Episodios

  • Ep 263 - Redefining STR Leadership and Setting the Industry Standard with Sief Khafagi
    Oct 13 2025

    Sief Khafagi didn’t just build a business—he built a standard.

    In this episode, he reveals how leadership, culture, and vision turned TechVestor into one of the most respected brands in STR investing.

    • How leadership shapes the future of the STR industry

    • Building a culture that scales with integrity and precision

    • Setting new standards for quality and operations

    • Why great teams outperform any market cycle

    • The mindset shift every STR leader needs to make


    00:03:22 – The Real Problem: Bad Operators Drag the Industry Down

    00:07:40 – Leadership and Vision: Believing Before Anyone Else Does

    00:11:56 – Building High-Trust Teams That Scale

    00:15:38 – Culture Over Everything: The Real Competitive Advantage

    00:20:25 – Systems That Outlast the Founder

    00:25:44 – The Truth About Scaling: Leadership vs. Management

    00:30:57 – How TechVestor Blends Tech and Real Estate to Win

    00:35:46 – The Future of STR Leadership and Industry Standards

    00:40:38 – Legacy Leadership: Culture, Vision, and Setting the Bar Higher



    Guest Bio:

    Sief Khafagi is an ex-techie turned real estate investor who has helped thousands diversify into real estate. Today, he’s the founder of Techvestor, one of the first institutional-grade and backed STR portfolios. With their vertically integrated advantages across acquisitions, renovation, design, management, and more, Techvestor is the leader in short-term rentals as an asset class. Backed by in-house technology, one of the deepest talent benches in the industry, and most recently, institutional backing, they're on a path to 500+ owned STRs over the coming years.


    Guest Link:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/siefkhafagi/


    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    https://group.strsecrets.com/

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    43 m
  • Your Airbnb Listing Is Broken — Here’s How to Fix It Fast | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 29
    Oct 9 2025

    Most Airbnb listings are costing hosts thousands—because they’re built wrong.

    In this breakdown, we show you exactly how to rebuild your listing from the ground up to rank higher, convert faster, and stand out in a crowded market.


    • The step-by-step to create a perfect, profit-ready listing

    • The mistakes 90% of hosts make in titles and descriptions

    • How to fix your visuals and brand in minutes

    • What data says about click-through and conversions

    • The system top hosts use to stay booked year-round


    Want to make your Listing Perfect? Grab the FREE Guide.

    Click the link below and DM us "OPTIMIZE"

    https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T029&utm_content=OPTIMIZE


    00:00:56 – Creating the Perfect Listing: What Goes Into It

    00:03:39 – The Listing Description Framework (Step-by-Step)

    00:05:34 – Lifestyle Photos That Drive Bookings

    00:09:16 – Photo Strategy: Location, Amenities, Experience

    00:13:24 – Use Captions to Boost Click-Through Rate

    00:14:24 – The Big Description Mistake: Paragraphs vs Bullets

    00:21:44 – Are You Actually Optimized? The Search-to-Listing Check

    00:24:03 – KPIs to Optimize Your Listing (Property Refresh Cadence)

    00:25:30 – Test Photos for Higher Conversions & CTR

    00:26:57 – Build Your Direct-Booking Brand (After You Dominate Airbnb)


    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    https://group.strsecrets.com/

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    30 m
  • Ep 262 - Airbnb Fees, Pricing Psychology, and Revenue Strategies with Thibault Masson
    Oct 6 2025

    Airbnb’s shifting fee structure is shaking hosts, but the real issue goes deeper—pricing psychology, guest behavior, and knowing your market.

    In this episode, Thibault shares actionable strategies that hosts can use to protect margins, win more bookings, and scale smarter.

    • Why Airbnb’s new fee model has hosts freaking out

    • How to price for what guests see (not what you keep)

    • Tools like PriceLabs—and why they’re useless without context

    • How European vs. U.S. guests think about fees differently

    • When to simplify pricing and present “one clean price”

    • The principles of occupancy, demand, and market alignment

    00:05:12 – 3 Pricing Foundations Every Host Must Know

    00:07:02 – Why Hosts Are Freaking Out About Airbnb Fees

    00:08:22 – The Real Reason Airbnb Changed Its Fees

    00:09:15 – The Only Price That Matters to Guests

    00:10:24 – Why “One Clean Price” Converts Better

    00:11:50 – Airbnb vs. Vrbo vs. Booking.com Costs Compared

    00:12:09 – How Airbnb Went From Host-Friendly to Guest-First

    00:24:50 – Are More Bookings Always Better?

    00:25:04 – AI + Pricing Strategy: Where the Future Is Headed

    00:25:22 – Who Owns Mistakes—You or the Machine?

    Guest Bio:

    Thibault Masson is the Head of Product Marketing at PriceLabs. His short-term rental journey started as a villa owner in Bali and St. Barts, which gave him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges of hosting. That passion for hospitality later brought him to Booking.com, where he worked on vacation rental strategy at a global scale, and inspired him to launch Rental Scale-Up as a platform for industry knowledge-sharing. Today at PriceLabs, Thibault brings together his experience as a host, tech marketer, and industry advocate to help property managers worldwide grow through smarter pricing and revenue management.

    Guest Link:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/thibaultmasson



    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    http://group.strsecrets.com/

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    29 m
  • (Step by Step) Closed a Co-hosting Deal in 13 Days | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 28
    Oct 3 2025

    In this episode, Mike Reilly breaks down exactly how he closed a co-hosting deal in just 13 days—from the first call to signing the contract. He shares the sales process, the assets he used, and even gives away the templates that sealed the deal.

