Short Term Rental Management

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke reflects from New Orleans on the changing tides in real estate investing and pays tribute to personal heroes Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan. He shares updates on a new beach house rehab project and emphasizes that while real estate is currently “not cool,” that perception presents an opportunity for disciplined investors. Luke argues that...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke is joined by guests Jeff and Jenny, first-time short-term rental investors who share their journey of overcoming a major challenge: their well running dry just months after purchasing a Smoky Mountain cabin. The couple recounts navigating the emotional and financial stress, installing a 1,000-gallon water storage system, and maintaining...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl shares a personal milestone—he’s selling one of his vacation rental homes. He opens with a humorous tale about replacing a toilet valve himself, then dives into the reasoning behind the sale, including shifting family preferences, property management logistics, and market timing. Luke reflects on pricing strategy, buyer behavior, an...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke sits down with Miles from Hospitable for an in-depth discussion on the evolution and current state of property management software. They cover Hospitable’s recent dynamic pricing launch, AI-powered tools like the Knowledge Hub and Copilot, and how sentiment analysis is flagging guest issues in real time. The conversation also touches on...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke takes listeners through a string of recent challenges he faced in the world of property ownership—from termites and fire damage to a $46,000 miscommunication with a vendor. He walks through seven issues in total, including an inherited tenant move-out requiring a full unit renovation, a fragrance-sensitive guest, and a collapsing porch p...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke breaks down the eight biggest mistakes he sees short-term rental owners make. From rushing into deals without patience, to poor guest communication, neglecting pricing and finances, and underestimating the true cost of real estate, Luke delivers a rapid-fire reality check.   How to connect with Luke: The Short Term Shop - https://theshor...

  On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke interviews Ryan Ferguson, an electrician-turned-hot tub repair expert serving East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. They dive into common hot tub issues in vacation rentals—like economy mode, airlocks, and water damage from improper draining—while sharing maintenance tips, regulatory insights, and hilarious stories involving bears, raccoon...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke emphasizes that buying a short-term rental is not a get-rich-quick scheme. He compares unrealistic expectations in real estate to gambling, warning against the “slot machine mentality” of hoping to strike it rich with one or two properties. Instead, he advocates for long-term wealth building through hard work, patience, and realistic exp...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke talks with photographer Mike Sutton about what makes great short-term rental photos, especially in the competitive Smoky Mountains market. They discuss the evolution of the vacation rental photography space, how to vet and select a photographer, what types of shots matter most (like twilight, drone, and 3D floor plans), and why authentic...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke urges listeners to stop sweating the small stuff and start thinking bigger when it comes to real estate. He challenges the mindset that sees individual homes as overwhelming burdens, encouraging investors to reframe their approach, embrace growth, and chase larger opportunities like hotels or syndications instead of fixating on minor mai...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke emphasizes that poor bookings aren't due to superficial issues like couch color, but rather a lack of attention to pricing strategy and calendar management. He encourages hosts to stop blaming external factors like Airbnb updates and instead adopt “extreme ownership,” taking responsibility by learning proper pricing tools and consistentl...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke responds candidly to some negative Facebook comments, defends his commitment to helping others succeed, and champions positivity over online drama. He shares personal stories, rental management lessons, and reflections on property investing trade-offs—emphasizing patience, consistency, and mindset when pursuing real estate deals, especia...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke emphasizes the importance of proactive involvement in both real estate and personal finances. He urges listeners to avoid waiting for crisis moments—like missed mortgage payments or dwindling bank accounts—before taking action, drawing parallels between property management, money habits, and even relationships. Using a blend of personal...

On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl brings together four professional short-term rental cleaners from diverse markets—Smoky Mountains, Gulf Shores, and Panama City Beach—to dive deep into the challenges and systems behind running successful cleaning operations. The conversation explores boundaries between cleaning and property management roles, scaling pains, communic...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke hosts a dynamic panel of experienced short-term rental owners to explore the crucial role of cleaners in vacation rental operations. The discussion covers how panelists find and retain reliable cleaners, the pros and cons of small operators versus large cleaning companies, deep clean schedules, linen systems, and how to keep cleaners hap...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke chats with tech professional turned real estate investor Gideon Spencer. Gideon shares his journey from renovating a San Antonio fourplex with his wife to acquiring a 24-key boutique hotel in Solvang, California. He dives into why he favors short-term rentals over long-term tenants, why he hired a VA with a smaller portfolio, and details...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke dives into the current real estate market conditions in spring 2025, highlighting a significant slowdown in home sales, particularly in the vacation rental space. He shares personal insights from his recent property shopping experiences, noting that many 2021-era "COVID hosts" are looking to sell, often at a loss, while new buyers are he...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke discusses the power of brand genericization, focusing on how Airbnb has become synonymous with short-term rentals, much like Kleenex for tissues. He explores why people say they "rented an Airbnb" even if they booked through Vrbo and contrasts this with Zillow, which has not achieved the same linguistic impact despite its dominance in lo...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke discusses the perception of landlords and the misconceptions surrounding property ownership. He reflects on a social media thread filled with anti-landlord sentiment and shares his perspective on what it truly means to be a responsible and caring property owner. Luke emphasizes the importance of providing high-quality homes, excellent cu...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke explores whether short-term rental owners are overcompensating with excessive amenities like fire pits and pickleball courts. He questions whether adding expensive features truly boosts bookings or just increases maintenance headaches and guest complaints. Luke emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between providing value and k...

On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke draws a humorous and insightful comparison between managing short-term rental properties and raising kids. He discusses how both require patience, persistence, and a willingness to take the harder path to achieve success. Through personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the importance of learning from challenges, taking pride in ownership, and...

 On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke dives into what makes a real estate deal and how to find one in today's market. He emphasizes that deals aren’t just sitting around waiting to be snatched up—they require persistence, market knowledge, and a bit of obsession. Luke also discusses how the definition of a “deal” varies depending on individual goals and financial situations...

In this episode, Luke dives into the concept of "Go Day", the day that marks the beginning of the busy season for vacation rentals each year. He discusses how Go Day is crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the year. He shares advice on what property managers should expect during busy season and what kind of occupancy to aim for. Luke also breaks down the different "personalities" of each m...

In this episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke focuses on the best times of year to buy and list a short term rental property. He discusses the cyclical nature of real estate and gives his personal opinion on the best time to buy your next STR. With a staggering 7.7 million listings on Airbnb, this episode explores the dynamics of the market and offers insights for potential investors looki...

In today's episode of Short Term Rental Management, we celebrate the release of a new book, Smarter Short-Term Rentals,  authored by the one and only Avery Carl! Smarter Short-Term Rentals  is a more comprehensive guide compared to her first book, delving deeper into the day-to-day management of rental properties. She is the only author in this asset class to be published by a professional publish...