Landlord Diaries - The Monthly Rentals Podcast

Furnished Finder
  • 4.8 (93)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Most landlords learn through trial and error. Landlord Diaries gives you the cheat codes for getting into monthly (mid-term) rentals and learning how they actually work.   Expert hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon reveal the secrets to finding success in the monthly rental game. They talk with real landlords who have figured it out, so you can learn real strategies on investment, property management, and building real estate income without the chaos of short-term rentals or the headaches of long-term leases. If you've ever wondered whether monthly rentals could work for you, this is where you start. Furnished Finder is the trusted leader in the category, connecting millions of travelers with furnished 30+ day housing across the US. No booking fees, no commissions, just one low annual listing fee, and you have total control of your rental. Your next rental strategy might be one episode away. Find recent episodes and meet Kelly and Katie at https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Listing Lab | A Focus On Property Fees | What You Need to Know

    In a recent Furnished Finder survey, 57% of tenants said they skip listings when the midterm rental deposit is too high. Kelly Bailey has eight midterm rentals on Furnished Finder, hosts the Landlord Diaries podcast, and leads the Listing Lab series. In this walkthrough, she reviews a real Washington DC listing and shows how to research fees and deposits against your local comps so you can find out whether your listing is priced to book or priced to sit. Furnished Finder Pricing Worksheet https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/how-to-price-your-furnished-rental-a-landlords-guide Want your listing considered for the Listing Lab series? Drop your Furnished Finder property ID in the comments. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Watch this link for the full video experience:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28-EGjwFUMA Chapters 00:00 Why Fees Matter and accompany pricing 00:19 The 57% Deposit Survey Stat 00:38 Reviewing a Real DC Listing 01:08 Check You Midterm Pricing and Fees Together 01:32 Pulling Comps on the Furnished Finder Map 02:22 A Comp With a $2,500 Deposit 02:58 Property Booked with a Low $500 Deposit  03:26 A Higher-Priced Comp With No Deposit 03:36 Damage Protection Plan as a Deposit Alternative 04:19 Another Booked Listing With a Low Deposit 04:39 Why This Deposit Is Likely Too High 05:11 High Deposits Sit, Low Deposits Book 05:56 Your Steps to Check Your Fees TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, furnished finder listing lab, midterm rental deposit, how to price a midterm rental, rental fees, cleaning fee, damage protection plan, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, Kelly Bailey furnished finder, midterm rental landlord tips The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  2. Sep 10 ·  Video

    No Vacancy Series: 6 Items Midterm Tenants Value (and Pay More For)

    Curious what midterm rental amenities justify a higher monthly rental rate? In this video, we break down the six amenities for your furnished rental that help remote workers or relocating family pick your listing and pay higher rental rates. Three are non-negotiable. Three are premium amenities tenants will pay extra for. The No Vacancy series is brought to you by Katie Lyon, a midterm rental landlord who is also part of the Furnished Finder team.  If you want more bookings at a stronger rate, this is the checklist to run your listing against today. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. Watch this link for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPjSp-X7KKk Chapters 00:00 Meet Katie Lyon 00:21 The Amenities That Raise Your Rate 00:38 Who Midterm Tenants Really Are 00:57 The 3 + 3 Amenity Framework 01:06 Amenity 1: Wi-Fi and a Real Workspace 01:37 Amenity 2: In-Unit Laundry 01:44 Where to Feature Laundry in Your Listing 02:03 Amenity 3: A Truly Stocked Kitchen 02:11 What Stocked Actually Means 02:31 Photograph Your Cabinets 02:43 Where the Premium Amenities Start 02:51 Amenity 4: Pet-Friendly Properties 03:01 The Value of a Fenced Yard 03:19 Easing Pet Damage Concerns 03:32 Amenity 5: A King Bed in the Primary 04:01 Amenity 6: Free On-Site Parking 04:40 Your Listing Challenge This Week TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, midterm rental amenities, pet friendly rental, in unit laundry, king bed rental, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, remote worker housing, how to charge more for a rental, midterm rental landlord tips, Katie Lyon furnished finder The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  3. Sep 7 ·  Video

