Once I close, I will be taking my team of engineer, inspector, electrician, and designer to the property to help measure out rooms and develop a new floor plan.

@Jason Turgeon Good question, So the simple answers are design and location. 

For a rental that is a nice building, modern features, contemporary design - it tell's their friends who they are.THREE: new - smells new, looks new and feels new.

Most if not all successful investors, even if they don't have someone in the field that they look up to and learn from have people like lawyers, contractors, designers, real estate agents, etc. that they work with.

Good for you helping her out - and posting the message on your Web site.

I realize branding and website design are not everyone’s forte, but considering the intermediaries feel completely justified taking a 10-20% cut to host a one page property profile and send in a tax form for you, it seems logical for many STR owners to try and redirect repeat guests to a site you own and control directly.

Hi Keyoddie, The tax record for the property on the county web site will have a property address and also a mailing address. 

When that happens, I will require guests there to do the same as the AirBNB guests, visit my web site and digitally sign the renter agreement before access instructions are released.

I have only managed to get a response from one contractor and the design firm they are associated with. 

., to find inexpensive furnishings that fit into a design aesthetic that would draw good rent.).