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Episode 129: Direct Bookings, Clever Marketing, Building your STR Team w/ Sara Aber
Description
Sara Aber runs Mill Creek Cabins in Finger Lakes, New York, and has hit 80% direct bookings by building a strong website, leveraging Facebook, and using Lodgify as her channel manager. She's launching vacationstays.com - a global listing site that charges hosts $25-$75 per year and drives traffic through social media and Google ads, letting guests contact hosts directly with no commission split. Sara walks through her tech stack, her disaster-loan financing, the private hot tub that changed everything, and why she kept her W-2 team on payroll through COVID with PPP money.
The hosts and Sara discuss direct-booking insurance requirements, the art of stocking toilet paper for week-long stays versus weekenders, the power of owning the guest relationship during cancellations, and why retirees booking mid-week became better customers than weekend glampers. Sara shares her path from Philadelphia house hacks to S-corp STR ownership, her love of 1031 exchanges and 3.75% disaster loans, and the moment Airbnb's cancellation policy erased every guest conversation during the shutdown.
Work with us. Interested in professional management or consulting?
Myka — Sharebnb: www.sharebnb.com
Steve — Argest Rentals: www.ArgestRentals.com
Sign up for PadSplit with Steve's link and get a free 1-on-1 PadSplit strategy call with Stevie Stacks: padsplit.com/hosts
Myka's other podcast, Entrepremarriage — building wealth without losing the marriage: youtube.com/@Entrepremarriage
All our links: linktr.ee/liveletthrive
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