All Forum Posts by: Andy Kessler

I have the 50 with booster (mixing valve) and no issues after adding it.  Sleeps 8.  

I’m a save your cash guy Kyle. 

As to regulations, look for areas not controlled by the city of Savannah. The one I referenced is in Thunderbolt which is currently STR friendly.

I recently helped a family member convert a LTR to STR and she is having no issues getting bookings as a new host. This is with using just one platform and Pricelabs for pricing. Not the beach or historic area, just a good location between the two. Probably around 70-75% occupancy currently and making 3-4 times the LTR rate.

However, it all depends on how much you need to invest. She was lucky enough to buy back before prices went crazy. 

I guess what I’m telling you is I think the market is fine and it will always do well because of the historic area and the beach. The problem is finding someone to sell at a price that makes sense because there aren’t lots sitting around to develop. Also I would not do a Beach condo.   They are a dime a dozen and very seasonal. 

Definitely a bummer and cuts into profits unless you create a fee to offset. 

@Luke Carl

Yeah I think that’s the best approach as well.

I recently helped a family member set up their property as an STR on VRBO. I was trying to subscribe them to the VRBO annual subscription, but there was no option.

She called VRBO and they told her they stopped it due to COVID and when they offer it again, it will be by invitation only. 

This does not sound right and I have searched around and found nothing on it. Has anyone ran into thiS issue on a new VRBO account set up?

I’m thinking she need to call back and see if she gets a different answer. 

Try to partner up with someone who is already in the market. Sometimes real estate agents/builders will have clients willing to share info. They may not share intimate details, but I have found most times they will share at a high level. 

Looking at Airbnb and VRBO as a body of data isn’t bad, but as some have mentioned it’s not reliable at a listing to listing perspective. Way too many variables come into play...

Roku TVs with cable and you bring your own account. No complaints to date. 

A neat feature with xfinity (no I don’t work there 😀) is the voice remote and once you have one box you can stream the service to the rest of your TVs cutting down the cost of extra cable drops. 

Ditto what John and Ken said. It was the best real estate decision I ever made buying a vacation rental. 

I owned a house in Savannah that was left to me as an inheritance and considered making it into an STR, but ended up selling it and paying off a real estate loan.

I had no idea at the time I was going to get into the vacation rental market, but by chance a friend got into it and was doing well. I listened, worked the numbers and took a chance. 

Ultimately you have to take that chance.  I know several people who had the same information and means as me but just couldn’t pull the trigger. Do your research, find a mentor or professional to give you good advice, listen and then pull the trigger.