    From $220 to $80 a Night | My Airbnb Listings Crashed | Here's What I Did Next

    Airbnb saturation crushed Bob Anthes’s nightly rate from $220 to $80 in 90 days. He feared selling was the only option until he discovered midterm rentals, and rebuilt his rental business with Furnished Finder. Four years later, Bob has 5 midterm rental listings in two markets, cash flows $1,800/month on his original Wilmington property, and doubled another unit's rent from $875 to $2,000 with one strategy shift. In this episode of Landlord Diaries, Bob walks through the exact pivot from short-term to midterm, why Furnished Finder Market Insights drives his pricing and acquisition decisions, and the 3 habits that keep his listings booked: fast response times, tenant flexibility, and a simple booking process using Furnished Finder Landlord Tools. What you'll learn in this episode: Why Airbnb saturation collapsed nightly rates in his cityHow Bob used Furnished Finder Market Insights to find his second marketWhy 50% of his bookings extend and the exact conversation that makes it happenHow one unmatched lead turned into a 9-month Amazon warehouse bookingThe tenant screening, online lease, and Baselane workflow that keeps his MTRs simpleHow the Furnished Finder damage protection plan paid out within a week after a claim Whether you are a short-term rental host facing regulation or saturation, a long-term landlord chasing better cash flow, a real estate investor exploring midterm rentals, or a new landlord getting started, Bob's story shows how a single pivot can shape your real estate portfolio. List Your Property on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Landlord Diaries, The Monthly Rentals Podcast 0:45 Airbnb saturation crashed Bob's $220/night rate to $80 2:20 The rest stop moment that led Bob to Furnished Finder 3:20 90-day booking in his first week on Furnished Finder 3:50 The data the convinced Bob to convert his attic into a rental 4:20 Portfolio tour: tenant types and $875 to $2k rent lift 6:25 Using Market Insights to price midterm rentals 9:20 Why midterm rentals feel more stable than short-term 11:40 Midterm vs long-term: how Bob decides 15:15 Testing MTR when Market Insights has limited data 20:10 Bob's girlfriend tries room rentals on Furnished Finder 21:10 Pro tip: responsiveness is the #1 booking driver 24:25 Furnished Finder's new landlord response rate explained 25:50 How to craft your first message to a tenant 27:00 Fast responses and updated calendars go hand in hand 27:55 50% of Bob's bookings extend thanks to flexibility 29:45 Keeping midterm processes simple with Furnished Finder 32:50 Advice Bob would give himself during the Airbnb bust 34:20 Rapid Fire: American dream and one habit to start today Trending Monthly Midterm Rental Resources: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources Bob's Listings on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?id=1c8932e-48df-a2f-751-573eac Meet your hosts Kelly Bailey & Katie Lyon, plus catch up on past episodes: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast Topics covered: midterm rental strategy, Airbnb saturation, short term to midterm pivot, Furnished Finder Market Insights, travel nurse housing, midterm rental pricing, Baselane, tenant responsiveness, midterm rental cash flow, Wilmington NC rentals, Greensboro NC rentals, hospital proximity midterm rental, Furnished Finder Landlord Tools The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  4. Sep 3 ·  Video

    My Exact Process for Researching Room Rentals on Furnished Finder with Kelly Bailey

