In this episode, co-host Mark Lumpkin sits down with Hunter Harrelson of Beachball Properties — one of the most recognizable vacation rental management brands on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
Hunter breaks down how he and his wife Ginger bootstrapped from 20 properties to 350+ under management, why brand + local marketing mattered more than trying to market “to the masses,” and how one decision during Covid (refunding guests fast) created massive goodwill that helped fuel their growth.
Then we get tactical: Hunter shares the real scaling problems that hit every time you add doors, why “everything breaks every 50 properties,” and how Beachball is solving training and consistency with an internal AI tool called Beach Bot — trained on their SOPs and connected to their PMS to help staff find answers fast.
We also dive into a hot industry topic: Airbnb, merchant-of-record rules, and Alabama escrow law, plus what operators should watch as OTAs push for more control.
Connect with Hunter / Beachball Properties
Website: Beachball.com
Email: hunter@beachball.com
__
Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search
STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com
