All Forum Posts by: Nathan W.

I've been in a similar holding pattern. 

I own two cabins that are doing great. I also own a 2 acre view lot between Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley. Someday I want to build on it but the cost to build right now is just insane. I hate having paid for land that's doing nothing but I don't see any other option right now besides selling.

You have to be careful with some of these Spec cabins as well. I had a contract on one for a great price but I ended up having to back out of it because it had foundation, septic, and well issues. 

HostGPO has a 50% off Helix (Retail Prices) offer with free shipping. I used it to buy 3 king mattresses at our last cabin. They are nice and guests like them, but obviously there are much cheaper options on Amazon. 

Helix is always offering a 20-30% discount on their website so it's not a full half off offer but it is still a significant. 
The big difference is there is no 100 night free trial offer. Once you buy it you own it, no refunds accepted. 

I'm in Austin and there is a online mattress showroom that I visited to try out different brands. 

I live in the Austin area and I agree 100% with @Paul Sedillo
I would love to own an STR closer to where I live but I just can't make the numbers works. The properties are expensive, the taxes are HIGH, and the occupancy is low from what I can see.

The first question you have to ask yourself is do you want to be in the hospitality business? 
If so, then you need to do a lot of market research and create a business plan, just like you would with any other business. 

Most people view STRs as a real estate investment and miss that fact that it's a business.

An example of this is when people talk about saturation. If you're running your STR as a real estate investment then you need to worry about saturation because chances are your property is going to look a lot like the there offering on the market. If you're in the hospitality business you'll provide guests with an amazing experience and know how to make your property stand out. If you understand how to do that then you'll rise above competition and market saturation won't matter.

Looking for input on how to handle orphan nights. 

My cabins typically rent in the $400 - $600/night range. I've been reaching out to guests and offering them the chance to add a day to their trip for $250. So far I haven't had much luck. 

What process do you use and how much of a discount do you offer? Thanks.

 I'm sure you're well versed on all this but I love the automation that Remotelock provides. For $6/month per lock I never have to think about it. 

Quote from @Melissa Nash:

I actually removed mine. The reason: because when the wifi goes out, so does the lock and my renters freak out and then I am having to give out my back up code with no wifi. 

So, if you want to do that- make sure you are in an area with strong wifi connection that doesn't go out a lot. My property had issues bc of the desert and wasn't worth the pain. 

Best of luck!!! Melissa

Which door lock where you using? 
I have several Schlage Encode door locks. If we lose power or Internet the door lock still works. I use Remotelock for integration and it sets the door code several days in advance. I do have a physical key onsite in a lockbox as a backup but I've never had to use it. 

Just a quick update on this. 

Although I wish Airbnb had removed the guest when I had asked they did back me up after the guests left. As soon as I filed a Reimbursement Request the guest left me with a 1 star review. Airbnb removed the bad review and approved my full reimbursement request. 

If you talk to HostGPO they will make exceptions. They let me in when I only had one listing. 

They do charge a fee but I saved $4500 on one mattress order so it was well worth it. 

HostGPO and Minoan have some good discounts. Check your area for outlets that may have some less than perfect furniture.