The Landlord Diaries

In this week's riveting episode of Furnished Finder's podcast, The Landlord Diaries, we sit down with Tara Jenkins from Chicago, Illinois. Tara is not only a mother of three with multiple degrees in hospitality, but she also has a profound love for travel. She masterfully manages five hybrid short-term/mid-term rental (STR/MTR) properties—four local and one out-of-state in Palm Harbor, FL.Tune in as we dlve into:A Prime Location: Discover the secrets behind Tara's Wrigley Field 2 bed, 2 bath MTR, commanding $6,000 a month.Luxury and Convenience: Learn about her spacious 4 bed, 3 bath rental with a 2-car garage and EV charging, which pulls in a whopping $11,500 monthly.Booking Strategies: Find out how 40-50% of Tara's MTR bookings are secured through Furnished Finder.Appealing Additions: Understand the impact of adding a charcuterie board and red wine to your property photos.Essential Tools: See why Tara recommends adding CubiCasa to your MTR toolkit.Join us for an episode filled with valuable insights and practical tips that can help transform your rental business. Don't miss out on learning how Tara bounced back from a significant financial loss to create a safer and more profitable landlording strategy!"0:00 Intro2:20 Tara’s real estate journey started w/ a 2 flat unit3:40 Losing $30k in 2 days5:35 Tara’s real estate portfolio6:35 Bigger Pockets books8:30 The ups & downs of real estate investing13:18 Property themes13:40 Wrigley Field 2 bed, 2 bath MTR for $6,000/mo16:50 Norwood Park, Tara’s 2/1 house hack for $4,500/mo19:50 Why the mid-term rental strategy felt safer20:40 North Center 2/1 for $7,000/mo21:35 Chicago seasonal pricing22:20 Spacious 4/3 w/ 2 car garage & EV charging for $11,500/mo26:15 40-50% of Tara’s MTR bookings come from Furnished Finder27:15 Should you drop your price or change up your marketing?32:20 Adding a charcuterie board & red wine to your property photos33:40 The Cycling Mermaid, 4/2 in FL for $7,000/mo35:30 Self managing an out of state property37:45 Hybrid MTR/STR calendar management38:45 CubiCasa43:30 Furnishing a property out of state45:00 HostGPO47:15 An MTR vs. STR marketing advantage50:35 Furnished Finder tips for securing MTR guests during off-seasonWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Tara.Jenkins82 https://www.cubi.casa/ https://hostgpo.com/ The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we recap our key takeaways from the 2024 Mid-Term Rental Summit brought to you by Jesse Vasquez & Furnished Finder. If you missed this one, then we hope you plan to join us next year! Watch your Furnished Finder emails or follow www.MidtermRentalSummit.com.In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries1:20 Why Furnished Finder partners w/ Jesse Vasquez to offer the MTR Summit2:10 Why should you consider the mid-term rental strategy? 3:50 Why Furnished Finder is the go-to place for mid-term rentals5:40 A Sneak Peak At Exclusive Furnished Finder stats6:25 Top mid-term rental markets by demand7:55 Landlord check in, are you doing your best to stand out to travelers?8:15 Furnished Finder is not a set it and forget it platform 8:30 40% of travelers do this…9:05 Only 2/3rds of landlords do this…9:25 Highlight your mid-term rental perks to stand out11:10 Large variety of traveler types12:05 Furnished Finder CEO & President, Jeff Hurst13:35 Jeff wants your feedback!15:25 News stories leading investors toward mid-term rental real estate investing18:40 Why it’s so valuable to be in person at the next MTR Summit 202520:45 MTR is not survival of the fittestWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ Katie’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=katie.lyon8 Kelly Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Kelly*|B. The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Jason & Kellie Davenport will challenge us today to unlock our potential in the mid-term rental space through insurance stays. Their 4 homes on Furnished Finder average $4,000 -$7,000 each in monthly cash flow. Jason & Kellie receive insurance requests from all over the country and have established Vetted Homes to further educate MTR hosts on the topic of insurance stays. In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries2:30 Portfolio of insurance homes3:10 Educating the masses on insurance MTRs3:35 The first insurance stay5:40 Why host Katie Lyon embraces arbitrage6:35 Why many STR operators are adding or moving to MTR7:00 How to help displaced families get back on their feet10:10 Types of homes needed for insurance stays11:40 How to combine Furnished Finder w/ your insurance stays13:35 What motivates MTR hosts?14:10 Types of insurance requests coming through Furnished