No Vacancy The Podcast with Natalie Palmer

Podcast Producer: Kelsey Tran | kelsey@hospitality.fm

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120. "This is How I'm Doubling My Money Every 3 Years" - Interview with Kassidy Warren Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

This week I sit down with Kassidy Warren, who went from renting a room in his house for $35/night, to now having an STR portfolio worth $12million. He also just recently pivoted into boutique hotels, and outlines his plan to achieve a $100million net worth in the next 5 years.

I loved Kassidy's transparency in this conversation – he held nothing back and spills all the tea that has helped him reach success. SO MUCH of what he shares is advice I have NEVER heard from a podcast guest before! This is an episode that will really challenge how you've been approaching STRs, and will leave you thinking for a long time after you listen.

Connect with Kassidy @qkassidyw

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Start Your Airbnb

Podcast Producer: Kelsey Tran | kelsey@hospitality.fm

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119. “I Started My Business After Watching Ozark” - Interview with Jeremy Werden Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I interview Jeremy Werden, Co-Founder of BNBCalc and host of the STR Pros Podcast. Jeremy shares his unique journey into the short-term rental market from a boat rental business during the COVID-19 pandemic to managing a successful property portfolio. Key topics include overcoming financing challenges, the benefits of using BNBCalc for property investment analysis, and best practices for Airbnb hosting. Emphasizing the pitfalls of extra guest fees and the misuse of entry locks, the discussion offers practical advice for clear communication, simplified policies, and optimized guest experiences. This episode is packed with insights for both new and experienced investors and hosts.

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Podcast Producer: Kelsey Tran | kelsey@hospitality.fm

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118. Girl, Your Finances Are a Mess… Interview with Baselane Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Welcome, and thanks for checking in today to No Vacancy The Podcast!

baselane.com

Natalie sits down with Matias Korter and Saad Dar from Baselane to explore the features and benefits of their real estate investment management platform. Matias, CEO and co-founder, discusses his background in financial services and real estate, and the inspiration behind Baselane, emphasizing its core aims: saving time, providing visibility and control, and aiding growth for real estate investors. Saad Dar, leading business development and partnerships, shares his transition from frustration over the lack of integrated technology in real estate investing to contributing to Baselane. The conversation reveals Baselane's comprehensive approach in addressing the specific needs of landlords by streamlining bookkeeping, banking, and reporting — thereby maximizing passive income. Features discussed include automated categorizations, virtual debit cards for managing expenses, high APY on deposits, cashback rewards, and upcoming functionalities like automated transfers and multi-user access. The platform's dedication to real estate specificity and user feedback to constantly upgrade its services is highlighted. Listeners are guided on how to easily sign up and begin utilizing Baselane to optimize their real estate business operations.

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Zach's episode with AirDNA's Jamie Lane

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117. "We Track Thousands of Guests and THIS is What Most of Them Are Looking For" - Interview with StayWatch's Zach Busekrus Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

This week I sit down with Zach Busekrus of StayWatch (formerly known as Sponstayneous), and the host of the Behind The Stays podcast!

What is StayWatch? Think of it like Google Flight Alerts but for Airbnbs! Guests who love to travel can join the StayWatch newsletter and set filters around their favorite destinations and property size, and when listings that meet that criteria are still available last minute, guests get notified. Zach talks to us about how we can increase bookings as hosts by implementing StayWatch into our booking strategy.

He also shares some insightful stats about which places he's noticing that guests are most interested in traveling to, and what sort of properties guests are looking for!

Connect with Zach

Listen to episode 55 with Zach

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116. Confession: I've Been a Sh*t Host. I Will Never Treat My Guests Like This Again. Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

This week I'm reacting to a hilarious segment from Tim Dillon's show. He calls out a ton of BS in the retail industry, and as I listened I couldn't help but realize how much of this behavior hosts are also guilty of... MYSELF INCLUDED.

I'm confessing some cardinal hosting sins I've committed and vowing to never be that kind of host again!!!

👉🏼 I'll be in San Diego next week (July 8-9th) as a speaker at the STR Nation conference!

⏰ Hurry! Use code NATALIE to save $100 on your ticket.

