Ep 271 - Why Your STR Isn’t Making What It Should — And How to Fix It with Mark Lumpkin

Your STR isn’t underperforming by accident — it’s underperforming because of decisions.

In this episode, Chris and E sit down with Mark Lumpkin from STR Cribs, the company behind 500+ STR setups, to break down the real reasons properties fail and what the best operators do differently.

If you’re buying, designing, furnishing, or managing STRs — this is a masterclass in thinking like a pro instead of an amateur.

Inside this episode:

• The biggest mistakes investors make when buying or furnishing STRs

• Why “more amenities” isn’t the answer — strategic amenities are

• How to work with (and filter out) bad owners

• The 80/20 rule for projects, clients, and portfolio performance

• Why elite STR teams operate like “SEAL Team 6”

• How culture, tension, and standards lead to scale

• The future of STR Cribs and Mark’s next business moves

Guest Bio:

Mark Lumpkin helps investors set up highly profitable STRs all over the country.

00:00 – How STR Cribs Started & Grew to 500+ Setups

00:04:45 – Why High-Net-Worth Investors Still Make Rookie Mistakes

00:09:10 – The Amenities Strategy That Actually Drives Bookings

00:13:55 – Institutional Investors vs Mom-and-Pop Operators

00:18:25 – The Problem With Owners Who Want to “Test It First”

00:22:40 – The 80/20 Rule, Pumpkin Planning & Firing Bad Clients

00:27:05 – Sniper vs Machine Gun: How to Focus Your Time as an Operator

00:31:30 – The STR Cribs Hiring Philosophy: SEAL Team 6

00:36:15 – Creating a High-Performance Culture Through Healthy Tension

00:41:50 – What’s Next for STR Cribs & Mark’s Personal Vision

Guest Link:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lumpkin-84b173142/

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