Rodman Schley is a seasoned real estate investor and short-term rental expert with an impressive career spanning decades. Starting with fix-and-flip properties to pay for college, Rodman’s journey evolved into a passion for short-term vacation rentals. With over $20 billion in valuations as a certified appraiser, he’s mastered the art of analyzing markets and making strategic investments. Today, his portfolio focuses on high-performing properties in Costa Rica, where he blends his love for travel with his investment expertise. Rodman’s philosophy is simple: align with your purpose, strive for excellence, and create exceptional guest experiences. Summary and Highlights In our recent episode of Direct Booking Simplified, Rodman shared invaluable insights into his journey, strategies, and mindset for mastering direct bookings. Here are the key takeaways: 1. Purpose Over Profit Rodman emphasized the importance of aligning with your purpose. “Make sure you love what you do,” he said. By combining his passions for travel and investing, Rodman found success in the short-term rental space. His advice? Be an outlier. Don’t settle for mediocrity—strive to be exceptional. 2. Why Direct Bookings Matter With a 50% direct booking rate, Rodman’s properties stand out for their exceptional guest experiences. He highlighted how direct bookings not only reduce fees but also reflect the strength of your operations. According to Rodman, each guest’s stay is a testament to your management, systems, and property’s appeal. Quote: “Think of that guest in your property right now as your most valuable opportunity to grow your direct booking rate.” 3. Building Relationships for Repeat Bookings Rodman’s approach to guest relationships is unparalleled. With an attentive onsite manager and a concierge service, his team ensures every guest feels like family. From arranging surf lessons to hosting community-style retreats, Rodman’s properties deliver more than a stay—they create lasting memories. 4. Effective Email Marketing Rodman’s email marketing strategy is simple but powerful. Monthly newsletters keep guests engaged with updates and offers, while post-stay thank-you emails nurture relationships. By focusing on value and maintaining consistent communication, his properties remain top of mind for past guests. Pro Tip: Include updates about the community and special offers in your emails to encourage repeat bookings without overwhelming your audience. 5. Conservative Planning, Exceptional Execution Rodman stressed the importance of realistic financial planning. By underestimating revenues and overestimating expenses, he mitigates risk and ensures his properties consistently perform. This conservative approach allows him to focus on outperforming his projections. Follow Rodman Here ⤵️ Transcription Rodman: I was led with profit and purpose was always second. And those don’t work out. Make sure you love what you do. If you’re coming to the short term vacation space, make sure you love it. For me, I love to invest and I love to travel. That was a perfect thing for me. So I, that’s why I love the short term vacation rental space. But the other thing I tell people is, you know, there’s so many people, if you think about life as being this big bell curve, right? So many people are in this easy space right in the middle of the bell curve. And I always say, you know, if you’re going to do something, be exceptional at it, be an outlier in it. So if you’re aligned with your purpose and you put in the work, be an outlier, be, be exceptional, be an expert at what you do. Gilbert: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking. Simplify. We break down the strategies and tactics to win and direct bookings on today’s show. I have Robin Schley. Robin, did I say that correctly? Rodman: You said it, right. Gilbert: Awesome. Well, it’s great to have you on the show. Gilbert: Um, it’s great to, I met you a couple of weeks back and I’m, I’m thrilled to have you on the show and kind of talk about how you’ve grown in real estate, what you’re doing now, um, and share with us, uh, some tips on how to really amp up that direct bookings basically, because when I learned what your direct booking rate is, I definitely wanted you to, to share that with the group here. Gilbert: Awesome. Rodman: Yeah. Yeah. I’m excited to be here. Excited to talk. We had a great conversation when you were on my podcast and, uh, you know, it’s always just nice to be able to share this knowledge and this, this information that you collect with people and pass it on down to those folks who maybe want to figure out how to be an outlier in the space, how to be great, how to be an expert. Gilbert: Yeah. Yeah. And I always find that like through the podcast, like the best way to do that is really to get a mixture or like almost like a melting pot of different perspectives because I find that like, there’s not one, you know, that’s like going into real estate investing, starting your own business, doing anything. Gilbert: There’s not run one way to do