    About 20% of Furnished Finder's inventory is room rentals (around 60,000 units nationwide) but most new landlords have no idea how to price one or whether their market can support it. Kelly Bailey has been a Furnished Finder landlord for over five years with eight midterm rentals, and she's part of the Furnished Finder team. In this Listing Lab, she walks through her exact process for researching a room rental market using Leander, Texas as the live example, so you can decide if a room rental works in your area and how to price it. Here's what's covered: 0:00 - Why room rentals are a great option on Furnished Finder 0:46 - The four things Kelly checks before pricing any room 0:55 - The national average for a private room rental 1:03 - Using Market Insights to research your specific city 1:27 - Why studio and one-bedroom pricing matters for room rentals 1:59 - Reading the map to see what your market actually looks like 2:09 - Setting price and date filters to eliminate bad comps 2:28 - Calendar habits that keep your listing surfaced in search 3:00 - Why response time makes or breaks your booking rate 3:57 - Filtering down to private rooms only 4:23 - What happens to supply when you allow pets 4:42 - The four criteria Kelly uses to evaluate every comp 4:52 - The full pricing range for room rentals in this market 5:13 - What makes a main photo actually pop in search results 7:15 - How to read availability and landlord tenure 9:50 - Comparing a $1,500 room to a $950 room side by side 11:01 - Three action steps to take before you list your room 12:05 - How to get started with room rentals If you're thinking about listing a spare room, this walkthrough shows you how to check demand, price competitively, and evaluate real comps in your market before you post. Want your listing considered for the Listing Lab series? Drop your Furnished Finder property ID in the comments. Want to list your furnished property? https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Room by room furnishing List: https://assets.ctfassets.net/8rvbu1uw8lem/4pKVOxeFmg0umMHL2vclew/0cfaabe735029d6f5181bb20cdf26aa6/Monthly_Rental_Essentials_Checklist_-Minoan-Furnished_Finder-.pdf Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, room rental, how to rent a room, co-living, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, furnished finder listing lab, how to price a room rental, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, rent by the room, remote worker housing, Kelly Bailey furnished finder, midterm rental landlord tips The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  5. Aug 26 ·  Video

    No Vacancy: How to Screen Tenants Like a Pro

    Your midterm rental tenant is going to live in your property for 30, 60, 90 days or more. That's a long time to be wrong about someone. Katie Lyon is a midterm rental landlord and part of the Furnished Finder team. In this video, she breaks down the one decision that separates landlords who sleep well at night from the ones who don't: running a real tenant screening every single time. She covers what a photo of an ID actually tells you, why references and work contracts fall short, and the three reports that give you the full picture on each applicant. For the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaa74Bx-2Rc Chapters 00:00 Meet Katie Lyon 00:25 The One Decision That Matters Most 00:34 Why Midterm Stays Raise the Stakes 00:47 The Screening Mistakes Landlords Make 01:08 Why an ID Isn't Enough 01:14 What References Actually Miss 01:32 What a Real Screening Looks Like 01:35 Screening Tenants Is Easier Than You Think 01:42 TransUnion Backed Reports Explained 01:48 Report 1: Reading Credit History 02:05 Report 2: The Eviction Check 02:21 Report 3: Background Check 02:23 Before You Hand Over the Keys 02:37 The Tenant Pays for Screening 02:49 How to Request It in Furnished Finder 02:54 Screen Before the Lease Is Signed 03:01 Your Action Item This Week Every tenant, every time. That's the habit that protects your property, your income, and your peace of mind. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing?  Visit https://www.furnishedfinder.com/ Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, tenant screening, how to screen tenants, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, TransUnion tenant screening, eviction check, credit check for tenants, background check, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, rental property tips, landlord tips, remote worker housing, midterm rental landlord tips, Katie Lyon furnished finder The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  6. Aug 24 ·  Video

