The Cohost Coach The Cohost coach - Episode #63: Build a Luxury STR Management Business From Scratch - Merritt Harris
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Dec 10, 2025 Merritt Harris, the founder of Merit Badge Property Management, shares his journey from managing long-term rentals to creating a luxury-focused short-term rental business. He reveals the importance of building a robust tech stack and shares insights into growth strategies, including his preference for a centralized market in upstate New York. Merritt discusses moving upmarket, handling difficult property owners, and the value of co-hosting. He emphasizes community collaboration and raises industry standards, reminding aspiring managers to stay persistent on their paths.
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Pivot From Long-Term To STR
- Merritt started in long-term rentals, faced tough tenant laws and evictions in New York, then pivoted to short-term rentals.
- He doubled revenue instantly after furnishing poorly and sharing his journey on social media daily.
Build For Scale From Day One
- Build your systems and tech stack for scale from day one even with one listing.
- Share your journey on social media consistently to attract warm inbound leads.
Dominate One Market
- Centralized teams and market focus simplify operations and improve brand dominance.
- Being the market expert generates mostly warm inbound leads and referral growth.
