Smart STR Upgrades That Actually Increase ROI with Celeste DiRocco and Philip Pane

On this week's episode, Avery is joined by Celeste DiRocco and Philip Pane of Parklin Interiors. They share how they went from buying their first short term rental sight unseen in Gatlinburg to building a six property portfolio across Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia while designing more than 200 short term rentals nationwide. Celeste explains how thoughtful, ROI focused design choices like strategic accent walls, updated lighting, elevated bedding, and strong exterior appeal can dramatically increase bookings without blowing the budget. They also discuss common investor mistakes, including overspending in the wrong areas, over cramming guest capacity, and going too over the top with themes that can hurt long term resale value. The conversation wraps with insights on enhancing the guest experience, building equity through smart renovations, and why focusing on the right doors instead of more doors can transform your investing strategy.

How to connect with Celeste and Phillip:

https://www.instagram.com/parklin_interiors/
https://www.instagram.com/southern_serenity_stays/

https://parklininteriors.com/

How to connect with Avery:

The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/

Short Term Shop Plus - stsplus.com

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For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s books:

Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon
Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon