#97 - Tips From Someone Who Built a Vacation Rental Business that Manages Over 150 Vacation Rentals - Sarah Bradford

Previous Episode: #96 - A Warrior Mindset - 6 Keys to Achieve Greatness - Sean Patton

Next Episode: #98 - How to Select and Keep Better Tenants with Avail Co-Founder - Laurence Jankelow

Our guest has a lot—and I mean A LOT—of experience in vacation rentals. She co-founded and still owns 2 different vacation rental management companies in Colorado.

Joining me on the podcast today is Sarah Bradford. She and her husband, Chris, run the Winter Park Lodging Company, which now manages over 150 luxury vacation rentals and the Steamboat Lodging Company. She also co-hosts the Sarah and T Podcast together with Tim Cafferty of Outer Banks Blue and Sandbridge Blue.

In this episode, Sarah shares how she started a business around vacation rentals. She then weighs in on online travel agents (OTAs), building a return guest pool, and what businesses can do to recover from tough situations. She also talks about the importance of setting goals and giving incredible customer service.

Tune in to know more about the opportunities in the short-term rental space from a management perspective.

Key Takeaways

[01:58] An overview of Sarah’s real estate journey

[08:55] How her business grew alongside the evolution of OTAs

[13:28] Look at trends in bookings, blast guests with emails every month, and communicate with guests outside of booking platforms

[14:58] Build a website, name your properties, and give your guests positive experiences so that they will be attached to the place

[18:25] On having in-house staff, treating them well, and training them properly

[21:48] How Sarah’s businesses fared during the pandemic

[26:20] Her advice on investing in vacation rentals

[31:48] On dealing with rental property owners, getting into luxury vacation rentals, and trying out new locations

Links

Winter Park Lodging Company - https://www.winterparklodgingcompany.com/

Steamboat Lodging Company - https://www.steamboatlodgingcompany.com/

Sarah and T Podcast - https://sarahandt.com/

Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpWXe2mWqBm5vvbO2R2AdA?sub_confirmation=1

Living Off Rentals Facebook Group - www.facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals

Living Off Rentals Website - www.livingoffrentals.com

Living Off Rentals Instagram - www.instagram.com/livingoffrentals