What Used to Work with Airbnbs No Longer Does

The short-term rental market has changed fast. The old “furnish it cheap and it still books” playbook is fading—and Merritt Harris breaks down what actually wins now.

Merritt shares how he went from long-term rentals in New York to building a property management company during the COVID peak, then adapting as competition intensified and guest expectations rose.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “corporate” posting and insider jargon doesn’t convert—and what to post instead
• The shift from selling a bed to selling an experience-driven stay
• Amenities vs. design: what matters most and how to decide
• Why larger properties are outperforming smaller ones in many markets
• How to find value-add opportunities (basements, egress, bonus rooms) to increase revenue
• The systems-first approach to management: automation, cleaners, and scaling without burnout
• A practical tech stack for operators and property managers (PMS, pricing tools, cleaning ops, comms)

If you’re trying to compete in today’s market—whether you own one property or manage dozens—this episode will help you rethink what “good enough” looks like in 2026.

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 325+ profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com