Are you leaving money on the table because your calendar isn’t optimized? In this episode of The Landlord Diaries, Kelly and Katie—two seasoned midterm rental pros and Furnished Finder hosts—reveal the exact strategies they use to keep over 95% occupancy across their portfolios.

Whether you’re managing one unit or scaling to 10+, this episode breaks down the most impactful calendar tactics for monthly rentals and why an accurate, updated listing on Furnished Finder is the key to staying booked.

• Maximize visibility on Furnished Finder
• Avoid common mistakes that reduce booking potential
• Create booking systems that generate passive income with fewer turnovers

Plus, learn how to link your Airbnb/VRBO calendars, preview your listing through the eyes of travelers, and use communication habits that turn inquiries into bookings.

If you're serious about reducing vacancy and attracting better tenants, this episode is a must-listen. Brought to you by FurnishedFinder.com, the leading platform for 30+ day rentals.

Highlights:

0:55 Meet Your Hosts: Kelly & Katie share how they built their midterm monthly rental portfolios using a mix of owned and arbitraged properties

3:50 What’s in This Episode: Learn how to master the new Furnished Finder calendar and boost your occupancy rates.

4:45 Visibility Starts with Accuracy: Why an updated calendar is key to appearing in more tenant searches.

6:05 The Two Core Settings You Must Get Right: How minimum stay requirements and block dates impact bookings.

7:30 Real-World Walkthrough: Kelly shares how she manages calendar updates with unpredictable contractor stays.

9:10 How to Link Your Calendar: Link your Furnished Finder calendar with Airbnb and VRBO for less manual work.

11:35 Calendar Mistakes That Kill Your Occupancy: Don’t forget to block dates, update listings, and never let your account expire!

16:10 Pro Strategies for High Occupancy: How to keep your listing visible and get booked even with long stays.

17:15 Should You Accept Future Reservations Now? Weighing the pros and cons of booking far in advance.

21:35 Audit Your Listing Like a Renter: Ensure your listing is compelling, clear, and includes all the must-have info.

25:20 Improve Your Communication Game: Win more bookings with clear, friendly, and professional responses.

26:50 MTR + STR Hybrid Tactics That Work: Apply the faucet method or use short-term rentals strategically to fill midterm gaps.

28:05 Wrap-Up: Pick 1–2 strategies to implement today

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List Your Property Now on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property

Host Katie Lyon’s Properties:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=katie.lyon8

Host Kelly Bailey’s Properties:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Kelly.Bailey13

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.

Did you know only 50% of tenants signed a lease for their last mid-term rental stay? That stat shocked us too. In this episode, we’re diving into why every landlord offering monthly furnished rentals needs a rock-solid lease agreement—and exactly how to build one that protects you and your property without overcomplicating things.

We’re joined by Deborah Holstein, Chief Growth Officer at Rocket Lawyer, to break down the essentials of a great lease for mid-term rentals. Whether you’re brand new to monthly rentals or you’ve hosted dozens of traveling nurses and corporate guests, this episode is your roadmap to creating clear, legally sound, and easy-to-manage lease agreements.

Through Furnished Finder’s powerful partnership with Rocket Lawyer, landlords have access to state-specific, attorney-approved leases that are tailored to the unique needs of the MTR (Mid-Term Rental) space. We talk through the 8 things every MTR lease needs, real-world landlord data, and tips to avoid common mistakes that can cost you time, money, or your property’s reputation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why a lease matters more than you think for monthly stays
- The 8 essential elements every MTR lease should include
- Furnished Finder data: average deposits, pet fees, cleaning fees & more
- How to handle early lease termination (ELT), utilities, shared spaces, pets & damage waivers
- Why generic leases from friends or Google just won’t cut it
- How to get started today using KeyCheck & Rocket Lawyer tools
This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you operate like a pro. 🚀

🔗 Ready to simplify your lease process? Access Rocket Lawyer’s MTR-optimized leases now: https://www.keycheck.com/

List Your Property Now on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property

Trending Midterm Rental Resources:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources

Episode Highlights:
0:00 Only 50% of tenants signed a lease in their last MTR stay
2:00 Furnished Finder + Rocket Lawyer: How this partnership is empowering landlords
3:20 Why leases matter for mid-term rentals (yes, even for 30-day guests)
7:00 The 8 must-have elements for your MTR lease
7:45 Lease terms: stay length, payment timing & due dates
9:15 75% of tenants prefer paying online—are you prepared?
10:25 Deposits, fees, damage waivers—what’s standard on Furnished Finder?
12:55 How Rocket Lawyer makes lease-building super simple
15:00 Hot topic: Security deposits & standard MTR fees
18:15 Data point: Average FF cleaning fee is $175—checked our market lately?
19:25 Early lease termination: rules, fees & flexibility
24:30 Pet policies & deposits: What works for monthly rentals
29:15 Amenities, storage, parking—yes, they should be in your lease
31:15 Why random leases from the internet are a legal risk
37:10 Lease questions? Connect now: https://www.keycheck.com/Home/ContactUs

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.

Are you curious about monthly stays, room rentals or how to earn while you travel? Meet Reva Lewis, a NICU nurse and seasoned traveler who has spent over eight years crisscrossing the U.S. using Furnished Finder for safe, affordable stays. With around 80% of her travels booked on Furnished Finder—including both room rentals and entire spaces—Reva knows what midterm renters prioritize, from pricing and privacy to flexible lease terms.

As a travel nurse turned host, she shares insider tips on room rentals, house hacking, and setting up your property for success. Whether you're a property owner looking to boost your income or a travel nurse in need of housing, this episode is packed with actionable insights on pricing strategies, travel nurse stipends, cancelled contracts and location challenges in rural markets.

Check rental demand in your area:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/stats

List your property now on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/list-your-property

Highlights:
0:00 Welcome to The Landlord Diaries
2:00 House hacking & room rental benefits for real estate investors
3:00 Who books room rentals? Travel nurses, professionals & corporate travelers
3:55 Pricing & privacy: How travel nurses choose between a room or an entire space
5:50 Travel nurse industry insights: How Mardi Gras impacted the industry
6:35 Midterm rentals vs. short-term rentals: How MTRs benefit local communities
7:20 Location challenges: Why more midterm rentals are needed in rural areas
9:00 Why Furnished Finder? More control over pricing & tenant communication
12:50 The best questions to ask as a host & traveler before booking
14:35 Cancelled contracts & flexible lease terms – tips from experienced hosts
17:35 Considering room rentals? Reva’s top 3 tips for success
19:35 Financial upsides of room rentals & house hacking for monthly travelers
21:45 Managing midterm rental payments through KeyCheck
25:15 Are property showings expected for midterm rental guests?
28:25 Reva’s favorite Furnished Finder stay: What makes a rental stand out
29:50 Connect with Reva Lewis for travel nurse housing & room rental advice

🚀 Don’t miss this episode if you’re serious about making money with monthly furnished rentals!

Trending Midterm Rental Resources:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/Resources/PMResources

Reva Lewis’s Listings on Furnished Finder:
https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Reva.Lewis

Host Kelly Bailey’s Listings on Furnished Finder:

https://www.furnishedfinder.com/members/profile?u=Kelly.Bailey13

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.