Short Term Rental Secrets Podcast

5 Years. 180 Properties. 36 People. Aidan Groll on Building a Real STR Management Company

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids, talk to us: http://strsecrets.com/applyIf you want us to review your listing, org chart, pricing or anything related to STR business, join here:➡ https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsMost STR companies obsess over guest reviews.Blue Gems obsesses over owner profitability.And they grew to 180 properties under management doing it.In this episode, recorded live at the Freedom Factory in Beverly, MA, E and Chris sits down with Aidan Groll — co-founder of Blue Gems Management, one of Florida's fastest-growing STR companies. Aidan and his partner JB manage 180+ properties across Orlando and Clearwater Beach with a 36-person team — and grew almost entirely through organic relationships, not paid ads.In this episode Aidan breaks down:- How he went from a corporate accounting job to buying his first duplex in March 2020- How a 400 sq ft backyard ADU made $50K in its first year and convinced him to go all in on STRs- Why Blue Gems puts owners 70% over guests — and how they pitch that to new clients- Their full org chart at 180 units: 14 in maintenance, 7 in guest experience, 3 in sales and more- Why they do ALL maintenance in-house — and why speed was the deciding factor- How they automated 70% of guest communication with AI in the last year- Their 7-day contract-to-live-listing goal and how they hit it consistently- How they choose markets based on regulatory stability — not just cash flow- Why they shut down their podcast and social media for 2+ years to focus on growth- Their plan to reach 350-400 units through acquisitions of smaller operators- The Valley of Disappointment — and why most people quit right before it gets good- Aidan's #1 secret to STR success: patienceThis is a masterclass in building a real, scalable STR management business.---About Aidan Groll:Aidan Groll is the co-founder of Blue Gems Management, an Orlando-based vacation rental management company that has grown to oversee 180+ properties across Florida. Originally a real estate investor with a background in corporate accounting, Aidan and his business partner JB pivoted to short-term rentals in late 2021 — building their own management infrastructure before opening to third-party clients in early 2023. Since then, Blue Gems has scaled to a 36-person team with full in-house maintenance operations, serving property owners across Orlando and Clearwater Beach.Time Stamps:0:00 - intro0:54 - Introducing Aidan Groll and Blue Gems Management1:28 - What Blue Gems Does Differently (Owner-First Philosophy)4:14 - The Real Cost of Building This Business5:08 - Aidan's Origin Story: From Accounting Job to House Hacking in 20207:54 - The $50K ADU That Changed Everything9:10 - Scaling to 180 Properties: How Blue Gems Grew Without Paid Ads10:46 - The Contrarian Take: Why They Don't Chase 5-Star Reviews13:46 - How to Pitch the Owner-First Model to New Clients18:26 - Inside the Org Chart: 36 People, 180 Properties20:08 - Why They Do All Maintenance In-House25:38 - How AI Automated 70% of Guest Communication29:54 - From Signed Contract to Live Listing in 7 Days31:18 - How to Choose Markets Based on Regulatory Stability36:49 - Why Aidan Is Selling His Portfolio to Bet on the Management Company40:41 - The Real Cost of Building This Business43:59 - The Future: 350+ Units and Acquiring Smaller Operators47:15 - Aidan's #1 Secret to STR SuccessConnect with Aidan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidangroll/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-grollEmail: aidan@bluegems.group📲 Connect with STR Secrets:Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookSTR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsSTR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcast

We Pulled Up 2 Real Airbnb Listings and Told Them Everything That's Wrong | STR Portfolio Clinic #1