it. Right. Um, and it’s often. Yeah. Many, many different ways of doing it. Right. And it may have different outcomes. They may have different timelines, but people approach it different ways. But the best thing to really do is really educate on what people are doing and finding out what, what works for you. Rodman: Yeah. How do you optimize, how do you get better at what you’re doing and how do you learn from others and optimize what they’re doing? And, you know, it’s a really small community of people who are doing what we’re doing. And so when we get a chance to lift other people up, teach, educate, learn from them, you gotta, you gotta jump on that. Gilbert: Yeah, absolutely. Well, before we get too far into it, do you mind giving a quick introduction on who you are, what you’re doing now, kind of how you got here? Rodman: Yeah, of course. No, of course. Like you said, I’m Robin Schley. I, uh, I’m a real estate

In our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Breanna Williams, founder and principal designer of Mumford Designs. Breanna specializes in short-term rentals (STR) and mid-term rentals (MTR), blending interior design, market research, and marketing strategy to create unforgettable guest experiences. With over 15 years of design expertise and a particular passion for hybrid rental properties, Breanna shared invaluable insights into leveraging thoughtful design to boost direct bookings. Summary and Highlights From Retail Showroom to STR Design Specialist Breanna’s journey began in high school, where her love for design was sparked by her parents’ homebuilding projects. After completing her degree in interior design, she worked at Lazy Boy Furniture Galleries, where she oversaw design projects for homes across diverse settings. In 2020, she founded Mumford Designs, focusing on STR and MTR properties. This transition allowed her to merge her design expertise with marketing strategies tailored to maximize occupancy and revenue. The Power of Knowing Your Guest Avatar One of the key takeaways from the episode is the importance of understanding your “guest avatar” before setting up your rental property. As Breanna explained: “If you’re trying to appeal to everyone, you’re not giving anyone a true custom experience. Knowing your guest avatar fully directs every decision, from design to marketing.” Breanna recommends starting with a property audit that combines: Bonus Article: Unveiling the Art of Guest Communication: “WHO-WHERE-HOW” Designing for Hybrid STR/MTR Properties Hybrid properties that cater to both STR and MTR audiences require a unique design approach. Breanna’s framework involves creating a Venn diagram of overlapping guest needs. For example: In a recent project in Newport Beach, Breanna designed a property targeted at families displaced due to home repairs. The home featured practical amenities such as twin beds for kids, a dedicated homework area, and a pet-friendly setup—a stark contrast to the impersonal nature of hotel stays. The Role of Photography in Marketing Photography can make or break a listing, and Breanna emphasized the importance of aligning your visuals with your target audience: “Every photo should tell a story about who your property is designed for. If you’re targeting families, show the pack-and-play, board games, or a cozy firepit perfect for roasting s’mores.” To achieve this: Breanna’s Top Tactical Tip for Direct Bookings When asked for her top piece of tactical advice, Breanna didn’t hesitate: “Know your guest avatar fully before purchasing items or setting up your property. It saves you money and ensures every design decision attracts your ideal guest.” A Mindset Shift for Hosts Starting something new can feel overwhelming. Breanna shared a mantra that keeps her motivated: “Not ‘I have to do this,’ but ‘I get to do this.’ Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow through every challenge.” Join the CraftedStays Community This episode was packed with actionable insights, but there’s even more to discover. Listen to the full episode to dive deeper into Breanna’s frameworks and strategies for STR success. Looking to take your direct booking game to the next level? CraftedStays offers tools to help you build a website tailored to your brand and guest avatar. With features like customizable templates and integrated booking flows, we simplify the process so you can focus on hosting. Join our community of like-minded hosts to exchange ideas, learn from experts like Breanna, and optimize your short-term rental business. Ready to elevate your STR strategy? Book a demo or explore CraftedStays today! Follow Breanna Here ⤵️ Transcription Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified. We break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings on today’s show, I have Brianna Williams, Brianna, welcome to the show.  Breanna: Hi, thank you for having me.  