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All Forum Posts by: Ian Tyndall

Ian Tyndall has started 15 posts and replied 130 times.

Post: Water Smells Like Sulfur

Ian TyndallPosted
  • Investor
  • Glen Allen, VA
  • Posts 133
  • Votes 123
Quote from @James Mc Ree:

It does come from minerals in your water and could indicate your anode rod in your water heater has been consumed. Replacing your water heater's anode rod could be a cheap solution.

I started replacing the anode rods in my water heaters with Corro-Protec powered anode rods last year. They are about $160-$180 for a 40g tank. Replacing the rod with an ordinary anode rod is much cheaper at around $25. The powered ones are advertised to protect water heaters, like anode rods, and eliminate sulfur smells. I've never had a sulfur smell, so I can't say how well they work for that. I was attracted to them for extending the water heater's life. The units come with a 20-year warranty on the anode rod.

It's best to do the replacement when you still have anode rod left, such as in a water heater that is 3-5 years old. After that, the minerals have started attacking the water heater's lining. It is difficult to open the ports to install new anode rods, and the difficulty increases as the water heater ages due to corrosion.

Corro-Protec has 2 models, one for dedicated anode ports (AO Smith) and one for inline in the hot water line (Bradford White):

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=powered+anode+rod&crid=4OB7OC...

I agree, I this with my primary house. Most likely the hot water heater. 

if you do get a water softener, which may not be the solution, you can get a salt free solution which reduces the maintenance on it. 

I agree. I have been using ‘management fees’ to minimize the bit of the cleaning fee at checkout. It hurts on the front page, but I think it results in less abandoned reservations. I agree with your perspective that this is a pro-guest benefit.  I think it  should be host neutral. 

Post: STR investment group

Ian TyndallPosted
  • Investor
  • Glen Allen, VA
  • Posts 133
  • Votes 123

Hello! If you know all the investors then you could consider making a LLC partnership. The challenge will be liquidity. What do you do in 2 years if someone wants their money out?

I would shop the market and buy the property. You want to be in an area where the conditions are favorable, and then it all comes down to finding the right property to fit your buy box. 

You're on the right track, but keep in mind that STRs have the biggest impact on reducing Ordinary Income (W-2) taxes, not necessarily capital gains. Since long-term capital gains are already taxed at a lower rate (depending on your bracket), alternative strategies might be more effective for minimizing that burden.

1. STRs – Best for Reducing W-2 Income

If you prove material participation (500+ hours), STR losses from bonus depreciation & cost segregation can offset W-2 and other active income—a powerful tax strategy. Focus on high cash flow, stable regulation markets like:

Smoky Mountains, TN – High occupancy, low taxes

Florida Panhandle – No state income tax, strong demand

Arizona (Sedona/Scottsdale) – High ADRs, appreciation potential

Texas Hill Country – No state income tax, strong regional tourism

Use AirDNA or RABBU to validate your numbers, then move quickly—execution matters more than perfect market selection.

2. Alternatives for Capital Gains Reduction

Since capital gains are taxed lower than W-2 income, these strategies may offer better tax relief:

Opportunity Zones – Defer and reduce gains by reinvesting in Qualified Opportunity Funds.

Gifting Appreciated Stocks – Transfer to lower-income family members for potential 0% capital gains tax.

MLPs (Master Limited Partnerships) – Tax-advantaged investments that generate passive income with deferred tax liability.

Tax-Loss Harvesting – Sell underperforming assets to offset gains.

If reducing W-2 taxes is your priority, STRs are a great move. But if capital gains are the main concern, consider these other options. Pick a strategy and take action soon! Let me know if I can help.

Thanks. I was just adding this to my mental backlog of things to do before March 15!

This seemed like an unnecessary administrative complexity from the beginning. I get the original intent but it had the trappings of becoming a cottage industry like tax preparation. 

Post: Tipi village for STR

Ian TyndallPosted
  • Investor
  • Glen Allen, VA
  • Posts 133
  • Votes 123

Hello! I have been studying it. There is a place near me that only does direct booking business and has amazing amenities: https://www.sandyriveroutdooradventures.com/luxury-tipis?srs...

I would probably go with something similar to host a luxury glamping experience with electric and running water/septic to encourage longer stays. Not sure if that would work, but I am actively looking at options. 

Post: First STR Market Analysis

Ian TyndallPosted
  • Investor
  • Glen Allen, VA
  • Posts 133
  • Votes 123
Quote from @Rob Cassagne:

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy my first STR, and have read up on how to analyze a market for cash flow/CoC/etc. Here's the problem I'm running into- when I look at AirDNA data for average daily rates/bedroom in a particular market, the numbers seem way higher (20+%) than what I see when I cross reference listings on Airbnb and VRBO, which obviously changes the equation significantly.

Am I doing something wrong? A lot of what I've read on STRs says to use AirDNA data in your analysis, so I'm wondering if this is just a lack of understanding on my part. 

For reference, the markets I'm analyzing are the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and Panama City, FL.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.


 Hello! AirDNA is great for gauging market demand. Avery’s method is great for competitive analysis. Both methods should be used together. AirDNA and PriceLabs both provide excellent data. If you configure your searches on AirDNA properly it can be extremely useful - remove listings below 4.7 stars, available > 220 days, etc. 

I have a place in Rockbridge Baths. I would be happy to take a look at what you are putting together and offer my opinion. Message me with your address and what customer segment / market you are going after and I will offer up my thoughts. Best of luck!

Quote from @Erica Dike:
Quote from @Ian Tyndall:

Throw pillows…

Fake plants…


These are needed to spruce up bedrooms, bathrooms and outdoor spaces. How to match them and where to get them?

Ahh yes, there are so many options. It can definitely be overwhelming. I like to use removable pillow covers with down inserts. Amazon has an amazing selection of affordable covers and you can search by color/pattern.

To match them, I use a formula
Sofa: solid color textured pillow (2) + patterned pillow (2) + solid color (2)
King bed:
26"x26" pillows (3) + lumbar/body pillow at least 48"L (1) - I'll do a print + a solid
Queen Bed: 26"x26" pillows (2) + lumbar pillow 36" (1)
Twin/Bunk: 14" x 20" lumbar pillow (1)

In outdoor spaces, I keep it simple and match the pillows to the rug.

For artificial plants I source from Nearly Natural, Wayfair and Home Depot.



I love it! As an engineer the formula makes sense to me! 😀

Throw pillows…

Fake plants…


These are needed to spruce up bedrooms, bathrooms and outdoor spaces. How to match them and where to get them?