The Truth about Airbnb's and Short Term Rentals
Short Term Renals: How Dawon Built Systems That Scale
Lessons from Christina and and Dawon
If you’ve ever stayed in an Airbnb and wondered, “How much does this place actually earn — and could I do this too?” you’re not alone. That curiosity is exactly where Dawon Millwood started before becoming a Concord-based real estate agent, investor, and short-term rental owner with properties in the North Carolina mountains and Myrtle Beach.
🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube or listen to the podcast
here
New Paragraph
In this episode of Branching Out: Where Real Estate Meets Real Life, Christina sits down with Dawon to talk about what short-term rentals really take: the income potential, the learning curve, the behind-the-scenes work no one talks about, and the systems that make it all manageable. Dawon brings an honest perspective that feels refreshingly real — no hype, no shortcuts, just experience.
Meet Dawon Millwood
Dawon didn’t come from a family of real estate investors. She started with a traditional path — a marketing job she quickly discovered wasn’t a fit.
“I was in that job for about two years and realized I hated it. I was making less than $2,000 a month and I was like, what am I doing?”
While still working her 9–5, she took real estate classes in the evenings and eventually passed the exam. From there, she hit the ground running — selling almost 100 homes in a year and a half while learning on the job.
That experience gave her the confidence to buy her first short-term rental in Bryson City in 2019. Today, she and her wife own four active rentals, along with a commercial building in downtown Concord that houses two of their businesses.
“I like doing my own thing. I work for myself now. I don’t have any brokers. I get to use all the knowledge I’ve learned over the years.”
What Running Short-Term Rentals Really Looks Like
A lot of investors love the idea of Airbnb, but struggle when they realize it isn’t set-and-forget passive income. Dawon is clear — it’s a business, and businesses require structure.
“It is a lot of work, but once you put the procedures and stuff in place, it’s less work than people think.”
Her biggest challenge early on wasn’t bookings — it was building a reliable team.
“Originally the biggest challenge was finding the team on the ground… cleaners, handyman, HVAC, all the people who represent you when you can’t be there.”
Locations like Myrtle Beach and Bryson City required trial and error. She went through cleaners, learned how to vet vendors, replaced team members when needed, and eventually built an infrastructure that protected the guest experience and the investment.
“You need people who are available all the time. Not someone who doesn’t work weekends. Guests aren’t staying for a year — they need things fixed immediately.”
What the Numbers Actually Look Like
Short-term rental income fluctuates by market, season, economy, and guest demand. Dawon is transparent about that.
Two of her Myrtle Beach units are projected to net around $20,000 a year after expenses. Another is just above break-even due to insurance increases and location performance. Some years have hit nearly $30,000; recent seasons have leveled closer to $18,000–$20,000 per property.
“There’s risk right now. We had the big COVID travel boom, and now we’re in a weird spot. Some people are traveling again, some are saving money. Every year looks different.”
It’s not about guaranteed returns — it’s about knowing the variables, running your numbers, and managing like a real business.
Systems, Stewardship & Staying Flexible
Dawon isn’t chasing “passive.” She’s chasing control through systems. Instead of outsourcing everything on day one, she learned each role herself so she’d know what good management should look like.
“If you hire a property management company first, you’ll never know what the expectation should be. Learn it, then outsource if you want to.”
One of her top tools? Automation.
“There are automated booking messages, check-in messages, checkout messages. It makes you look like the most hands-on host they’ve ever had — and it’s just automation.”
And for pricing?
“Touch the listing as much as you can. Updating pricing boosts your algorithm.”
This isn’t random hustle — it’s thoughtful stewardship, and it mirrors the Branch Wealth philosophy: build, refine, adjust, and lead with integrity.
Practical Advice You Can Use Right Now
From Dawon’s experience, here are the non-negotiables:
• Buy properties where you can add value.
“Always buy something that needs a little work. Paint, floors, countertops — something to add instant equity.”
• Automate before you outsource.
If the system works without you, then hire help.
• Expect surprises — and budget for them.
“Always have extra capital. Something always comes up.”
• Run it like a business, not a side project.
Be available. Respond quickly. Protect reviews. Know your team.
5-Minute Fast Fire
Q: What’s your favorite spot in downtown Concord?
“My bar and our sandwich shop — Local Bottle Shop and Concord Trading Post.”
Q: Go-to short-term rental hack?
“Automation — communication, pricing, everything.”
Q: Morning routine?
“Coffee with my wife and cuddling the dogs. Organized chaos after that.”
Q: Favorite investment tip?
“Buy something you can add value to. Even small cosmetic work can create instant equity.”
Q: #1 lesson from running multiple businesses?
“Always be prepared for the unexpected. Never put all your money into a property until you know it’s ready.”
Next Step
If Dawon’s journey reminded you that done is better than perfect, and that stewardship matters just as much as strategy, you’re already thinking like an investor.
When you’re ready to explore your first door — or your next one — the team at Branch Wealth Partners is here to walk it with you.