Gil: Yeah, I love doing this because we actually had our podcast recording a couple, actually about probably a week back now, and I’m actually thrilled to have you on this show. Gil: To talk, to have you as the guest on here. Um, so welcome, welcome here. Um, before we get too deep into it, do you mind kind of giving folks an introduction on who you are?  Breanna: Sure. So my name is Brianna Williams. I am the founder and principal designer for Mumford designs. So we specialize in short term rentals and midterm rentals. Breanna: Um, and we handle interior design, a little bit of marketing strategy, a lot of market research. And essentially we just take all of the data in that market research phase and point it straight, straight towards the design, um, and kind of gear all of that towards how we’re going to market their property. Gil: Nice. How did you get started in, in, in this business?  Breanna: Oh, it’s been a long journey. I’ve been designing for almost 15 years. So in high school, it kind of clicked for me that interior design is something that I wanted to do. When I was growing up, I would go to model homes with my parents all the time. And my dad built a lot of our childhood home with his own hands. Breanna: My mom would always do the decorating and so on and so forth. So it’s kind of just something that I knew that I wanted to do for so long. So right out of high school, I went to school for interior design, and then I got out of school and I’m like, wait. How do I get a job in interior design? So I ended up falling into retail and I worked as a designer for a retail showroom for, um, almost 10 years. Breanna: And in 2020, I left there and I started my own business and it kind of just happened by happenstance that I fell into working specifically with investors on everything from fix and flips, you know, consulting on paint colors and tile selection, you Into short term rentals and eventually midterm rentals, which is kind of midterm rentals and hybrids are like my niche, my, that’s my favorite thing to do. Gil: Interesting.

In our latest episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we had the privilege of hosting Stacy St. John, a powerhouse in the short-term rental (STR) industry. She is a Cincinnati-based STR investor and host with properties located 10 hours away in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is the founder of the STR Sisterhood, a vibrant community exclusively for women in the industry, with over 62,000 members. Stacy also hosts the STR Sisterhood Podcast and runs coaching programs designed to empower women in STRs. From building thriving communities to mastering direct bookings, Stacy shared invaluable insights that both seasoned hosts and newcomers can learn from. Here are some highlights from our conversation that will inspire you to take actionable steps toward increasing your direct bookings. Summary and Highlights Meet Stacy St. John Stacy St. John’s journey into property management is a story of resilience and learning. “From the start, I built a team around me,” Stacy shared. “It was an absolute necessity given the demands of my corporate job.” Fast forward to today, Stacy operates a full-fledged property management company with a team dedicated to excellence and guest satisfaction. Key Takeaways on Direct Booking Strategies Stacy emphasized the importance of blending strategy and personalization when driving direct bookings. Here are some of the strategies she uses to stand out: 1. Leverage Local Directories “Being part of the Chamber of Commerce and other local directories is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to increase visibility,” Stacy explained. These listings not only help attract local guests but also improve your website’s SEO by generating high-authority backlinks. 2. Optimize for Repeat Guests Stacy ensures every guest knows how to book directly with her in the future. From branded materials in her properties to personalized follow-ups, she creates a seamless path for repeat bookings. “If they’re great guests, we always invite them back with a discount offer,” she added. 3. Email Marketing Done Right Email marketing is a cornerstone of Stacy’s direct booking strategy. She’s focused on creating segmented campaigns tailored to specific guest profiles. For instance, golfers receive updates about upcoming golf events in Myrtle Beach, while families get tips on family-friendly activities. “It’s all about delivering value that’s relevant to their experience with us,” she emphasized. 4. Invest in SEO-Driven Content To drive organic traffic, Stacy’s team regularly publishes blog posts optimized for SEO. “We’re focusing on topics that resonate with our audience, like seasonal events and travel tips, and repurposing this content into our email campaigns,” she explained. 