289. Lydia Patel’s Playbook for Smarter STR Systems
Release Date: 05/23/2025
314. The Hidden Costs of Quitting Airbnb (My True Story)
Short Term Rental Riches
Is Airbnb still worth it? In this episode, Tim shares why he took one of his short-term rentals offline—revealing the real earnings, tenant conflicts, and whether switching to a long-term tenant paid off. If you're facing STR fatigue or weighing your rental options, this candid story may change your strategy. • Why a small studio in Memphis seemed like the perfect STR… until it wasn’t • The hidden management headaches of mixing short- and long-term tenants • How STR market saturation quietly crushed revenue expectations • Why a midterm rental wasn’t the right solution this time...
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313. Hospitable CEO: How we Manage $5B in Annual Reservations
Short Term Rental Riches
In this episode of the Short-Term Rental Riches podcast, Tim sits down with Pierre, the CEO of Hospitable, a leading property management software that powers hundreds of thousands of properties across the globe. Pierre shares the story behind Hospitable’s founding, its incredible growth over the last nine years, and the unique challenges they’ve overcome to help property managers automate and streamline their operations. Origin Story of Hospitable From 0 to over $5B in reservation revenue AI vs. Human Touch in Hospitality Impact of Dynamic Pricing and Automation The Future of...
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312. 7 Winter Safety Checks Every Airbnb Hosts Needs
Short Term Rental Riches
Winter is here—and so are the risks and expectations that come with cold-weather hosting. From fireplaces to frozen sidewalks, the season can be a liability minefield for short-term rental owners. In this episode, we walk through your essential winter checklist to keep guests cozy and your property protected. Stay tuned—it’s more than just turning up the heat. - Why swapping out your traditional fireplace might save you a major insurance headache - How your kitchen setup could be silently tanking your reviews—and what to do about it - The real risk of winter slips and falls (and the...
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311. How Smart Hosts Use Promos (Airbnb Vs. Booking.com Vs. VRBO)
Short Term Rental Riches
Platform promotions are everywhere right now, but are they actually helping your short-term rental business, or just draining your profits? In this episode, we dig into the truth behind Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com discounts, uncovering how they work and how you can use them strategically without sacrificing revenue. Learn how to stand out in search results without slashing your nightly rate. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • How Airbnb’s early bird, last-minute, and length-of-stay discounts really impact visibility • The “new listing” discount every OTA is pushing—and...
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310. Airbnb’s 15.5% Commission: What Hosts Need to Do Now
Short Term Rental Riches
If you’ve ever wondered how Airbnb’s commission changes will impact your short-term rental business, this episode is for you. We break down what you need to know about the new guest service fee changes, and how to adjust your pricing to protect your profits. Get ready to make sure your property stays competitive, no matter the changes. • Discover why Airbnb is shifting the guest service fee to hosts and what this means for your bottom line. • How to mark up your prices by the right percentage to ensure you earn the same amount you do now. • Why hosts with PMS connections need to...
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309. Furnished Finder CEO: The Future of STR Is Mid-Term
Short Term Rental Riches
If you’ve ever wondered how to profit from real estate without jumping through short-term rental hoops, this episode is for you. CEO of Furnish Finder, Jeff Hurst, shares how midterm rentals are solving affordability and regulatory issues—and why they're becoming one of the hottest trends in housing. Get ready to rethink your rental strategy. • Discover how Furnish Finder is quietly dominating the 30+ day rental space—more listings than Airbnb for monthly stays! • Why midterm rentals are booming—and what tenant types are driving demand in 2025. • Jeff Hurst's insider take on why...
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308. Use these 9 Red Flags to Avoid Problem Guests
Short Term Rental Riches
Are you spotting red flag guests before they check in? Managing guest bookings effectively is key to running a smooth short-term rental business. In this episode, we reveal 9 red flags to look out for when screening guests — and how to avoid problematic stays before they happen. Discover the 9 red flags that could indicate a difficult guest. Learn why incomplete profiles and lack of communication are immediate red flags. Understand why last-minute bookings could signal trouble for your property. Hear how pushing boundaries on your house rules could lead to bigger issues. Get tips on...
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307. The Ultimate Stripe Guide for Vacation Rental Hosts
Short Term Rental Riches
Are hidden Stripe fees eating into your profits? Most short-term rental hosts don’t realize they’re losing up to 1% on every transaction — and it’s totally avoidable. In this episode, we uncover the overlooked costs tied to Stripe integrations and reveal the simple steps to keep more of your earnings. Discover how most hosts are unknowingly paying 30% more in transaction fees Learn the biggest mistake hosts make when setting up Stripe (and how to fix it!) Understand the sneaky “application fee” your PMS might be charging you Get the inside scoop on ChargeAutomation and other...
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306. Airbnb Discount Requests: How Hosts Should Handle Them
Short Term Rental Riches
Discount requests from guests are inevitable, even when your pricing is perfectly optimized. But how you handle them can make or break your rental’s profitability. In this episode, we’re diving into the psychology behind discount requests, how to respond with confidence, and when—if ever—you should say yes. 5 Key Takeaways: Why guests really ask for discounts and how cultural norms may influence their behavior. The one scenario where offering a discount might make sense (and when it doesn’t). 5 crucial considerations before you ever offer a discounted rate—including a warning on...
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305. How to Get Airbnb's Guest Favorite Badge (& Rank Higher)
Short Term Rental Riches
Airbnb recently shook up its search rankings—and if you're still focused on Superhost status, you might be missing out. In this episode, we unpack the Guest Favorite Badge, Airbnb’s new trust signal that can directly impact your bookings, revenue, and visibility. Find out what it takes to earn it and why it’s more important than ever. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why Airbnb replaced the Superhost filter with the Guest Favorite Badge—and what that means for you • The 4 exact requirements to qualify (including the one most hosts overlook) • How this badge can skyrocket...
info_outlineHow do you build a short-term rental business when you have kids, a full-time job, and almost no time?
In this episode, we break down a real story. I interview Lydia and unpack her journey, the systems she uses, and the lessons she wishes every host knew from the beginning. Discover the lessons every host should hear before starting.
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How Lydia scaled from backyard host to full-time STR owner in Florida
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Choosing the right market remotely and why it matters
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Tools Lydia uses to stay organized: ClickUp, Asana, Structured App
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Finding a reliable local assistant on Upwork
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How she keeps operations smooth—even during travel
This episode is proof that a stress-free, family-friendly STR business is possible, even across state lines. If Lydia can do it with kids, a full-time job, and limited time, so can you. Tune in, get inspired, and take that next step toward building your dream short-term rental setup.
You're not going to want to miss this one.