MARCH 25, 2025

#125: From $0 to $2.5 Million: How Christina McNaught Built a Thriving Short-Term Rental Empire

Scaling a Short-Term Rental Business to Success

Looking to elevate your short-term rental game? In this episode, I chat with Christina McNaught, a seasoned Realtor and real estate investor who has successfully grown a portfolio of 21 properties—five of which are short-term rentals and 16 managed units.

Christina opens up about her transition from managing long-term rentals to dominating the short-term rental space, where she and her husband generated over $2.5 million in gross revenue in 2024. Discover how thoughtful backyard upgrades became their secret weapon, dramatically boosting both bookings and income.

We also peel back the curtains and learn how Christina and her team pulled off this transformation, from the planning stages to the results that exceeded expectations. Discover the key factors they considered when assessing properties and how their design choices elevated the guest experience.

Christina also reveals how she’s built a thriving local community of short-term rental enthusiasts through monthly meetups and the strategies she’s used to build a strong, effective team.

This episode is packed with practical strategies and valuable guidance to help you grow your short-term rental business. Christina’s journey and success story offer key takeaways for both newcomers and experienced operators looking to elevate their business!

Why Short-Term Rental Hosts Need a Strategy

In an increasingly competitive short-term rental market, having a clear strategy is key to maximizing revenue and guest satisfaction. Christina’s approach includes:

• Property Assessment: How to choose the right property that fits within a growing portfolio.
• Strategic Renovations: How investing in unique amenities like a pickleball court boosted revenue and occupancy.
• Community Building: The power of networking and learning through local meetups.
• Team Management: The importance of outsourcing and delegating tasks to optimize productivity.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[00:05] A short introduction about our guest Christina McNaught

[01:25] Christina’s transition journey from long-term to short-term rental space

[04:47] The challenges of scaling a short-term rental portfolio and the importance of systems, structure, and the right team to grow successfully

[06:16] What are the things that Christina is looking for to assess a property that could potentially fit within her portfolio

[07:12] Why Christina delayed the backyard build-out of one property for a year and what influenced her decision

[12:44] Christina shares the process of building a backyard pickleball court and key considerations for execution

[15:56] Christina talks about the breakdown cost, contractors, and key considerations for installing a pickleball court

[19:16] How the backyard build-out led to a massive revenue boost, increased occupancy, and a near-instant return on investment

[20:47] Christina shares how her neighbors have reacted positively to the pickleball courts, and how she addressed potential issues with ball interference

[22:00] Christina’s approach to vibrant interior design and the bold decision to use a neon green pickleball court

[24:16] How being surrounded by top designers and experts at the retreat helped her gain confidence in her bold design decisions

[25:03] Christina explains how she tailors her approach to clients, sharing insights on backyard builds while respecting their unique goals for co-hosting

[26:32] Christina explains how she uses floor plans and apps like Cubicasa to assess and convert spaces, turning a three-bedroom into a four-bedroom

[28:17] How Christina selects your contractors and what types of things she’s looking for in finding the right folks to help her

[29:18] Christina shares how she runs a Meetup group, where local property managers, real estate agents, and co-hosts collaborate, share experiences, and discuss various topics

[30:27] How Christina runs her Meetup group and connects local property professionals to collaborate, share experiences, and discuss key industry topics

[31:12] Christina explains how her Meetup attracts a mix of property managers, investors, co-hosts, and real estate agents, and the importance of collaboration over competition

[34:12] How Christina and her husband manage their business operations with the help of VAs to handle day-to-day tasks

[35:23] Christina shares how delegating tasks to a team brought relief and the importance of measuring time for improved productivity

[37:40] Christina’s challenges of working with her husband in a shared office space, navigating different work schedules and communication styles

[39:49] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

• “It is so incredibly helpful to get perspective from other people.”
• “Building community is one of the most powerful ways, not only to expand your network and meet new people, but it’s one of the most powerful ways to learn.”
• “Collaborating with people versus competing with them is so incredibly important.”
• “As you do grow, make sure that you are freeing yourself up to focus on what lights you up – the things that you enjoy and also the things that you’re good at. I think one of the biggest challenges that I’ve seen entrepreneurs make is that they try to do everything themselves, and you get to a point where you’re you’re in your own way.”

Ready to Scale Your Short-Term Rental Business?

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your existing properties, Christina’s journey offers inspiration and practical strategies to help you succeed. From leveraging unique amenities to fostering a supportive STR community, her insights can help you build a thriving rental business.

Want to connect with Christina?

🔹 Facebook: Christina McNaught 

🔹 Email: christina@theshortermshop.com

Enjoyed the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

🌟 Get your FREE furnishing guide here

🌟 Get your FREE STR blueprint here