On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Nick Hausmann, a short-term rental investor and co-host who built a vacation rental in Fort Morgan, Alabama, from 800 miles away. Nick shares the challenges of his first remote construction project, including a nine-month permitting process, his original builder going bankrupt, lost funds, and a project that stretched from an expected nine months to 22 months. Despite the setbacks, his property generated $150,000 in gross revenue during its first year, and he discusses how a refinance allowed him to recapture nearly all of his original down payment. Nick and Avery also talk about the realities of building remotely, researching contractors, navigating land restrictions and setbacks, and standing out in the competitive Gulf Shores market without spending a fortune. Finally, Nick explains his approach to guest experience, why he believes the area has strong investment potential, and how he plans to use his growing co-hosting business to fund future builds and eventually leave his nursing career.

Connect with Nick:

www.brighthausstays.com
Facebook: Bright Haus Stays
IG: @BrightHausStays

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The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
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For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Chantell Hammond, founder of Strategy Square, to discuss how short-term rental owners and property managers can grow their businesses through smarter marketing and direct booking strategies. Chantell explains why hosts should stop chasing every new social media trend, marketing tactic, or AI tool and instead look for clues within their own businesses to determine what will actually drive results. She shares how understanding your ideal guest’s motivations can shape everything from property design and marketing messaging to email campaigns, targeted ads, and partnerships with local businesses. Chantell also explains why building an email list and cultivating relationships with local event organizers can create valuable direct booking opportunities, emphasizing that sustainable growth requires intentional effort rather than chasing shortcuts.

Connect with Chantell:

www.strategysquare.co

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The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
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Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Jamie Folk, a short-term rental investor who owns properties in New Jersey, Maine, and Orlando, Florida. Jamie shares how he acquired an established waterfront rental in Maine that grossed over $100,000 in his first six months of ownership, then purchased a nine-bedroom, themed Orlando vacation home for $980,000 that brought in roughly $70,000–$80,000 in its first few months. He and Avery discuss why Orlando may offer significant opportunities despite concerns about oversaturation, how to stand out with themed bedrooms and standout amenities, and why negotiating on properties that have been sitting on the market can pay off. Jamie also breaks down his experience financing a rental property with an SBA loan, including the lengthy approval process, and explains why he recommends buying an established rental business with a proven track record rather than starting from scratch.

Connect with Jamie:

Talley's Corner Properties

https://www.airbnb.com/hosting/listings/editor/1438369068791073881/view-your-space

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1463233960241486611?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=87228e3a-7279-4ca2-a28c-1800d1939380

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1648835351281876391?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=471021dd-c32d-46bb-80fd-bd9a926a581c

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Pam Knudsen of Avalara to break down one of the least exciting but most important parts of running a short term rental: staying compliant with lodging and occupancy taxes. Pam explains why STR tax requirements can vary across states, counties, cities, and special jurisdictions, and why using Airbnb, Vrbo, or a property manager does not necessarily mean all of your tax obligations are being handled for you. She also discusses how jurisdictions are using technology and data to identify unlicensed rentals and unpaid taxes, making compliance more important than ever. Avery and Pam walk through how MyLodgeTax helps owners manage licensing, tax calculations, filings, payments, and renewals, while also covering common mistakes, direct bookings, and what can happen when an owner operates outside the rules.

Connect with Pam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamknudsen/
https://www.avalara.com/us/en/index.html

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
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Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Margot Schmorak, CEO and co-founder of Hostfully, joins the show to discuss how property management software is evolving and what hosts should look for when choosing a PMS. She covers Hostfully’s latest developments in home automation, damage protection, accounting, and AI-powered guest communication, including AI that can handle routine guest questions and flag issues that require a host’s attention. Margot also shares why proper onboarding, configuration, and ongoing management are essential to getting the most out of any software platform, along with her advice for creating a better guest experience and growing a short-term rental business.

Connect with Margot:

Hostfully.com

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
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Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Christian Walston, an engineer and real estate investor who turned an accidental introduction to short term rentals into a successful investment in the Orlando market. Christian shares how he went from buying his first long term rental for just $33,000 to purchasing a seven-bedroom vacation rental near Disney, which has already exceeded its conservative first-year revenue projections. He breaks down the property's $700,000 purchase price, $75,000 in theming and game-room upgrades, and why he believes Orlando's reputation for oversaturation is overlooking the market's massive tourism demand. Christian also shares the wild story of a guest discovering a disconnected camera hidden in a bedroom, which temporarily led Airbnb to suspend his listing, and discusses what the experience taught him about documenting issues and having a strong support network.

Connect with Christian:

https://walstonwindsorhills.directstays.com/

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
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Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Avery is joined by Ben Levy, co-founder and CEO of Localbird, to discuss how short term rental hosts can turn local experiences into an additional revenue stream. Ben shares how a frustrating vacation in Hawaii inspired him to build a concierge platform that makes everything from private chefs and massages to tours, transportation, and rentals easier for guests to discover and book. He explains how Local Bird partners with hosts through revenue sharing, integrates with property management software, and uses personalized, timely recommendations to help hosts capture more of their guests’ spending while providing a better hospitality experience. Avery and Ben also discuss why premium properties have an especially strong opportunity to monetize experiences, how AI is making personalized concierge service scalable, and why responding quickly to guest requests can make a major difference in conversions.

Connect with Ben:

https://www.localbird.com/

https://www.localbird.com/pages/STR-experiences-2026

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
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Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Avery is joined by Melissa Nash, founder of Passively Rich with Rentals, to discuss how she built a portfolio of 20 rental properties after starting with just a $15,000 investment. Melissa shares how she uses short-term rentals to make markets like Southern California work, including buying properties that need some attention, turning them into profitable vacation rentals, and even selling them as turnkey businesses. She also explains her “lazy investor” method, why she prioritizes systems and time freedom, and how knowing your target guest can be more valuable than simply trying to maximize the number of people a property sleeps. Avery and Melissa also dive into realistic investment expectations, the importance of understanding your goals, and why consistent “base hits” can build a stronger portfolio than chasing one huge deal.

Connect with Melissa:

https://www.passivelyrichwithrentals.com/

Connect with us:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
https://stsplus.com/
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon