
Short Term Rental Management
Welcome to Short Term Rental Management. The show about managing your short term rental from anywhere in the world. Tips in tricks to become a better host. With your host, Luke Carl, a real estate professional that began his career buying short term rentals in vacation markets in order to use the cash flow to purchase long-term rentals. Luke is the proud owner of the longest running “Airbnb” in the Smoky Mountains, and has hosted over 4000 stays in his career. He owns hundreds of units with no partners -including multi-family, single-family long terms, and of course, short term rentals.
Latest episodes

Jul 15, 2025 • 22min
I'm Selling One Of My Vacation Homes
On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke Carl shares a personal milestone—he’s selling one of his vacation rental homes. He opens with a humorous tale about replacing a toilet valve himself, then dives into the reasoning behind the sale, including shifting family preferences, property management logistics, and market timing. Luke reflects on pricing strategy, buyer behavior, and current real estate trends, emphasizing that sellers need to be realistic in 2025's slower market.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

Jul 8, 2025 • 46min
Hospitable Updates
On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke sits down with Miles from Hospitable for an in-depth discussion on the evolution and current state of property management software. They cover Hospitable’s recent dynamic pricing launch, AI-powered tools like the Knowledge Hub and Copilot, and how sentiment analysis is flagging guest issues in real time. The conversation also touches on the growing momentum behind direct bookings and the future of PMS as a “short-term rental super app.”
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

Jul 1, 2025 • 18min
Things That Went Wrong This Week
On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke takes listeners through a string of recent challenges he faced in the world of property ownership—from termites and fire damage to a $46,000 miscommunication with a vendor. He walks through seven issues in total, including an inherited tenant move-out requiring a full unit renovation, a fragrance-sensitive guest, and a collapsing porch post that turned out to be decorative. Through it all, Luke emphasizes the importance of communication and staying resilient as a property owner.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

Jun 24, 2025 • 19min
8 Biggest Mistakes in STR
Dive into the world of short-term rental management as critical mistakes are laid bare. Discover the dangers of rushing into deals and the art of patient investment. Learn how essential clear communication can transform guest experiences and set expectations right. Dive deep into financial pitfalls that every owner should avoid, and understand how organization can pave the way for success. This is a reality check for anyone looking to thrive in the rental market!

Jun 17, 2025 • 53min
Hot Tubs
On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke interviews Ryan Ferguson, an electrician-turned-hot tub repair expert serving East Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. They dive into common hot tub issues in vacation rentals—like economy mode, airlocks, and water damage from improper draining—while sharing maintenance tips, regulatory insights, and hilarious stories involving bears, raccoons, and overloaded tubs. Ryan also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, proper electrical installation, and regular inspection to keep STR hot tubs guest-ready and code-compliant.
How to connect with Ryan:
Website
Phone #: (865) 635-9383
Email: FergusonPM865@gmail.com
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

Jun 10, 2025 • 18min
It's Not a Slot Machine
On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke emphasizes that buying a short-term rental is not a get-rich-quick scheme. He compares unrealistic expectations in real estate to gambling, warning against the “slot machine mentality” of hoping to strike it rich with one or two properties. Instead, he advocates for long-term wealth building through hard work, patience, and realistic expectations—reminding listeners that real estate is slow, steady, and most rewarding when treated as part of a broader, disciplined financial strategy.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

Jun 3, 2025 • 60min
STR Photographs with Mike Sutton
On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke talks with photographer Mike Sutton about what makes great short-term rental photos, especially in the competitive Smoky Mountains market. They discuss the evolution of the vacation rental photography space, how to vet and select a photographer, what types of shots matter most (like twilight, drone, and 3D floor plans), and why authenticity in staging is more important than over-styling. Mike also shares personal insights into raising eight kids, his journey from IT to photography, and how hosts can prepare for seasonal and update sessions the right way.
Check out Mike's portfolio:
https://mikesuttonjr.com/
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

May 27, 2025 • 12min
Think Bigger
On this week’s episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke urges listeners to stop sweating the small stuff and start thinking bigger when it comes to real estate. He challenges the mindset that sees individual homes as overwhelming burdens, encouraging investors to reframe their approach, embrace growth, and chase larger opportunities like hotels or syndications instead of fixating on minor maintenance issues.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

May 20, 2025 • 14min
You're Losing Money Because Your Couch is the Wrong Color
On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke emphasizes that poor bookings aren't due to superficial issues like couch color, but rather a lack of attention to pricing strategy and calendar management. He encourages hosts to stop blaming external factors like Airbnb updates and instead adopt “extreme ownership,” taking responsibility by learning proper pricing tools and consistently optimizing their listings.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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

May 13, 2025 • 25min
Open Mic
On this week's episode of Short Term Rental Management, Luke responds candidly to some negative Facebook comments, defends his commitment to helping others succeed, and champions positivity over online drama. He shares personal stories, rental management lessons, and reflections on property investing trade-offs—emphasizing patience, consistency, and mindset when pursuing real estate deals, especially in the vacation rental space.
How to connect with Luke:
The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us 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