    • How to pitch revenue expectations with confidence

    • The $10K guarantee that beat out competitors

    • Proposal + deal analyzer templates revealed

    • How to handle homeowners on the phone

    • Closing tactics to avoid being ghosted

    • The 13-day timeline broken down step by step

    Want the ACTUAL Step by Step Training? Just click the link below.

    https://go.strsecrets.com/watch-strs-vacasa?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T028&utm_content=StepByStep2

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    2 m
  • Ep 261 - Revenue, Scaling, and the Traits of Successful STR Hosts with Matthew McDonald
    Sep 29 2025

    What separates the STR hosts who burn out from those who thrive?

    In this episode, Matt shares his hard-earned lessons on revenue management, scaling, and the mindset shifts that set top operators apart.

    • The truth about revenue management: when to DIY vs. hire

    • How beginners can scale from 1–2 units to many

    • Success traits Matt has seen across hundreds of operators

    • Why your calendar is the foundation of business success

    • The mindset shift: “If you can’t help yourself, you can’t help others”

    • How to design life first, then build STR around it

    00:02 – DIY Revenue Management: Matt’s 3 Best Tips

    14:11 – Success Traits vs. Failure Traits

    15:29 – The Power of a Strong WHY

    18:29 – Calendar & Life Buckets for STR Success

    19:08 – If You Can’t Help Yourself, You Can’t Help Others

    20:52 – Designing Life First, Then Business

    Guest Bio:

    Matthew McDonald is a short-term rentals and hotels investor and coach.


    Guest Link:

    matt.mcdonald@strsecrets.com


    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    http://group.strsecrets.com/

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    27 m
  • Airbnb’s 15% Fee Change Explained: What Hosts and Managers Must Do | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 27
    Sep 25 2025

    Airbnb’s new 15% fee structure has left property managers, cohosts, and homeowners asking the same question: who’s really paying?

    In this episode, finance expert Ben Coons breaks down the numbers behind gross vs. net commission models—and what you must do to protect your margins.


    • Gross vs. net commission explained in plain English

    • How Airbnb’s fee hits managers vs. homeowners

    • Why this change is different from Vrbo and Booking.com

    • Pricing adjustments to avoid eating the new fee

    • Commission stacking and where your money really goes

    • How to communicate fee changes to homeowners clearly

    • Key takeaways to stay profitable under the new system


    Co-hosts and homeowners: want the real numbers on Airbnb’s 15% fee?

    Click the link and DM us “SPREADSHEET” and we’ll send you the file.


    Link: https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T027&utm_content=Spreadsheet


    00:04:30 – Example Scenarios: Who Really Pays the Fee

    00:07:00 – Comparing Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com

    00:11:30 – Impact on Gross Model Operators

    00:14:00 – Impact on Net Model Operators

    00:18:30 – The Homeowner’s Point of View

    00:23:30 – Commission Stacking: The Hidden Cost

    00:26:00 – Pricing Adjustments to Stay Profitable

    00:29:00 – How to Communicate Fee Changes to Homeowners

    00:32:00 – Key Takeaways: Run the Numbers & Adapt Early



    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    http://group.strsecrets.com/

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    26 m
  • Ep 260 - Marketing Frameworks Every STR Host Can Steal with Chris Crawford
    Sep 22 2025

    Marketing isn’t just about ads—it’s about positioning, messaging, and action.

    In this episode, Chris shares practical frameworks and timeless principles that every business owner (and STR host) can use to stand out, attract clients, and scale smarter.

    • Why marketing and sales matter more than ever

    • The real difference between content and community

    • How to build a personal brand the right way

    • Authentic content vs. performative posting

    • Head vs. heart: the two frames of content

    • Why information ≠ transformation in business

    • How to message to your avatar’s pain + desire

    • Funnels, ads, and what they can’t replace

    • Systems for managing leads without overwhelm

    • Why investing in belief shifts your identity



    00:01:27 – Why Listen to Chris (Marketing & Sales Depth)

    00:03:07 – Community Leverage > Content Alone

    00:11:38 – “Give Me a Framework” Moment

    00:12:02 – Starting a Brand the Right Way

    00:15:05 – Content Resistance, Authenticity, and Output

    00:16:48 – Frames of Content: Head vs. Heart

    00:21:26 – Information ≠ Transformation

    00:26:33 – Avatar, Pain + Desire (Messaging 101)

    00:28:15 – Ads, Funnels, and Social Avoidance

    00:34:45 – Investing in Belief and Identity Shift



    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    http://group.strsecrets.com/

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    40 m
  • Cohosting 101: How to Start and Scale a Sustainable STR Business | The STR Scale Show with Mike Reilly | Ep 25
    Sep 18 2025

    Cohosting is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) ways to build a short-term rental business without heavy upfront costs.

    In this episode, we break down the cohosting model step by step—from the basics to the systems that let you scale sustainably.


    • What cohosting really is (and how it works)

    • The 3 key things you need before starting

    • How to choose the right market for success

    • Proven ways to find clients and grow your portfolio

    • The cohost funnel: your roadmap from startup to scale-up


    Want the tested and proven Pitch Deck? Just click the link below and DM us "Pitchdeck"

    https://ig.me/m/mike.sjogren?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Captivate&utm_campaign=T026&utm_content=Pitchdeck


    00:04:45 – What Is Cohosting

    00:11:49 – Cohosting vs. Arbitrage

    00:12:59 – Why Arbitrage Is Failing

    00:15:45 – Why Cohosting Is a Better Model

    00:17:26 – Three Key Things Before Starting

    00:23:40 – Market Selection for STR

    00:26:52 – Acquisition Channels for Clients

    00:28:15 – The Cohost Funnel Framework

    00:29:40 – Tracking Where You Are in the Funnel

    00:34:10 – Special Giveaway for Listeners


    Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:

    http://group.strsecrets.com/

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    36 m