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115. Hospitality Secrets The Ritz Doesn’t Want You to Know - Interview with Katie Cline Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

This week Katie Cline shares her extensive background in luxury hospitality, having worked with top-notch hotels like Ritz Carlton and W Hotels. Katie discusses her pivot into the STR market and offers valuable lessons on applying five-star hospitality standards to STRs. Learn about the importance of design narratives, professional photos, and understanding your guest avatar. Katie reveals how STRs can compete with hotels, create exceptional experiences, and build a loyal customer base. Connect with Katie and explore how branding and targeted marketing can elevate your STR game.

Download this exclusive worksheet on building your own brand for No Vacancy listeners!

Connect with Katie

@bykatiecline | www.bykatiecline.com

@troutlanding | www.trout-landing.com

@gallantfoxsaratoga

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114. He Turned a $120,000 Plot of Land Into a $7 Million A-Frame Village - Interview with Isaac French Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of 'No Vacancy the Podcast,' Natalie brings on Isaac French, the visionary and creator behind Live Oak Lake, a stunning seven-cabin landscape hotel in Texas. Isaac shares his remarkable journey from finding the perfect piece of raw land on Zillow to building and eventually selling the property for an astonishing $7 million. He delves into the financials, design choices, challenges, and successes he encountered along the way. This episode provides insightful details about the value of building an engaged audience, leveraging social media for direct bookings, and running a highly profitable short-term rental property. The podcast concludes with valuable tips for aspiring vacation rental hosts and a segment where Natalie addresses an 'Am I the Airbnb Hole' query about guests asking for discounts.

00:00 Welcome to No Vacancy Podcast

00:31 Simplifying Short-Term Rental Setup with Host GPO

01:30 Introducing Isaac French and Live Oak Lake

02:48 Isaac's Journey: From Concept to Creation

04:25 Finding the Perfect Property

04:44 Financing and Building Live Oak Lake

06:10 Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success

16:40 The Power of Direct Bookings and Social Media

24:29 Navigating Financials and Scaling the Business

33:25 Emotional Connection and Bittersweet Decisions

33:38 Unexpected Offers and Appraisal Challenges

35:44 Negotiations and Closing the Deal

37:05 Investor Satisfaction and Profit Breakdown

38:22 Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans

41:04 Building a Community and Sharing Knowledge

52:33 The Importance of Unique Vision in Hospitality

58:27 Closing Remarks and Future Projects

01:01:34 Am I the Airbnb Hole?

Connect with Isaac at these links:

Isaac's Instagram

Website

YouTube

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hostedbythewebers.com | @hostedbythewebers

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113. Stop Making These Airbnb Marketing Mistakes - Interview with Steph Weber Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Welcome, and thanks for checking in today to No Vacancy The Podcast!

This week I sit down with Steph Weber of The Weber Co and the visionary behind Cabins on the Cumberland. Steph has an extensive background in entrepreneurship, marketing, and branding, with an emphasis in influencer marketing. When she finally discovered the world of short-term rentals, she jumped all in and applied her marketing background to build a 6-figure cohosting biz in just 12 months – with a baby and a 3 year old!

Today she shares with us what hosts should be doing to navigate the changing Airbnb landscape, and she breaks down the vision of the riverfront/9acre/11cabin/event venue she's building with partners in rural Kentucky. I loved hearing her exact marketing plans for this new project, and getting all the juicy, REAL marketing tactics from her, not just general advice.

Connect with Steph at these links:

theweberco.com | @theweberco

cabinsonthecumberland.com | @cabinsonthecumberland

Until August 1st, DM the word PODCAST @theweberco to get $500 off any branding, marketing, or design service through The Weber Co!

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112. Have Bookings Dropped? This Little Device is the Answer! Interview with StayFi Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Welcome, and thanks for checking in today to No Vacancy The Podcast!

On today's episode of No Vacancy, I sit down to chat with Arthur Colker, CEO and founder of StayFi. This little device gets added to your wifi setup in your Airbnb listing, and simply requires that all guests input their email before gaining wifi access – yup, just like hotels and coffee shops!

Sounds simple, but the possibilities this has for increasing bookings and guest experience are endless. Arthur walks us through each and every creative way he's found for StayFi to elevate your entire hosting operation. By the end of this episode, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

Give StayFi a try | Use Code NOVACANCY to Get 50% Off Your First 3 Months

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