In this episode of The Landlord Diaries, we sit down with Darel Ison, a full-time professional who’s built an impressive portfolio of 19 rental properties spread across Ohio, Kansas, and Florida. With 7 duplexes, 1 triplex, and several single-family homes under his belt, Darel has mastered the art of converting long-term rentals into lucrative mid-term rentals.

Starting his journey in 2002, Darel's success isn't just about property accumulation; it's about strategic portfolio management. Discover how he’s transformed 4 of his properties into mid-term rentals, driving 85-90% of his bookings through Furnished Finder. Darel shares actionable insights into maximizing rental income without expanding your portfolio, by tapping into the mid-term rental market.

Key highlights include:

• The strategic shift from LTR to MTR
• Insights on managing out-of-state properties
• Essential tips for property improvements and tenant communication
• Leveraging tools like KeyCheck & Worry Free Waiver

In this episode...

0:00 Intro

2:30 Darel’s W2 & investing goals

3:20 The journey to 19 doors

4:00 Darel’s current focus: portfolio improvements & increasing profit

4:20 Darel caught every Bigger Pockets episode up to 600!

5:20 Struggling with tenants in your LTRs? Consider MTR

7:00 Host Katie Lyon’s investing goals for her kids & family

9:45 The difference in LTR & MTR tenants from Darel's experience

12:15 Not getting bookings? Tune in now.

15:00 Stay active in your Furnished Finder account

17:40 Want marketing feedback? Tag your Furnished Finder listing in the comments

18:15 Moving your first LTR to MTR

21:00 Fill your MTR gaps with STR stays: Darel got his normal rent in 4 nights

26:10 The revenue difference between LTR & MTR

31:35 Working with your contractors as an out of state property owner

35:35 Digital lock tips: which locks to buy, which to avoid, do not disturb feature & how they integrate with your channel manager

39:25 KeyCheck provides peace of mind throughout your MTR booking process

40:10 Travelers & landlords alike trust KeyCheck tenant screenings

42:00 KeyCheck makes splitting payments easy for travelers sharing a home

43:55 Worry Free Waiver: protect yourself & your guests

50:20 3 ways to present Worry Free Waiver to tenants

52:15 A separate pet guideline comes in handy

58:30 Incorporating QR codes & virtual tours into your real estate marketing

1:01:55 Finding strong multi-family deals on market

1:03:35 When your getting out bid over & over, change your strategy

• Furnished Finder’s Worry Free Waiver
• Darel’s Listings on Furnished Finder
• Katie’s Lighting Product

SEO Keywords:
Mid-term rentals, real estate investing, rental properties, Furnished Finder, portfolio management, property conversion, rental income, Bigger Pockets, real estate podcast, tenant management, digital lock ti

Text the hosts with questions or comments.

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