5. Guest Verification Tools “When you’re handling direct bookings, tools like Superhog are game-changers,” Stacy said. These platforms help ensure guests are verified, protecting your business from chargebacks and disputes. Mindset Matters Beyond strategies, Stacy shared powerful mindset advice for hosts navigating the complexities of STRs. “The person holding you back from your next level is often yourself,” she noted. By investing in personal growth and confidence, you can unlock your full potential as a host and business owner. Take Your Direct Bookings to the Next Level Ready to implement these strategies? Don’t miss the full episode of Direct Booking Simplified for deeper insights and actionable advice from Stacy St. John. Looking to grow your direct booking business? Join the STR Sisterhood community or check out Stacy’s coaching programs to learn from one of the best in the industry. Visit Stacy’s website to connect and explore her resources. CraftedStays: Your Partner in Direct Booking Success At CraftedStays, we’re here to empower hosts like you to build professional, SEO-optimized direct booking websites without the hassle. From intuitive templates to advanced features that make managing bookings seamless, we’re committed to helping you thrive. Learn more about our platform and how it can support your direct booking journey. Book a demo today! Follow Stacey Here ⤵️ Transcription Stacey: I think the one piece of tactical advice I would say is utilize a third party tool that can help you verify your guests. As we know, if Airbnb takes a booking and someone pays Airbnb, Airbnb pays us out. If someone disputes a charge on their credit card to Airbnb, Airbnb is not clawing back the money from us. Stacey: They are eating that, right? When we have a direct booking situation, if someone disputes a charge on their credit card, it is coming out of our bank account. Right. So having a third party verification tool, I use super hog in my own business. That has been tremendously helpful, but I think whether you use super hog or someone else, make sure that you’ve got the right resources to be able to. Stacey: Dispute a charge back, but then also hopefully avoid them altogether. Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified, where we break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings on today’s show. I have Stacy, Stacy, welcome to the show.  Stacey: Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. I’m excited to be here.  Gil: I’m so excited to have you on here. I’ve heard your name from so many people. Gil: So many people referred me to you to have, have you on my show. So I’m really glad to finally have you here.  Stacey: Awesome. That’s great.  Gil: And  Stacey: thanks to all the people who referred me.  Gil: Yeah. And it was good to be on your show just, uh, just a few weeks back too. That was really fun to kind of walk your, your audience through kind of what we’re doing and. Gil: Kind of how we approach things. I appreciate you, uh, lending me your audience to, to spread our word.  Stacey: I think you’re doing amazing stuff. So it’s, it’s my pleasure.  Gil: I appreciate that. Well, I, your, your name is pretty well known in the industry. Um, but for those that haven’t come across the name, Stacy St. John, Who, who are you? Stacey: How much time do we have here? No. So I, uh, well, I, my name is Stacey St. John. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Um, most of

In this episode of Direct Bookings Simplified, Alex opens up about his journey from facing early challenges in real estate to building a thriving STR business, complete with seven properties, a coaching program, and innovative direct booking strategies. Discover how he uses guest videos, monthly inspections, and smart email marketing to create standout guest experiences and win loyal repeat bookings—all while balancing life as a father of four. This is an episode packed with refreshing short-term rental perspectives, and heartfelt lessons you’d be interested to learn from Summary and Highlights Here are the top takeaways that every host can learn from. 1. Competition in STRs is Fierce—How to Stand Out Alex highlighted how the landscape for short-term rentals has shifted dramatically. Guests today expect more than just a clean space—they want unique experiences and thoughtful design. He emphasized the importance of market research, working with designers, and creating memorable, Instagram-worthy spaces. Key Tip: “It’s not about what looks nice to you—it’s about what stands out in the market.” 2. Building Systems for Quality and Guest Experience Alex shared his approach to operational excellence, including monthly property inspections. Unlike cleaners, who are focused on turnover tasks, inspectors evaluate the overall property condition and ensure readiness for guests. He also creates short instructional videos for common guest issues, like operating appliances or resetting a Wi-Fi router, embedding these into his digital guidebook. Why It Matters: Small steps like this help reduce last-minute guest inquiries and elevate the overall guest experience. 