Resources mentioned in this episode are available at: strsecrets.com/clinic If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/applyIf you want to join these live trainings:https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsThis is the first episode of the STR Portfolio Clinic. A brand new series where me and Mike Sjogren pull up real STR listings on screen and diagnose what's working and what's not. Live. In front of everyone. No filter.This episode is all about listings.We reviewed two real Airbnb properties from operators who volunteered to put their listings on the hot seat.First up is a brand new beach cottage in Oak Island, North Carolina. Second row from the ocean. Clean listing. But nobody's clicking on it. We broke down why and gave the owner a full game plan on the spot.Then we pulled up a riverfront property in Murphy, North Carolina. Fly fishing right off the deck. Beautiful area. Went an entire summer with zero bookings. It took about 10 seconds to see what was wrong.We also break down the ALE framework which stands for amenities, location, and experiences. This is the framework behind how we build listings across 30+ properties that generated over $5M in bookings last year.If your listing has been sitting or your bookings have slowed down, this episode will show you exactly what to fix and in what order.Want your listing or business reviewed on a future episode? Drop CLINIC in our DMsTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - What is the Portfolio Clinic0:55 - The ALE Framework: Amenities, Location, Experiences4:17 - Listing Review #1: Beach Cottage in Oak Island, NC5:09 - Photo feedback: It's clean but it's too white6:31 - How to use AI for sunset and lifestyle shots7:15 - Staging amenities: Reilly's beach property example8:41 - Who's your avatar and why it changes your photos9:12 - Sjogren: The wizard room hero image strategy10:33 - Using ChatGPT to create twilight shots11:38 - Interior updates vs working with what you have12:47 - Getting five star reviews on a new listing13:52 - The combined listing strategy for side by side properties16:58 - Aerial shot hack to show both properties17:48 - Listing Review #2: Riverfront A-Frame in Murphy, NC18:16 - Sjogren's first reaction: "I don't love this first photo"19:04 - Andy's story: Zero bookings since launch19:56 - Why you need to relaunch dead listings20:35 - Phone photos are killing your listing21:24 - What lifestyle photos this property actually needs22:47 - Comp analysis: What top properties in Murphy look like25:02 - Brutal feedback: The photos make it look dark and dated26:35 - Staging the deck and outdoor space28:41 - The game plan: Photos, relaunch, pricing, reviews29:42 - The Airbnb new listing push and why Andy missed it30:09 - Small changes that pay for themselves in one night30:47 - Insurance and liability for offering amenities33:23 - Bonus: Quick review of Christie's listing35:40 - What's coming next and the Freedom Factory event

Why You Keep Self-Sabotaging Even When You Know Exactly What to Do

YOUTUBE DESCRIPTIONMost people end Q1 the same way they started it.Behind on goals. Ahead on excuses.In this solo episode, E breaks down why that happens — and what to actually do about it before Q2 starts.This isn't a motivational pep talk.It's a direct, honest look at the real reason you keep self-sabotaging — even when you know exactly what you need to do.In this episode, E covers:- Why the brain doesn't perceive time as time — and what that means for how you're living- Tony Robbins' 3 S's framework: State → Story → Systems (and why you're skipping the first two)- The 5 core wounds that create self-sabotage: rejection, abandonment, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice- The difference between being self-centered vs. self-aware — and why it changes everything- The belief thermostat: why you always reduce yourself back to what you think you're worth- 3 questions to ask yourself right now as you close out Q1- The one question E asks himself that "terrifies the shit out of him" — and keeps him movingIf the year hasn't gone the way you planned — this episode is the reset you need.📲 Connect with STR Secrets:Free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookSTR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsApply to work with us: https://strsecrets.com/applySTR Secrets Podcast: https://strsecrets.com/podcastTimestamps:0:00 - Intro2:09 - Q1 Check-In: Are You Still Holding Your Standards?3:57 - Why Time Feels Like It's Running Away (The Science of Memory Markers)6:13 - Stop Just Learning — Start Experimenting7:13 - Tony Robbins' 3 S's: State, Story, and Systems9:23 - Why Mindset Work Alone Keeps Failing You9:47 - The 5 Core Wounds Behind Every Self-Sabotage Pattern11:23 - How Your Brain's 3 Layers Are Keeping You Stuck13:38 - Self-Centered vs. Self-Aware: The Shift That Changes Everything15:37 - The Belief Thermostat: Why You Keep Reducing Yourself17:05 - Your Honest Q1 Review: Facts Only, No Stories18:38 - 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Q2 Starts20:33 - Nobody Is Coming to Save You22:56 - "Is This the Final Version of You?"

