Bill Faeth doesn't define a successful vacation rental by its size, amenity count, or occupancy alone. He defines a "super property" as one of the highest-performing properties in its market. Across his portfolio, Bill follows the same basic approach: buy something difficult to replicate, identify exactly who the property is for, and design, equip, and market the entire experience around that guest.
In part two of this three-part conversation, Lynell and Bill break down what creates that performance. Bill explains why strong marketing makes premium revenue management possible, why he designs every property around a single guest persona, and how his "fully loaded" approach uses thoughtful details to remove common guest frustrations before they happen. He also shares how competitor reviews, personalized welcome videos, and direct guest communication help smaller operators create an advantage that larger portfolios can struggle to reproduce at scale.
The conversation then moves from individual properties to the business itself. Bill challenges the industry's obsession with property count, arguing that operators should instead build around the personal, family, and financial outcomes they actually want. That means cutting low-performing properties, being more transparent with homeowners, and investing in relationships that go beyond a monthly owner statement. For Bill, the goal isn't simply to manage more properties. It's to build a stronger portfolio, better owner relationships, and a business that doesn't consume your life.
What you'll learn:
- What Bill means by a "super property" and why it doesn't need to be the biggest or most amenity-heavy rental in the market
- How buying something difficult to replicate can create an advantage that another operator can't simply copy with more amenities
- Why Bill designs, equips, and markets every property around one specific guest persona instead of trying to appeal to everyone
- How studying negative guest reviews can reveal the objections your own vacation rental should solve before guests arrive
- What Bill's "fully loaded" philosophy looks like across kitchens, bathrooms, primary suites, and other small details
- Why personalized welcome videos can create an advantage that becomes increasingly difficult for large portfolios to reproduce at scale
- Why operators should measure success by the outcome their business creates rather than the number of properties they manage
- How removing low-performing properties and difficult owner relationships can create more capacity for profitable growth
- Why owner dashboards, revenue forecasts, and greater transparency can help reduce churn and build homeowner confidence
- Why Bill believes turning clients into friends is one of the most valuable skills a property manager or co-host can develop
About Bill Faeth: Bill Faeth is the founder of Build STR Wealth and a veteran real estate investor with nearly three decades of experience across residential, commercial, and short-term rentals. After transitioning much of his portfolio into vacation rentals in 2015, he built a multi-million-dollar portfolio while helping thousands of investors improve profitability through smarter ownership and self-management. Today, Bill is a respected educator, speaker, and mentor who is passionate about strengthening the vacation rental industry through collaboration, ethical business practices, and community.
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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, Sofia Rossato 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
Got a question for The Vacation Rental Show?Our host, Lynell Gordon, is answering your vacation rental questions in our new segment:
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