3. The Power of Keeping Guest Relationships Alive One of Alex’s early mistakes was failing to maintain contact with past guests. He’s since corrected this by implementing email marketing campaigns and tagging VIP guests for personalized follow-ups. Practical Advice: 4. Embracing Direct Bookings Alex’s focus on direct bookings includes using platforms like OwnerRez to automate processes, creating his own direct booking site, and leveraging OTAs strategically. He cleverly integrates his branding into listings to encourage savvy guests to book directly. Alex’s Favorite Tip: Add your property’s name to listings (e.g., “Stay at Hillside Bungalow”) to make it easy for guests to find you outside the OTA. 5. Giving Back to Your Team and Community From offering temporary housing to cleaners during natural disasters to paying for tasks just to keep his team employed during slow seasons, Alex shared how he fosters loyalty and supports his staff. Takeaway: “This is a people business. A simple gesture can build long-lasting relationships with your team.” Mindset and Advice Mindset Tip: “You will make mistakes in this business, but persistence pays off. It’s not about avoiding failure but learning from it and growing.” One Action to Take Today: Start collecting emails from your guests—every single one. Build a communication system that keeps you top-of-mind and encourages repeat bookings. Follow Alex here ⬇️ Transcription Gil: Hey folks, welcome back to direct booking simplified. We break down the strategies and tactics to win direct bookings on today’s show. I have Alex W Alex, welcome to the show.  Alex: Hey Gil, thanks for having me on. Gil: Yeah, it’s uh, it’s good to have you on. It’s been, it’s been a long while since we caught up. I don’t know how many months it’s been, but it’s been, it’s been a little while.  Alex: Yeah, it’s been a while. Uh, just been busy with life, so.  Gil: Yeah, what’s, what’s, what’s going on nowadays with you?  Alex: Um, yeah, so just running the business. Uh, we have our coaching business that we have. We have our short term rentals. Uh, we own seven, we have a fund where we have our hotel, uh, started co hosting. So, um, we have a few units there. Um, hurricane season came through and kind of threw a wrench in our plans, but that’s business. So yeah.  Gil: Yeah. Talk, talk to me a little bit about actually maybe before we do that, do you mind like kind of, kind of giving me, giving folks an introduction to kind of who you are and kind of how you got started in, in, in rentals in the first place? Alex: Yeah. So, uh, I wish my story was a little bit better than everyone else’s. I think everyone has like a Cinderella story, but I think that wasn’t my case at all. Uh, Alex Sabio, married father of four, live here in Southern California, started investing in real estate probably like 20 years ago with longterm rentals and made almost every single mistake in the book. In fact, my first ever investment property, I think was a scam and got scammed out of 16 grand. A guy went to jail. It was like a Ponzi scheme pretty much But luckily I just kept going with investing in real estate and just slowly over time Kind of fell into short term rentals during the pandemic, uh 2020 it’s been over four years now, uh, and really grew to love the short term rental industry because Uh, number one just the cash flow the tax benefits appreciation. I made some good choices there And really enjoyed the whole experience. So, you know, um Hosting guests. So on and so forth.  Gil: Yeah. So you’ve seen, you’ve been, you’ve been hosting in kind of like two areas of, of short term rentals now, like in the heart of the pandemic and afterwards now, like what, what do you see as being like the big differences as like what you observed? Alex: Competition. The competition’s definitely a lot more stiff. Uh, back in the day, and I say back in the day, I feel like an old dude, and that was four years ago, where anyone was making money, right? You could buy any home, but now everyone’s putting pickleball courts in, like having those crazy coffee makers in, and spending so much money on design. And that’s probably where we should be, right? Where we’re providing guests an amazing experience other than a hotel. And people going into, like, these mini resorts. Uh, and having this personalized

In a special episode of Direct Booking Simplified, we sit down with Abby from Hospitable to explore how simplifying the guest experience can transform your short-term rental business. From guest vetting and payment innovations to building a niche that resonates with your ideal audience, Abby dives into innovative strategies and highlights powerful examples of how simplicity can drive success in the world of direct bookings. Stay tuned for a game-changing conversation that will inspire you to take your hosting strategy to the next level! ⚠️ Special Offer from Abby: Listeners of the Direct Bookings Simplified podcast get 25% off the first 3 months https://hospitable.com/craftedstays/ Summary and Highlights In our latest episode of Direct Booking Simplified, I had the pleasure of speaking with Abby Grous, product manager at Hospitable, one of the top PMS of today. From simplifying guest booking experiences to tackling the complexities of direct bookings, Abby shared actionable insights that every host—whether managing a single property or a large portfolio—can learn from. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation: Simplifying Direct Bookings for Everyone Hospitable’s mission is to “gift time back” to its customers by creating tools that are simple to use and quick to implement. Abby emphasized the importance of designing features that work seamlessly for the majority of users, rather than catering to niche requests. This philosophy is reflected in Hospitable’s 14-day free trial, during which users can fully set up and start taking bookings in as little as a day. What this means for you: Whether you’re new to direct bookings or a seasoned host, Hospitable make the process straightforward and accessible for both the host and customers Understanding the Full Guest Journey Direct bookings are more than just creating a website. Abby broke down the guest journey and how Hospitable supports it at every stage: What this means for you: Direct bookings don’t have to feel overwhelming when the right systems automate these processes. Carving Out Your Niche Abby and Gil discussed the importance of understanding your guest avatar. By focusing on a specific audience—like young families in my own business—you can tailor everything from property amenities to marketing copy, creating an unforgettable experience for guests. Pro Tip: Highlight features that matter most to your ideal guest. For example, families might appreciate photos of high chairs or baby gates in your listing. Tools for Hosts of All Sizes While Hospitable is often seen as a platform for small hosts, Abby dispelled the myth that it isn’t suited for larger property managers. Recent updates, like owner statements and rental agreements, now make Hospitable a strong contender for scaling operations. What this means for you: Whether you manage three properties or thirty, Hospitable can grow with your business. The Power of Partnerships We also discussed our partnership between Hospitable and CraftedStays, which simplifies onboarding and makes direct bookings more seamless. Abby shared the story of a joint customer who increased their direct bookings to over 30% of total reservations, with a 75% conversion rate boost after adopting our tools. Key Mindset Advice from Abby Abby’s advice for hosts and product developers alike: “Get as close to your customers as possible.” Understanding their needs and challenges will help you craft better experiences, whether it’s for your guests or your business tools. Take Action Today If you’re ready to simplify your operations and take control of your direct bookings, start by leveraging tools that are designed for ease and success. Hospitable and CraftedStays ensure you spend less time managing operations and more time delighting your guests. 🚨 As a special thank-you to our listeners, Hospitable is offering 25% off your first three months. Click here to learn more and start your journey toward more streamlined hosting. Follow Abby Here ⬇️ Transcription Abby: I think hospitable takes a really unique approach to product development. And this is one of the things that drew me to hospitable and it’s looking for new opportunities. And that is that hospitable’s mission is to gift time back to our customers. And in doing so, we know that we need to simplify things. So we are in a relentless pursuit of simplifying our product. And when we deliver a feature, it needs to be as easy to, as possible to start using that feature. And this is like a, a kind of a unique change for me coming from the B2B world, especially the enterprise B2B world, where you might have. One particular customer who needs the product to work in a specific way. And you design a feature for that customer, or you have a million feature flags to make it super customizable because everyone has different preferences on how the product should work. And that’s just not hospitable approach at all. There’s a true mission to make the product work for the majority and to alienate the, what we might call like the. The loud minority at some time. So that’s something that’s really interesting. And you can see it even in like our, in the settings and configuration of hospitable, it’s, it should be easy to get set up and using it. You can do it within your 14 day trial. It doesn’t take a month to start using hospitable and see value from it. Gil: Hey folks. Welcome back to direct booking. Simplify. We break down the strategies and tactics to win in direct bookings on today’s show. I have Abby from hospitable Abby. Welcome to the show. Abby: Hey, Gil. Thanks for having me. Gil: Yeah, it’s good to good to see you again. We saw each other last week. I don’t know when, when this is going to specifically air, but last week we were at Burma together. So I got a chance to meet you for the first time, even though we’ve had Slack conversations and work together elsewhere. So it was really good to see you in person. Abby: Yeah, same. It’s such a treat to get to see people in person in this remote first world. So it’s great to see you. Gil: Um, you