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Episode 35: Special Guest Lucas Carl talks Moonshine and Airbnb in the Smoky Mountains!
Description
Lucas Carl owns five short-term rental cabins in the Great Smoky Mountains that he manages remotely from Nashville with his wife Avery. His smallest 600-square-foot cabin rents for $79-$99/night and stays nearly 100% booked year-round - the Smokies draw 12 million visitors annually, four times more than the Grand Canyon. Lucas refuses to use property managers who charge 40% of gross revenue; instead, he built his own network of cleaners, handymen, and HVAC techs who respond at 3 AM when needed.
Lucas shares hard-won lessons: never price below $79 or you attract guests who trash the place, superhosts make the worst guests because they nitpick every detail, and he once called a repeat guest at 10 PM to ask why he'd left four stars eight months earlier. The guest admitted he'd confused Lucas's cabin with another property - he didn't have silverware at a different rental. Avery now sells cabins full-time to buyers who want to self-manage, and the couple teaches new owners how to avoid the 40% management fee trap. The episode covers moonshine tastings, bourbon versus whiskey, managing five properties with day jobs, dealing with lippy guests, and why flexible cancellation policies hurt your booking rank.
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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