✅ FREE tool and training to grade properties instantly & spot winners faster: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader 💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth? Bill and Brea Faeth went $1,000,000 over budget on their Whitefish, Montana property — and they'd do it again without hesitation. In this episode, they break down every dollar spent and exactly why each one was an investment in marketability, not just aesthetics. We get into the property's $2.7M-to-$5.2M value jump, how clearing a chain link fence and a row of maple trees unlocked the direct view of Glacier National Park that led Patryk Swietek to call it the #1 Airbnb in Montana, and the renovation decisions behind the $1.1M spend — from $35,000 in hand-painted murals to $150,000 in electrical to $95,000 in tile. We also talk about Brea's "one piece of jewelry per room" design rule, how she sourced a chandelier from the Kalispell Airport ceiling and tracked it down on Amazon for $200, why they designed every inch of this property for resale and not just STR income, and the 5-year appreciation math on a $5M property that could turn a $3.8M total investment into an $8–9M exit. If you're building an STR business and want to understand how to design and renovate for marketability, long-term wealth, and multiple exit strategies, this one's worth your time. Chapters 00:00 – Bill Faeth Unfiltered with Brea Faeth 00:04 – Yes, They'd Do It Again: How a $1M Over-Budget Reno Created $2.5M in Value 01:36 – What Made Patryk Swietek Call This the #1 Airbnb in Montana 03:28 – "We're Buying Marketability": The Mindset That Justifies Every Big Spend 06:47 – The "One Piece of Jewelry Per Room" Rule That Separates Good STR Design from Great 09:00 – From Kalispell Airport to Amazon: How Brea Found a $5,000 Chandelier for $200 11:13 – Chevron Fireplaces, Plaid Wallpaper, and Using Design to Bring the Sky Inside 13:29 – $35K in Hand-Painted Murals, $150K in Electrical: When to Say Yes to the Big Numbers 17:06 – Three Exit Strategies, Not Just STR: How This Property Is Built to Sell 19:00 – The 5-Year Appreciation Play: Could a $3.8M Investment Become $8–9M? Connect with Bill Faeth 🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73 🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508 🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/ 🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

✅ FREE tool and training to grade properties instantly & spot winners faster: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader

💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth?

Most people overcomplicate success. David Angotti breaks down why making money gets easier once you truly understand risk, build confidence through small wins, and stay consistent longer than everyone else.

We get into hiring, ownership mentality, scaling the right way, and why the last 5% of effort is what separates elite operators from average ones.

We also talk about Vacasa’s transition, fixing guest experience, and how discipline in fitness mirrors discipline in business.

If you’re building an STR business and want to sharpen your mindset, this one’s worth your time.

Chapters

00:00 – Bill Faeth Unfiltered with David Angotti

01:51 – The Small “Taste of Success” That Changes Someone’s Entire Mindset

03:34 – How to Spot True Ownership Mentality Before You Hire

05:40 – The Costco Sample Test: Stop Hiring Without Proof

08:19 – Vacasa’s Massive Shift: Localizing 44,000 Properties

10:37 – Removing Guest Apprehension: The Real Battle Against Hotels

14:58 – The Missed Fear: Guests Don’t Trust Check-In (Here’s How to Fix It)

18:24 – The SmokyMountains.com Playbook: Free Value First, Profit Second

22:05 – How Ultramarathons Built an Elite Business Mindset

32:31 – The 1-Second Decisions That Change Your Life and Your Business

Connect with Bill Faeth

🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73

🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/

🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings! ⁠ Visit stayfi.com/bill and use code "BILL" for an exclusive 50% off your first three months. Landing page: stayfi.com/bill

✅ Shop my favorite amenities for Airbnbs: https://www.amazon.com/shop/billfaeth73

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

✅ FREE masterclass - how to earn $250K+ NET per year from Airbnb:

https://buildstrwealth.com/550250masterclass

✅ FREE tool and training to grade properties instantly & spot winners faster: https://go.buildstrwealth.com/superpropertygrader

✅ FREE community: Join 33K+ hosts growing their wealth with STRs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508/?mibextid=oMANbw

💸Baselane: Get $100 when you sign up and put your rental finances on autopilot—no monthly fees, no stress: https://baselane.com/str-wealth?

I’ve never shown a project like this in so much detail. Soaring Eagle Lodge started as a dated 7,200+ sq ft Golden Girls time capsule and we turned it into a 10-bedroom, multi-revenue mega super property with an STR, luxury wedding venue, and private indoor pickleball club. In this full walkthrough, I break down the design decisions Brea and I made, how we sourced “Restoration Hardware” looks on a HomeGoods budget, how we protected multiple exit strategies, and how we pushed the valuation into the $5M+ range. If you’re trying to understand what intentional design, layout, amenities, and underwriting actually look like in the real world—not theory—you’re going to want to watch this one start to finish.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Soaring Eagle Lodge: From Golden Girls to $5M Mega Property

02:36 – Why Every Design Decision Starts With an Exit Strategy

04:42 – The “Fifth Surface” Rule: How Ceilings Transform a Room

07:13 – Designing With Intention: Views, Value, and Resale Strategy

10:55 – Restoration Hardware on a HomeGoods Budget (Bria’s Sourcing Secrets)

15:18 – The $68K Lesson in Landscaping and Wedding Venue Design

17:10 – Glow-in-the-Dark Game Room: Turning Nostalgia Into Marketing Power

19:09 – How to Build a Movie Theater Without Boxing In Your Exit

22:33 – Designing for Emotion: The Bridal Suite and Ghost Tree Aesthetic

28:39 – How We Added Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and $1.5M in Value

38:52 – Three Revenue Streams, One Property: STR + Venue + Pickleball Club

45:32 – Inside the Super Factory: Building the Ultimate Event and Education Space

Connect with Bill Faeth

🔸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billfaeth73

🔸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/284886002732508

🔸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfaeth/

🔸 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfaeth

Mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by StayFi — the easiest way to grow your direct bookings! ⁠ Visit stayfi.com/bill and use code "BILL" for an exclusive 50% off your first three months.