On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Celeste DiRocco and Philip Pane of Parkland Interiors. They share how they went from buying their first short term rental sight unseen in Gatlinburg to building a six property portfolio across Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia while designing more than 200 short term rentals nationwide. Celeste explains how thoughtful, ROI focused design choices like strategic accent walls, updated lighting, elevated bedding, and strong exterior appeal can dramatically increase bookings without blowing the budget. They also discuss common investor mistakes, including overspending in the wrong areas, over cramming guest capacity, and going too over the top with themes that can hurt long term resale value. The conversation wraps with insights on enhancing the guest experience, building equity through smart renovations, and why focusing on the right doors instead of more doors can transform your investing strategy.

How to connect with Celeste and Phillip:

https://www.instagram.com/parklin_interiors/
https://www.instagram.com/southern_serenity_stays/

https://parklininteriors.com/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Josh Briner. Josh shares how he transitioned from a background in education and flipping distressed properties into building a short term rental portfolio in upstate New York, including the Finger Lakes and Buffalo area. He dives into why he prefers value-add BRRRR deals over turnkey properties, how amenity stacking like pools and saunas can dramatically impact revenue, and what investors should realistically expect during the first year of launching a luxury rental. The conversation also covers scaling a management company to over 100 doors, navigating snow removal and winter challenges, and the mindset required to succeed long term in the hospitality-driven short term rental business.

How to connect with Josh:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cmpm7krpV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19kR6UzmSP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group

Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Aubrey Carlson, owner of Salt and Sky Lodging Company and a former military helicopter pilot, to talk about building a short-term rental portfolio in both San Diego and Birmingham, Alabama. Aubrey shares how she used a VA loan and a house-hack-style fixer strategy to break into an expensive coastal market, then expanded into Birmingham with BRRRR-friendly properties that could also perform as short-term and midterm rentals. She also breaks down how she partnered with investors early on—using detailed deal presentations at first, then evolving the structure to properly value rehab labor, design, and ongoing management. Finally, Aubrey emphasizes long-term thinking, choosing strong markets, and leveraging education and community to accelerate portfolio growth.

How to connect with Aubrey:

www.saltandskylodgingco.com
https://www.instagram.com/saltandskylodgingco/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/
Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com
Follow Avery Carl on Instagram
Follow Avery Carl on TikTok
Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group
Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube

For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Production done by Outlier Audio