    Her Backyard Casita Brings in $18K a Year on Furnished Finder

    Ana-Maria turned the 400 square foot casita behind her San Antonio home into $18,000 a year in additional revenue on Furnished Finder. No real estate background, no massive portfolio, no full-time real estate career. Just one extra space, rented intentionally to travel nurses, professors, and military members on monthly stays. As a single parent working in marketing and communications, Ana-Maria desires to supplement her income and provide for her daughter. In this episode of Landlord Diaries, she shares exactly how the casita became a steady revenue stream, why she chose Furnished Finder over Airbnb (Airbnb would have taken almost 20% off the top in San Antonio hotel/motel taxes and fees alone), and how she has kept a perfect 5-star review record for over five years. What you'll learn in this episode: How Ana-Maria makes $18,000 a year from a 400 square foot casitaWhy she picked Furnished Finder over Airbnb after running the numbersThe tenant screening process that ended her squatter riskHow she keeps her casita occupied almost year-round with 3 month average staysWhy she offers guests first right of refusal at the end of every leaseThe exact review request approach that has earned her 5-star reviews for 5+ yearsHow she has connected with tenants who became family, including one guest who left San Antonio with two adopted kittens named Mac and Cheese This episode is for landlords with an ADU, in-law suite, room rental, or extra space they haven't monetized yet. It's for retirees, single parents, working professionals, and anyone considering the midterm rental space as a supplemental income stream. Furnished Finder connects landlords directly with travel nurses, corporate travelers, relocating families, and academics looking for monthly furnished housing across all 50 states. 83% of Furnished Finder landlords list just one property, and the average landlord earns $15,000 a year. Ana-Maria is above that average, and she'll walk you through exactly how. List Your Property on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Landlord Diaries 0:55 Ana-Maria's American Dream as a single parent 1:35 The 400 sq ft casita behind her San Antonio home 3:25 Teaching kids the value of a rental income stream 6:15 From long-term tenant to Furnished Finder 8:25 The tools that made switching to MTR easy 10:55 The squatter that changed everything 12:00 Why moms are booking on Furnished Finder 14:00 Pre-screening tips for landlords and tenants 14:40 Keeping a shared property truly private 16:00 Guest stories: two kittens named Mac and Cheese 18:35 Why conversational screening beats STR platforms 21:40 Supplement your income with Furnished Finder 22:30 Airbnb wanted 20%. Furnished Finder was different. 23:35 $18,000 a year from one backyard casita 25:25 Why she offers guests first right of refusal 27:05 What tenants love most about the casita 29:40 Advice for new landlords with extra space 33:35 Rapid Fire: what she wishes she knew at tenant #1 Resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-moving-in https://www.furnishedfinder.com/blog/5-questions-to-ask-during-the-booking-process-with-a-tenant Ana-Maria’s Listings on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?id=6a3b05c-4a6a-a43-844-8dab88 Topics covered: midterm rental strategy, casita rental income, ADU rental, single parent side hustle, Furnished Finder vs Airbnb, tenant screening, TransUnion background check, 5-star reviews, monthly rental income, San Antonio rental, backyard rental, extra space monetization, supplemental income for retirees, mother-in-law suite rental, furnished rental income The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  7. Aug 10 ·  Video

    Jamie Manages Her Rental Finances in 2 Hours a Month!

