This is work, for sure. You will have headaches and you will (likely) curse. But is it a demonstrably successful way to make money and expand your REI footprint? Absolutely.
Are there folks who are looking to benefit from the interest in the area? Hell, yeah. (I'm one of them! And psssst. so are you if you're looking at picking up a STR property!).
I urge everyone to closely examine the value proposition of any business opportunity / pitch. Of any book, any podcast, and any service. Make sure there's value for both sides... that's the kind of deal you can trust to be more genuine than any get 'rich quick scheme' or some pitch where the person promises huge gains for no work and no risk.
For instance, do I have to travel a bit to get to the Smokies and photograph someone's cabin? You betcha.
Can i pass on the entire cost of that travel time to the customer? Nope (some, but not all by any means)...
But do I benefit from having boots on the ground more often than most STR investors in the area? If I'm conscious about my activities, my observations and my goals, then YES. Can I pass that benefit on to others in a win/win fashion? Again, YES if I think about it and design a conscious, equitable service.
Don't discount someone's message because you think they might be trying to make a buck - that's why we're all here. But do conduct your own research and make sure the value you are likely to receive is worth the asking price.
