After two decades of building, running, and successfully exiting two vacation rental companies, Sarah Bradford breaks down the mistakes she made, corrected, and still sees operators repeating today.
From financial blind spots and weak owner communication to outdated technology and saying yes to the wrong homeowners, Sarah shares what she would change immediately if she were building a vacation rental business heading into 2026.
In this episode, we cover:
1️⃣ Financial habits that quietly put operators at risk
2️⃣ Why trust accounting, budgeting, and clean books are non-negotiable
3️⃣ Owner relationship mistakes that lead to unnecessary churn
4️⃣ How silence from homeowners can signal problems long before complaints
5️⃣ Why competing on commission rarely works
6️⃣ The cost of delaying technology and PMS upgrades
7️⃣ How weak company culture shows up in performance and retention
8️⃣ When saying no to homeowners protects your team
9️⃣ Why outdated homes hurt your brand more than you think
🔟 What operators should fix now to stay competitive heading into 2026
If you’re using this quieter holiday window to reflect, reset, and plan ahead, this episode is well worth your time.
#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement #strindustry #str