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In this episode of Get Paid For Your Pad, Jasper Ribbers is joined by Alex DeCamp, founder of Great Stays Detroit, to unpack how he built a resilient short-term rental business in a market not driven by leisure, but by business travel, and how vertical integration through a self-service laundromat is becoming his next growth lever.
If you’re running or growing an STR property management company, this conversation is full of lessons in automation, outsourcing, tech integration, and system-building, all grounded in real experience.
You’ll hear:
Why Detroit’s steady business travel demand has kept occupancy stable
How Alex transitioned from corporate banker to STR property manager
What inspired him to systematize everything after attending an STR conference in London
How he’s using ChatGPT and AI tools to scale operations without working more hours
The real reasons behind launching a laundromat, and how it benefits his entire STR portfolio
How SOPs, automation, and virtual assistants have made his company operationally lean
We also talk about:
The difference between “busy work” and real growth in property management
How offsite laundry can cut down cleaning times and improve quality control
Why building a centralized operations hub changes the game
Lessons from the Legends X program and the value of energy audits
The mindset shift from being in the business to working on the business
🎯 Mentioned in the Episode:
- GreatStays.co – Property Management in Detroit
Legends X Program
London STR Conference (2019)
Movement Music Festival in Detroit (as a peak occupancy test case)
🔥 Systems That Make It Work:
1. 24/7 virtual assistant team with full SOP access
2. ChatGPT to auto-generate Airbnb support messages and appeal arguments
3. AI-powered knowledge base for cleaner and VA self-service
4. Breezeway + maintenance tracking for real-time quality control
5. Internal tech stack adapted from STR leaders and continuously optimized
📍 Planning a trip to Detroit or looking to grow your own portfolio? Connect with Alex and check out Great Stays for real-world inspiration.
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Jasper Ribbers:
Welcome back to Get Paid For Your Pad. Today I’m joined by Alex DeCamp, founder of Great Stays based in Detroit, Michigan. He’s one of our revenue management clients and has built a lean, systemized STR business in a surprisingly stable market. Welcome, Alex.
Alex DeCamp:
Thanks Jasper, happy to be here.
Jasper:
You’re operating in Detroit, which isn’t exactly a vacation rental hotspot. How’s the market holding up?
Alex:
It’s steady. While many leisure-heavy markets are down, Detroit benefits from a consistent business travel base. Sure, we’re down slightly, but nowhere near the 10 to 30 percent drop others are seeing.
Jasper:
You started out in banking, right? How did you transition into STR?
Alex:
Yeah, I was a corporate banker focused on small business lending and city programs. At the same time, I was redeveloping vacant real estate. Around 2016, tenants began using my units for Airbnb arbitrage. I got curious, partnered with a local manager and designer, and converted one of my apartments. Then I inherited six more units from an operator who moved away. Before I knew it, I had a small STR portfolio.
Jasper:
That snowball effect is so common. You also worked with us pre-Legends X, right?
Alex:
Exactly. I joined what became the foundation of Legends X. That’s where I started to see the power of automation and SOPs. I went from doing everything myself to slowly delegating and documenting processes.
Jasper:
Speaking of systems, you mentioned that you use ChatGPT to generate SOPs and even Airbnb replies?
Alex:
Yes. I use it to write cleaner guest communication in my tone. My VA team now has access to a project space that generates responses and follow-ups using my voice and logic. Everything’s documented so they can act independently.
Jasper:
And now you’re building… a laundromat?
Alex:
Yes, but not just any laundromat. It’s an operational solution for my STR business. We manage over 150 turns a month. Laundry slows down our cleaners and affects quality. By moving laundry offsite, we save time, improve consistency, and reduce wear on washers. Plus, we open it to the public to create a new revenue stream.
Jasper:
That’s vertical integration at its best. Where are you in the process?
Alex:
I’m looking at locations and running numbers. Coming from banking, I understand how to secure financing and structure deals. I want the space to feel inviting, with strong Wi-Fi and thoughtful design. Cleaners will drop off and pick up daily bundles for each unit. It also becomes our first centralized hub.
Jasper:
So smart. What other lessons have you learned from growing your STR company?
Alex:
Step out of the day-to-day as soon as you can. I still struggle with it, but the more I delegate, the more I grow. Track where your time goes. Use energy audits to see what you enjoy or not. From there, create job descriptions and build the team.
Jasper:
It’s easy to think that doing it yourself is free, but it’s actually the most expensive option when you factor in opportunity cost.
Alex:
Exactly. That’s why I’m working on hiring an operations manager and expanding my maintenance crew. Every task I delegate brings compounding returns.
Jasper:
Where can people learn more or connect with you?
Alex:
Visit greatstays.co. If you’re managing your own unit in Detroit, download the checklist at greatstays.co/checklist. Even if full management isn’t the right fit, I still want to support STR owners.
Jasper:
Love it. Thanks for sharing your story, Alex. We’ll have to do a follow-up once the laundromat opens.
Alex:
Absolutely. I’ll bring photos.
Jasper:
Thanks for tuning in to Get Paid For Your Pad. We’ll see you next time.
