I started this blog to share our experience with short-term rentals. In the four years we've been hosting, we've definitely made mistakes—but we've also figured out what works for us.
As we move forward, we have bigger goals in mind, including hopefully adding a second STR.
When you're starting something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. There's information everywhere, but sometimes it's either too much or it's not the information you actually need. My goal is to break things down the way we did it, step by step, and hopefully you'll be able to take something helpful away from it.
So if you're sitting on a property and wondering whether you should move forward or not—let's dive right in.
Your STR Market and Location
I've mentioned before that the location of our rental is pretty ideal. It's surrounded by multiple wineries and wedding venues, and it's a short drive to Busch Gardens and Water Country—all while still being in a quiet rural setting. The county is small, clean, and well maintained, which definitely helps.
But location is only part of the equation.
1. Location & Local Laws
Where is your rental going to be located, and what are the local laws around short-term rentals?
Things to look into:
- Is there a primary residence requirement?
- Are there zoning restrictions?
- Are there caps on permits or licenses?
- And probably the biggest question of all: Is the property in an HOA?
If it is, how strict is that HOA—and is that a risk you're willing to take?
Our STR happens to be in a county that is lightly regulated (at least for now), which made things a lot easier for us when we started.
2. What Does the Competition Look Like?
Before you jump in, spend some time online looking at other rentals in your area.
Is the market already saturated? Is it competitive? If it is, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it—it just means you need to know what you're walking into.
In just the four years we've been hosting, the number of STRs in our area has significantly increased. Now we're seeing:
- Renovated barn rentals
- Wellness-retreat style properties
- River-view cabins
- Historic homes turned into rentals
The point is, the market evolves—and if you want to stay competitive, you have to evolve with it.
3. What Are Rentals Actually Making?
This is the part that really matters: the numbers.
Before we made our decision, we spent a lot of time doing research. The biggest tool we used was AirDNA.
Yes, you have to pay for it—but it gives you a ton of useful information like:
- Average annual revenue
- Average daily rate (ADR)
- Occupancy rate
- Market demand
- Comparable listings
This data lets you see how rentals in your area are actually performing. For us, this research was the** driving factor** behind deciding to move forward.
4. What's Your Niche?
What kind of experience are you creating?
Is your place designed for:
- Bachelorette or bachelor weekends with neon lights and a party vibe?
- Girls' trips?
- Family vacations?
- Couples' getaways?
Will you allow babies and kids? Will you be pet-friendly?
Our property is pet-friendly, and honestly we've had very few issues with it. But if you allow pets, you absolutely should charge a** pet fee**. Ours is $200, which helps cover the extra cleaning.
My expectation is that when someone walks into the property, they should never even know it's pet-friendly.
And if you're someone who says "my dog doesn't shed"… our Dyson with the green laser light will politely prove otherwise.
5. Furnishing Your Rental
This is the part where things get real.
Furnishing a short-term rental can be a little scary when you see the final number. You're basically running this like a hotel—a nice hotel, not a motel.
That means:
- No half-empty shampoo bottles left behind by previous guests
- No gray sheets just so stains are less noticeable
- No random, mismatched kitchen supplies thrown together
You want the place to feel clean, organized, and intentional.
That doesn't mean everything has to be brand new. Mixing new and used pieces can save a lot of money.
For us, the property was already mostly furnished because it used to be our space. Our couch was less than a year old and barely used. I refinished most of the furniture myself—dressers, tables, the dining set—which saved a lot of money. I only bought a few smaller pieces from Facebook Marketplace.
Some of the bigger upgrades we made included:
- Adding a fence (big expense)
- Building the fire pit area ourselves
- Replacing all of the appliances with newer upgraded ones
Did we have to replace every appliance? No. But it's one less headache, and newer appliances usually mean fewer maintenance issues.
And yes… we did get that 0% APR credit card.
We were those people.
And we absolutely rang it up.
It's definitely not cheap—but it was doable, and it will get paid off.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
Starting a short-term rental is exciting, but it also takes planning, research, and a little bit of risk. There's a lot of advice online about STRs, but most of it either makes it sound way too easy or completely impossible.
The truth is, it's somewhere in the middle.
For us, it's been a learning process. We've made mistakes, adjusted along the way, and figured out what works for our property and our market. Every rental and every location is different, but the biggest thing is doing your homework before jumping in.
In my next post, I'm going to break down exactly how much money we spent getting our STR set up—from furniture and appliances to the little things you don't think about until you're buying them.
I'll also share a must-have STR checklist of the items every rental should have before your first guest walks through the door.
Because trust me… there are more of them than you think.
- The Hosting Mama
