meaningful competitive insight.
Tracking competitors’ pricing and occupancy without guessing.
Using Market Dashboards to benchmark your listing like an investor.
Why multiple comp sets > one generic list of neighbors.
Building listing-specific comp sets inside PriceLabs.
Populating KPIs that actually tell you a story.
Triangulating data to avoid bad pricing decisions.
Why subscribing to dashboards keeps you ahead of seasonal swings.
How Luke uses comp sets strategically in his own portfolio.

Chapters
00:00:12 — Why this episode matters
00:00:53 — Market Dashboards explained
00:01:42 — How Luke selects comp sets
00:04:29 — Using Market Dashboards effectively
00:05:19 — Benchmarking your listing
00:06:09 — Managed comp sets: pros and cons
00:07:08 — Building comp sets per listing
00:11:48 — How Luke triangulates data
00:14:17 — Populating KPIs that matter
00:15:30 — Using comp sets for real strategy

Disclaimer
This podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making decisions related to your business, pricing strategy, or short-term rental operations.

In this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke walks through seven practical tips for making the most of your visits to your vacation rental property. He covers how to choose the right timing, why solo trips often lead to better efficiency, and how simple organization—like keeping running lists—can make each visit more productive.

Luke also touches on the value of batching errands, hiring help for small but time-consuming tasks, documenting your property with updated photos and videos, paying attention to details guests will notice, and taking a moment to experience the property the way a guest would. Each strategy is designed to streamline your operations, reduce stress, and elevate the overall guest experience.

• Thoughtful timing of your visits helps protect revenue.
• Solo trips allow you to stay focused and efficient.
• Lists keep tasks organized and prevent important items from slipping through the cracks.
• Consolidating errands saves time and simplifies your workload.
• Outsourcing smaller tasks frees you up for more important decisions.
• Regularly documenting the property supports smoother long-term management.
• Attention to small details can directly impact guest satisfaction.
• Experiencing the property as a guest reveals improvements you may otherwise miss.
• Understanding the guest perspective leads to better hosting decisions.
• Consistent maintenance adds long-term value to the property.

00:00 — Introduction to Property Visits
02:34 — Timing Your Visits Effectively
05:32 — Traveling Solo for Efficiency
07:54 — Organizing Your Tasks and Lists
10:12 — Maximizing Your Time at the Property

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this episode should be considered legal, financial, or tax advice. Please consult the appropriate professional for guidance related to your business.

✨ Summary

In this episode of The Peak Season Podcast, Tyler Kostich opens up about his inspiring journey from military service and a W2 career in human resources to becoming a full-time entrepreneur in real estate and consulting. He shares how short-term rentals became both a passion and a business, the role of family support in his transitions, and the lessons learned about fulfillment, gratitude, and automation. This is a story of courage, connection, and carving out a life aligned with personal values.

⏱️ Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Tyler Kostich
• 05:54 – Transitioning to Real Estate Investing
• 18:11 – Leaving the W2 Job: A Personal Journey
• 22:01 – Future Goals and Aspirations
• 23:47 – Closing Thoughts

📣 Hashtags

#PeakSeasonPodcast #RealEstateInvesting #ShortTermRentals #Entrepreneurship #CareerTransition #PersonalGrowth #Gratitude

In this Thanksgiving special of the Peak Season Podcast, Luke and Tyler dig into one of the most underrated levers in the STR world: holiday bonuses for cleaners. They break down how to decide on bonus amounts, why timing matters, and creative ways to show appreciation beyond cash. The duo highlights how gratitude, recognition, and treating your team like actual humans (wild concept, we know) creates better service, happier guests, and a stronger business all year long.

• A solid baseline bonus for cleaners is the cost of one full clean.
• A little gratitude goes a long way—say it early, say it often.
• Holiday timing makes appreciation feel more meaningful.
• Recognized cleaners tend to deliver better service (shocker).
• Personalized touches strengthen long-term relationships.
• Plan bonuses ahead so you’re not panic-Venmoing on Christmas Eve.
• There are endless creative ways to show appreciation—explore them.
• Generosity and kindness build a culture people want to work in.

• Holiday Bonuses: A Guide to Gratitude
• The Art of Appreciating Your Cleaners

00:00 – Thanksgiving greetings & intro to holiday bonuses
02:30 – Who should receive bonuses in your STR business
03:10 – How to divide bonuses among cleaning teams
03:14 – What holiday bonuses look like for cleaners
05:06 – When and how to hand out bonuses

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here is business, financial, or legal advice. Always consult your own professionals before making decisions.

In this episode of the Peak Season Podcast, we dive into Luke’s real estate journey — from his early days in long-term rentals to discovering the world of short-term rentals and the markets that shaped him. Luke shares the wins, the mistakes, and the mindset shifts that helped him grow not just as an investor, but as a person.

He opens up about the Smoky Mountains, why Northern Michigan captured his heart, and how understanding markets, taking risks, and learning through experience helped define his investment strategy. Whether you're a first-time buyer or building your STR portfolio, Luke’s story offers relatable insights, practical advice, and the real-life lessons that only come from getting in the game.

short-term rentals, real estate investing, market selection, Smoky Mountains, Northern Michigan, investment advice, property management, growth mindset, entrepreneurship, podcast

• Luke transitioned from long-term rentals to short-term rentals in 2022.
• Understanding market dynamics is crucial for successful investments.
• Emotional connections to properties can enhance the investment journey.
• Knowing your numbers is essential before purchasing a property.
• Procrastination delays opportunities—clarity + action wins.
• Unique properties in less competitive markets often yield better returns.
• Networking and mentorship accelerate long-term success.
• Real estate rewards calculated risks and long-term thinking.
• Time often heals real estate “mistakes” if you stay committed.
• Growth happens when you lean into discomfort.

00:00 — Introduction to the Hosts and Their Journey
01:40 — Luke's Background and Entry into Real Estate
04:05 — Transitioning to Short-Term Rentals
05:40 — Choosing the Right Market for Investment
08:35 — Experiences in the Smoky Mountains
11:26 — Exploring Northern Michigan's Unique Opportunities
13:47 — The Importance of Comfort in Uncertainty
15:11 — New Property Developments in Bel Air
17:56 — Advice for First-Time Short-Term Rental Buyers
22:40 — Expanding Your Short-Term Rental Portfolio