Finder15:55 What is the average length of insurance stays?17:20 2-3x your rental rates w/ MTR insurance stays20:45 Vetted Homes provides new sheets & towels for each stay24:35 Business strategy for the insurance housing niche26:45 Lead times for mid-term rentals are shockingly short29:10 5 tips for connecting w/ insurance specialists or families29:45 Identifying the right property for insurance clients31:50 What areas are good for insurance stays34:55 Negotiating the deal with insurance relocation agents38:55 Welcome your guests w/ the Furnished Finder House Rules39:55 Kelly & Jason’s welcome guide43:00 Connecting w/ relocations specialists through Furnished Finder44:30 Best practices for Furnished Finder search rankings44:55 Tax benefits, LLC & cost segregation advice48:00 Safety tips, protect your real estate properties55:00 Mid-term rentals can be freedom for your family1:01:05 Connect w/ Jason & KellieWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Join us for a milestone episode of The Landlord Diaries as we celebrate Furnished Finder's 10th anniversary and the exciting journey ahead. In this special 100th episode, meet our new President and CEO, Jeff Hurst, who brings over a decade of experience in the travel technology and rental industry. Jeff shares his vision for the future of Furnished Finder and how we're committed to helping landlords and tenants thrive in the rapidly growing mid-term rental market. Tune in to hear: Jeff’s journey to Furnished Finder and his excitement about the mid-term rental opportunity. Insights into what the Furnished Finder team has been working on for the past six months. What you can expect from us in the coming months to enhance your experience. Immediate actions you can take to prepare for upcoming changes and maximize your success. Whether you're a seasoned landlord or new to the mid-term rental space, this episode is packed with valuable information and actionable tips to help you stay ahead. Listen now to discover how Furnished Finder is evolving and how you can be a part of this exciting future!  ------------------------------In this episode we cover: 0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries 2:20 It’s episode 100!!! 4:05 Why Jeff Hurst joined Furnished Finder 6:10 Why Jeff is primed for CEO & President at Furnished Finder 6:40 Furnished Finder is the best kept secret in real estate 9:35 Who are Furnished Finder landlords? 10:45 Behind the scenes work over the last 7 months 11:30 The new build or remodel analogy 13:15 Listening & learning from our users, we hear you 14:00 Furnished Finder natural beauty analogy 14:50 Jeff's take on our traveler type 16:00 Furnished Finder fills gap housing needs 17:10 The mid-term rental landlord energy is contagious 18:30 Prepare for increased ROI & demand 22:20 Why thousands of landlords love Furnished Finder 22:40 Is Furnished Finder going to turn into another VRBO? 23:35 Is Furnished Finder going to change too much? 24:05 More landlords need to do this... 24:25 Why many MTR operators prefer Furnished Finder to other OTAs 25:35 How should Furnished Finder landlords use the platform best? 28:55 Jeff’s goals & visions for Furnished Finder 30:20 We want your feedback, connect with us! 32:45 When & where will we hear about the next big update?   Episode 100 Blog PostWebsite Links: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/  https://www.keycheck.com/  https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats  https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/  The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we travel to Des Moines, Iowa. We talk with Chris Dickey about his 12+ mid-term rental units & co-ownership in Top Shelf Property Management. At this point in time, Chris advertises his mid-term rentals exclusively on Furnished Finder. In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries2:05 Chris’s journey to real estate & mid-term rentals3:00 Grow with the BRRRR method3:40 Chris’s real estate portfolio & partnerships9:05 Managing your furnishing budget9:45 MTR coaches13:05 Why Chris is exclusively on Furnished Finder17:10 Your KeyCheck toolbox18:30 The KeyCheck live chat is so helpful19:15 The human aspect of communication23:00 The MTR rental flow process25:40 MTR lead time26:05 Responding to all your tenant lead types27:35 Start marketing your MTR before it’s furnished28:20 Kelly’s newest MTR is a 300 sq ft ADU31:20 Advertise ALL your MTRs for cross marketing opportunities32:30 Misfit properties make great mid-term rentals34:10 Mid-term travelers are flexible35:00 Rent income difference between LTR & MTR36:20 MTR guests leave your property better than they found it38:10 Top Shelf Property Management- Around 