Doubling STR Profits in Coachella Valley | FIBI Rentals

123% Increase in Bottom line Profit

Coachella Valley STR Story

Comparing Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, FIBI delivered operating profits to the owners of a home in Indio, CA that exceeded prior year (when managed by the previous management company) by 123% – going from $8,480 in operating profits to $18,894 – here’s how we did it.

 

Background

This property was initially launched in May 2023. Designed by a professional designer and then managed by a local STR management company. The property needed to generate 60k/year operating profit for the investment to make sense/hit proforma. After 11 months with the initial design and management it was clear that the property was not on track to meet targets. FIBI was brought in to make a change.

We were given a 5k materials budget to make design improvements, which we finished up in late June and re-launched the property in Mid July 2024. Here are the results:

With the first full operating year complete, we have achieved 60k in operating profits, delivered to the owners. This is a 50% improvement in the 40k delivered the prior year by the previous manager. Furthermore, this was achieved despite a slow and painful ramp up period. As we launched in the dead of the slow season, we did not begin to beat the prior year NOI until December 2024, only achieving about 50% of prior year profits to that point. This means that since December 2024 we’ve been more than doubling operating profits, as pointed out in the opening paragraph.

Moving forward we expect to beat the 60k operating profit delivered in our first full fiscal year.

How we did it

Key Design and Amenity changes

Pool Deck

• New wood chaise lounges 
• contrasting Rug for seating area 
• gas fire pit 
• Giant Connect four 
• Way more photos

There were literally two photos of the pool deck before we took over, here they are:

And here is 1 of the 13 photos we took, showcasing all of the simple yet effective changes we made:

Color and Staging 

We added throw pillows and blankets to the furniture, which pictures better and gets more views and clicks on Airbnb. We also took better photos. Below is the living room before and after.

 

Here is how we staged the dining table for photos vs previous photo shoot:

 

The Bedrooms

• Occupancy and Bed Count increase 
• Blackout Curtains that darken the room, make it easier to sleep, and add color to the photographs

 

This simple and effective change is showcased with the below before (first) and After of one of the bedrooms:

 

 

Upstairs Loft/Common Area

Occupancy, Bed count, and entertainment – The property already had a pull out bed that was neither photographed nor counted as a bed in the marketing done by the previous manager. So we opened it up and took photographs, and installed a pac-man game near it as well. See below Before (first) and after:

 

 

Listing Optimization: Elevating Performance in a Competitive Market

While exceptional design, staging, and photography lay the foundation for a standout short-term rental (STR) property, they are only the starting point. Much like a football team preparing for game day, success hinges on execution in the moment. In a fiercely competitive and saturated market like Indio, CA (Coachella Valley), strategic Listing Optimization and Revenue Management are the game-changers that drive bookings and maximize visibility.

The graph below vividly illustrates this property’s remarkable journey, showcasing a consistent upward trajectory in Airbnb page rankings from its launch on page 6 to achieving the coveted Rank 1 on Page 1. Each red line on the graph marks a deliberate optimization adjustment, fine-tuning elements such as cleaning fees, cancellation policies, listing title, high-quality photos, and the accumulation of 5-star reviews. These targeted changes significantly boosted the property’s Airbnb SEO and visibility, propelling it to the top of search results.

Over the course of just six months, this case study demonstrates that even in a hyper-competitive market, strategic optimization can yield extraordinary results. Every property and market has its own ramp-up phase, but the key takeaway is clear: with the right approach, there’s always room at the top for new entrants to shine.

Summary

More Photos. Better quality photos. Pre-Photo Staging. More Beds. More Color. More amenities that entertain and relax, inside and out. 5k budget for all this, we are doubling revenue and profits.