Stop Adding Amenities. Build a Better Moat.
If your short-term rental isn't getting enough bookings, your first instinct might be to add something new. A pickleball court. A hot tub. An Xbox. An espresso machine. Whatever the competition seems to have.
But what if that's the wrong question?
In this episode of Cash Flow Positive, Kenny Bedwell breaks down why constantly adding amenities isn't necessarily going to make your property stand out. Instead, investors should focus on building a moat: something that creates a memorable experience and gives guests a reason to choose your property over the hundreds of other options available.
From better photography and guest experience photos to space, privacy, design, lighting, and making the most of what your property already has, Kenny explains how to think differently about standing out in an increasingly competitive STR market.
Key Takeaways
- Why adding more amenities isn't always the answer when a property is underperforming.
- The “keeping up with the Joneses” problem and why copying the amenities of successful properties can be misleading.
- Why you should ask “How can I stand out?” instead of “What am I missing?”
- How your property's layout can affect bookings, even when you technically have enough beds to accommodate more guests.
- Why short-term rental investing is ultimately a marketing race and how your listing needs to capture attention and emotion.
- How guest experience photos can elevate your listing and why models can be particularly valuable for higher-end properties.
- Why space and privacy are underrated selling points that should be highlighted in your marketing.
- The three types of amenities: those that primarily impact ADR, occupancy, or the guest experience.
- Why simply adding an amenity isn't enough if you aren't actually marketing it.
- What Kenny means by a “moat” and the different ways you can create one through design, location, views, water access, space, privacy, property type, or amenities.
- Why professional lighting can become a powerful moat by transforming the way a property looks and feels in photos.
- How one property used extensive professional lighting to stand out and become one of the top-performing properties in its market.
- Why the best moat isn't necessarily something nobody else can copy, but something that creates enough differentiation and effort that most competitors won't replicate it.
- How to elevate existing advantages, such as turning water access into a complete guest experience rather than simply adding kayaks or paddleboards.
- Why marketing is what activates your moat and turns a property's advantages into more bookings.
- How to identify your property's existing moat: ask why guests are choosing your property in the first place.
- Why checking boxes doesn't bring bookings unless those features are actually communicated and marketed effectively.
About the Host
Kenny Bedwell is the host of Cash Flow Positive and an experienced short-term rental investor. Through the podcast, Kenny shares practical insights on real estate investing, short-term rentals, market data, cash flow, and the lessons he's learned from building and operating his own portfolio.
Important Links
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LinkedIn: Kenneth Bedwell
Cash Flow Positive is an original podcast hosted by Kenny Bedwell.