500 doorsWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ Chris’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Chris_Dickey 7 main properties & 6 unit featuresSocial Media: @ChrisDickeyRealestate https://www.topshelfiowa.com/  The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Stellar Housing Solutions is a mid-term rental company based in New Jersey with 13 active MTRs & 3 managing partners: James Hwang, Frank Louvis and Denis Um. This team has very impressive Furnished Finder guest communication tips we will discuss today including 1) preferred photo order 2) multiple users managing one account 3) well designed message templates & 4) unique video walkthroughs including interior of cabinets & QR codes. 0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries2:45 Stellar Housing Solutions stats3:30 6 signed leases before furnishing is complete!7:10 The value of marketing multiple listings in one area8:15 The creation of Stellar Housing Solutions10:35 13 mid term rentals and growing11:40 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms fully booked14:10 3 bedrooms are often occupied by 1-2 travelers 17:30 Golden Tip: Start marketing your property early on Furnished Finder18:15 Marketing your photos & top amenities properly24:45 Round table discussion about photo order32:00 Unique video walkthroughs including interior of cabinets & QR codes44:50 Multiple users managing one Furnished Finder account46:45 Tip for managing your Tenant Leads on Furnished Finder47:30 Furnished Finder message response preferences49:20 The 3 co-founder roles of Stellar Housing Solutions50:55 Stellar Housing Solutions is a perfect 3 circle venn diagram 53:15 Are you the lone ranger on your MTRs? Catch these tips58:40 Streamline your MTR business w/ KeyCheck’s MTR tools1:00:30 Stellar’s impressive use of Furnished Finder message templates1:04:30 Stellar’s application process starts w/ the very first message1:07:00 Do your guests compliment your communication style?Stellar Housing Solutions on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=James_Hwang Stellar Video Walkthroughs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3hjSIcDq5Uhttps://stellarhousingsolutions.com/help/ge-4-8-cu-ft-all-in-one-washer-dryerThe Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we discuss two main concepts with Saad Dar, his real estate portfolio of around 20 units & his position as Head of Business Development & Partnerships at Baselane, online banking built for real estate investors. Baselane is trusted by over 40,000 landlords. You can earn up to 4.19% APY (Annual % yield), up to 5% cash back, create individual bank accounts for each property and utilize virtual debit cards to pay your contractors. In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries3:15 Saad’s real estate focus is BRRR multi-families mostly in Philadelphia8:25 Why Saad pivoted 3 of his LTRs to MTRs16:10 Adding a multi-family soon that will be 6 MTR suites22:00 Pros & Cons of real estate strategies & what led Saad to MTR28:15 Saad’s experience with Furnished Finder32:30 5 tips to spot check your Furnished Finder account quickly34:25 Baselane Online Banking For Landlords35:40 Automated book keeping by creating virtual accounts & virtual cards36:15 How is your Baselane account protected?38:10 3 Baselane features for Furnished Finder landlords43:05 The benefits of Baselane reporting features47:15 Upcoming 2024 Baselane featuresWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ https://www.baselane.com/ Saad’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=rocket.realty https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-dar-b422301/ 5 Tips To Spot Check Your Furnished Finder Account-Check Edit Listings, Notifications, are unmatched Tenant Lead notifications on?-Have direct messages been addressed?-Have Tenant Leads been opened?-Is the availability date correct?-Are the photos in the correct order?The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

(Part 2) Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh is known as the Luxury Short Term Rental Doctor and her luxury brand is Short Term Gems. Rachel was a speaker at the 2023 Mid-Term Rental Summit and is an expert in the luxury short term, mid term rental space. Rachel has a heart for training busy professionals in how to overcome burnout and change their trajectory with what she calls the “2 Door Strategy” - 1 luxury short term rental + 1 high value mid term rental to maximize your ROI (Return on Investment) & ROE (Return on Energy).In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries2:55 Rather than worrying about vacancies, what’s my biggest ROI?8:05 Screening tenants & MTR turnovers14:15 Mid-term