    Most landlords treat banking and bookkeeping like admin chores. The ones who get it right treat them like the operating system of the business. Jamie Banks manages her real estate finances for three mid-term rentals across two markets in just two hours a month. In this episode, she walks us through the exact financial system she has trusted for three years, the mistakes she made before switching, and the bookkeeping habit that helped her sell one of her most profitable rentals without paying capital gains tax. Whether you own one property, rent one room, or operate a full portfolio, the financial setup Jamie walks through will save you hours, dollars, and stress at tax time. Baselane is the financial partner of Furnished Finder, giving landlords one place for rent collection, banking, bookkeeping, and tax prep. In this episode: How Jamie handles the books for three properties in just two hours a monthThe trap many landlords fall into with separate banking, bookkeeping, and rent collectionWhy Baselane is better than QuickBooks for real estate professionalsThe financial setup to put in place before your very first tenant moves inThe exact catch-up move if you're already behind on your books List Your Property on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property Use code LLD10 for $10 off new listings. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Landlord Diaries 1:15 Jamie's mid-term rental portfolio 2:00 Why she's letting go of her New Orleans rental 3:00 The real cost of disorganized rental finances 4:30 How Jamie handles her rental finances in 2 hours a month 4:45 What is Baselane and why she made the switch 6:50 Why Baselane beats QuickBooks for landlords 9:00 Inside the Furnished Finder and Baselane partnership 10:10 Why she keeps her MTR bookkeeping in-house 11:20 Baselane perks your tenants will actually notice 11:50 What Jamie's financial system has freed up in her life 13:15 Why Baselane works even if you own a single property 13:50 How banking, bookkeeping, and rent collection connect 15:50 Furnished Finder's toolkit for MTR landlords 16:35 Do you really need bookkeeping for one property? 18:20 The exact financial setup for a new landlord 21:05 What to do if you're already behind on your books 22:50 Baselane Smart AI, free for a year with Furnished Finder 23:40 Katie's tax lesson and Jamie's quarterly tax system 26:10 Why Jamie sold her most profitable rental on purpose 29:20 Rapid Fire: the American dream and clever write offs Jamie's Listings on Furnished Finder: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?id=7399836-4974-a19-922-241ae7 Trending Monthly Midterm Rental Resources: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources Meet your hosts Kelly Bailey & Katie Lyon, plus catch up on past episodes: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast Topics covered: mid-term rental bookkeeping, landlord banking, Baselane review, QuickBooks alternative for landlords, rent collection automation, capital gains tax on rental property, quarterly tax prep for landlords, Furnished Finder Baselane partnership, one property landlord tips, rental finance systems The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

  8. Aug 3 ·  Bonus

    The 5 Things Every Midterm Rental NEEDS (Most Landlords Skip #3)

    If your midterm rental reviews are just okay, or your tenants are messaging you constantly, these five things are probably missing from your property. Katie Lyon manages 12 midterm rentals and is part of the Furnished Finder team. In this video, she breaks down the exact items she stocks in every single property, the ones that improved her reviews, reduced late-night messages, and made her tenants' stays genuinely better. Here's what she covers: 0:00 - Why these 5 things make or break a tenant's experience 0:20 - A real workstation setup (the #1 review driver) 0:45 - The Wi-Fi sign that eliminates your most common tenant message 1:05 - The essentials kit every property needs before move-in 1:30 - Cleaning supplies that keep tenants from texting you mid-stay 1:55 - Extra linens and why they show up in reviews more than you'd expect These are low-cost, high-impact additions that work whether you have one property or twelve. If you want better reviews, fewer messages, and happier tenants, start here. Want to list your furnished property or find midterm housing? Visit www.FurnishedFinder.com Subscribe for more midterm rental tips from real landlords in the field. TAGS: real estate investing, midterm rental, midterm rental landlord, furnished rental tips, furnished finder, what to stock in a rental, travel nurse housing, midterm rental setup, furnished apartment essentials, rental property tips, landlord tips, remote worker housing, short term rental vs midterm rental, how to improve rental reviews, midterm rental landlord tips, Katie Lyon furnished finder The Landlord Diaries is brought to you by Furnished Finder, where you can list your property for one low price and pay zero booking fees.

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Most landlords learn through trial and error. Landlord Diaries gives you the cheat codes for getting into monthly (mid-term) rentals and learning how they actually work.   Expert hosts Kelly Bailey and Katie Lyon reveal the secrets to finding success in the monthly rental game. They talk with real landlords who have figured it out, so you can learn real strategies on investment, property management, and building real estate income without the chaos of short-term rentals or the headaches of long-term leases. If you've ever wondered whether monthly rentals could work for you, this is where you start. Furnished Finder is the trusted leader in the category, connecting millions of travelers with furnished 30+ day housing across the US. No booking fees, no commissions, just one low annual listing fee, and you have total control of your rental. Your next rental strategy might be one episode away. Find recent episodes and meet Kelly and Katie at https://www.furnishedfinder.com/resources/podcast

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