Your Listings Are Dying on Airbnb — Here's Exactly How to Fix It with Maryann Wahhab

If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/applyCheck out our free 6 step course: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookIf you want to join these live trainings:https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsIf your listings aren't getting booked right now — don't panic and drop your prices.In this week's Thursday training, Mike Reilly sits down with Maryann Wahhab, revenue management expert and STR operator across 6 states, to break down exactly what's working right now to get booked at the rates you want.Maryann went from college basketball coach to full-time STR revenue manager — and now helps operators stop leaving money on the table in soft markets.In this episode, Mike and Maryann cover:- Why your slow bookings are probably a listing problem — not a pricing problem- The booking window zones every operator needs to understand (and how to price each one)- How Mike went 30% up year over year on Vrbo with one simple OTA trick- The "booking velocity" metric Maryann tracks at 7, 15, and 30-day marks- How a listing went from page 6 to page 2 on Airbnb in one week- Why virtual stays are a game changer for dead listings- The full listing re-optimization playbook for properties with no bookings in 30+ days- How to use Airbnb's rule sets and length-of-stay discounts to capture more revenue in slow seasonThis is the training your listings need right now.---🎙️ About Maryann Wahhab:Maryann is a revenue management expert and STR operator managing properties across 6 states. A former Division I basketball coach, she left the game in 2023 to manage properties full-time — and now helps STR operators maximize revenue in any market condition.---Timecodes:0:00 - Why Your Listings Aren't Getting Booked Right Now2:30 - Meet Maryann Wahhab: From Basketball Coach to STR Expert6:00 - How to Read Your Market Before You Touch Your Prices10:00 - Booking Window Zones Explained (And How to Price Each One)15:30 - Booking Velocity: The Metric That Tells You When to Act20:00 - How to Play the Airbnb and Vrbo Algorithm Game25:30 - The OTA Trick That Got Mike 30% Up Year Over Year on Vrbo30:00 - Virtual Stays and How to Reinvigorate a Dead Listing36:00 - The Full Re-Optimization Playbook for Struggling Listings41:30 - Length-of-Stay Discounts and Airbnb Rule Sets in Slow Season46:00 - How to Differentiate Your Listing So You're Never in a Price War

The 'Help First' Sales Mindset That Grew Them From 12 to 120 Properties with Sean Bakhtiari

Connect with Sean:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean_bakhtiari/Check out Seacoast 2 Summit: https://www.seacoast2summit.comCheck out our free 6-step course for scaling STR operators: https://level.strsecrets.com/pc-bookSTR Secrets FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsWhat happens when a corporate finance guy from Boston decides he's done working for someone else — and bets on short-term rentals?Sean Bakhtiari is the co-founder of Seacoast 2 Summit Vacation Rentals and The Bakhtiari Group, a top-performing real estate sales team across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. As an active STR investor, his work sits at the intersection of real estate, hospitality, and investment strategy throughout New England.After 9 years in Boston's financial district, Sean bought his first STR. Then a second. Then started building a management company.At 12 properties, he hit a wall. He was good at business development and client relationships. But systems, operations, and scale? Not his strengths. That's when a serendipitous call from Chris changed everything.Today, Sean and Chris co-run Seacoast to Summit Vacation Rentals — managing 120+ properties across the New Hampshire seacoast, lakes and mountains region, and North Shore of Massachusetts. Almost entirely on referrals, with virtually no paid marketing.In this episode, Sean and Chris pull back the curtain on:- How they identified each other as the right partner (and what 3 things you need to align on before you sign anything)- Sean's "help first, never sell" philosophy — and why it's responsible for most of their growth- Why they've said no to 10+ deals in the last 3 months (and why that's the right call)- The two fears they stay up at night thinking about as they scale- How to delegate without feeling like you're losing control- What it takes to keep your team culture intact as you grow- Why boutique hotels might be the next frontier for this businessThis is a rare episode — a founder bringing on his business partner and pulling off the veil on how a real, values-driven STR company actually works at scale.---Timestamps:0:00 - Introducing Sean Bakhtiari: Chris's Business Partner2:45 - How Sean Went From Corporate Finance to STR Management6:30 - Building Seacoast to Summit: From 12 to 120 Properties10:15 - How Sean and Chris Found Each Other (The Serendipitous Call)15:00 - The 3 Things You Must Align On Before Partnering18:30 - The "Help First" Sales Mindset That Built the Business23:00 - Why They Said No to 10 Deals in 3 Months27:00 - The Two Fears They Have About Growing Too Fast32:30 - How to Delegate Without Losing Control37:00 - Keeping Team Culture Intact at Scale42:00 - What the Future Looks Like: Boutique Hotels and Brand Building46:00 - Sean's #1 Secret to STR Success