rental check out communication & process18:15 Mid-term hybrid rental setup, bookings & calendars28:50 Rachel’s advice on the value of Furnished Finder for larger properties32:30 Is your property set up properly to WOW your mid-term rental guests?39:50 Are you ready when an insurance rep reaches out?44:20 Are you hesitant to follow up with potential tenants?45:10 Hospitality is such an important part of the mid-term rental business49:30 A “mathletes” advice for analyzing mid-term rental statsWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ https://www.shorttermgems.com/ Rachel’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Jesse.Gainsbrugh Rachel’s training on finding those “Diamond in the rough” STR/MTRs:https://youtu.be/ynCD7DjzMW4?si=nFz5SshRDrSNvLbE https://www.shorttermgems.com/75gems The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

(Part 1) Dr. Rachel Gainsbrugh is known as the Luxury Short Term Rental Doctor and her luxury brand is Short Term Gems. Rachel was a speaker at the 2023 Mid-Term Rental Summit and is an expert in the luxury short term, mid term rental space. Rachel has a heart for training busy professionals in how to overcome burnout and change their trajectory with what she calls the “2 Door Strategy” - 1 luxury short term rental + 1 high value mid term rental to maximize your ROI (Return on Investment) & ROE (Return on Energy).In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries3:35 BURNOUT is real, stop exchanging your hours for dollars4:20 Why Rachel chose short & mid term rentals as her path to freedom6:00 Rachel’s “diamond in the rough” property9:00 Rachel’s portfolio of 22 properties, 8 mid-term rentals, all 4+ bedrooms10:35 Rachel’s “2 Door Strategy”17:10 The 3 C’s of a luxury property 19:55 Why Rachel pursues 4+ bedroom MTR properties26:40 If your luxury properties are not pet friendly, you are leaving money on the table29:55 The appreciation play for larger properties30:40 Rachel’s TV appearance on the Netflix series “Buy My House”33:00 Return metrics: ROI, cash on cash returns, cash flow & price to rent ratio38:10 SNEAK PEAK of how Rachel advises others to find their “2 doors”Website Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ https://www.shorttermgems.com/ Rachel’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Jesse.Gainsbrugh Rachel’s training on finding those “Diamond in the rough” STR/MTRs:https://youtu.be/ynCD7DjzMW4?si=nFz5SshRDrSNvLbE https://www.shorttermgems.com/75gems The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

Today we embrace the value of real estate accountability partners. Jessica Williams is an accountant for Bigger Pockets, realtor & investor with 3 mid-term rentals & 2 short-term rentals.  Jennie Lyday is an RN and real estate investor with 5 mid-term rentals, 7 single family homes & a 16 unit apartment complex. In this episode we cover:0:00 Intro- Welcome to The Landlord Diaries2:00 Jennie & Jessica’s MTR/STR hybrid portfolios4:00 These ladies embrace the RV renting business too!5:40 The MTR/STR hybrid strategy6:25 Accountability partners can be a game changer in real estate8:55 Venturing into the mid-term rental space11:45 Booking your MTR properties before they are even furnished15:35 From self-managing short term rentals to discovering the mid-term rental strategy15:45 Renting one bedroom on Furnished Finder covered Jessica’s entire mortgage17:15 Over 95% of Jessica & Jennie’s MTR bookings come from Furnished Finder29:25 Special touches at the end of a guest’s stay20:15 1 item guests ask for that you may not have…22:45 Utilizing KeyCheck as part of your mid-term rental process24:45 Jessica’s best real estate deal26:50 The power of negotiation & clear communication w/ Tenant Leads27:40 One STR booking doesn’t have to ruin your MTR booking29:10 Was purchasing a property next to an active train a good investment?30:55 Managing life w/ a full-time job & MTR landlording31:25 The value of instant messaging & dynamic pricing32:00 Rest days are super important33:00 Do you have a Google voice # for your rentals?!34:25 The power of partnerships36:15 Invest in really really good photos36:55 Walmart+ is a great tool for mid-term rental operatorsWebsite Links:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ https://www.keycheck.com/ https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources https://www.travelnursehousing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/furnishedfinder.travelnursehousing/ Jennie’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=JennielrnJessica’s Listings on Furnished Finder:https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=KeyworkProperties The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.