STRSS 36 – From Cleaning to Managing Airbnb Properties w/ Maria Kelley

Video Transcript

 

 

00:00:00

Like what I say to make you the place you want to come to make it, you know, that experience that you would like to be when you go into a hotel, because you know, a lot of people have a bad experience. They’re like, oh, hotels. And they think it’s always dirty. Some places are really, really,

 

 

00:00:16

This is episode number three, six, or the short-term rental success stories, podcast, you an investor. That’s looking to have your home professionally managed, go to cohost.com for more information. Welcome back to short term rental success stories. I’m your host, Julian Sage. This is a show where I talked to hosts about their journeys and starting and growing the short-term rental business. My goal is that you’ll be able to walk away with practical information. That’ll help you become a better host and learn how to scale your business. Like any exceptional hosts. We all strive for five star reviews. So please go on over to iTunes and let us know what you enjoy. It really helps support the show if you haven’t done so already going over to our Facebook group, the host nation to connect with the community. What is going on host nation. I am super glad to be back with you all the last episode, I was in Florida for my mom’s wedding, and I was just wrapping that up.

 

 

00:01:04

I thought it was going to be a nice vacation, but my mom put me to work. She was getting married and she needed a lot of help getting things ready. And literally to the last minute as my mom’s walking down the aisle, I have family members that are like helping to decorate and, you know, put out the tables and everything. And as she’s walking down the aisle, everybody’s like, oh, she’s she’s walking. We got to run back. And so it was a very busy and very, very, very busy. I thought that it would be taking a break, but it was nice to be able to see family, but I’m glad to be back because you guys are my family as well. You guys are the host family, the host nation family. And I’m so glad to be able to talk with y’all and connect and be able to provide just this amazing, amazing content.

 

 

00:01:42

And I just wanted to share some reviews that came in on iTunes. I haven’t read some reviews in a while, but it really does. It really touches my heart when I read these, because I do put a lot of work into this podcast and this show, I am full-time coast guard, guys. I do have another job, but I spend all of my time on the content and working and trying to come up with content and creating all this stuff for you. Like I said, I’ve got two full-time people that are helping me just because I want to deliver as much as I possibly can because I love it. And as I’m growing this, this property management business, co-host it. And as I’m doing all this stuff, it all really just comes down to you guys. I could be spending a lot more time focusing on growing my own personal portfolio of, of short-term rental units, but I have such a good feeling about the show and about the community that we’re building, that I just want to spend as much time as I can on that.

 

 

00:02:33

So I love it. I just want it to take a moment to read some of these reviews because these, these are so awesome. I love reading your guys’s reviews and seeing you guys engage in the Facebook group. We had one come in from a glass. They said the best of all short-term rental podcasts out there Julian’s podcast is the perfect blend of inspiration and practical information. His abundance mindset is refreshing and is what has taken this show to the top of the charts so quickly. Thank you so much glass for that really kind view. Next one’s coming from junior music. And they said a quality driven podcast. Not only does Julian provide a platform which informative content, he also exemplifies such effort in how the content is presented with regards to how the show’s formatted the audio quality and then the topics and et cetera.

 

 

00:03:13

Thank you so much. Junior junior music. I really appreciate that because John and I and Vacation Rental Machine don’t really spend that much time talking like I do on the show. I want it to highlight some of the reviews from Vacation Rental Machine. There’s a few of them, so I’m not going to be able to hit all of them, but just a few says the best STR podcast ever best STR podcasts, great content, more detail, no rumbling and mumbling. John and Julian are awesome like in San Francisco at the five star, but also had some pretty good feedback. They said wish that some of the content would go longer and more in depth than I understand that Mike Vacation, Rental Machine, there’s a lot of content. We’re putting out two episodes every week and we’re trying to cover like the whole broad spectrum. So this is basically like our free course on starting your own vacation rental business, your own short-term rental business.

 

 

00:03:57

So we’re trying to hit on a lot of things and do it very quickly because there’s just so much content that is available, but we are covering a lot of deep details in BNB, empire builders and John and I are actually working on a very special project that is going to be coming out within the next few months, guys. It is a lot of work, but the content that is in VRM, it is, it is really good. And it’s very practical. You can take that and you can start your own business, but John and I are working on something that can really get you guys going. And that will be just like super action packed, fast paced, but very deep and very detailed because we want to be able to have and teach people how to scale their own vacation rental business. So maybe I gave a little bit too much information on that.

 

 

00:04:38

I haven’t even shared that too much in the, in the other show, but just be prepared for some exciting stuff, to become an work, constantly putting out stuff. I’m just super excited. I love you all. And I love the guests that we had on today, and that is Maria Kelly. Maria started her own business. Kelly’s hands on demand and Erin and concierge service in Augusta, Georgia. After she got laid off from her work, one of the services she provides is cleaning. And when she got started in her business, she started going to a lot of business networking events, where she found a couple of short-term rental investors who needed her cleaning services. Maria started doing the cleaning for one property and that eventually grew and grew, but because of the relationship she established with our clients and our willingness to take on more tasks, she was offered to take on additional hosting responsibilities.

 

 

00:05:19

Now Maria currently manages over 10 properties and is making as much as around $500 per property per month. Marie shares her journey from cleaner to co-host and how important networking is to get clients. She also talks about putting systems in place for her cleaning teams and the guests to make sure that her business is still able to run even without her. Maria is an awesome person. She’s a real go getter. And she’s also in the BNB empire builders. So I know that the BNB empire builders mastermind closes today. And I’m sorry, guys, if you weren’t able to make it after this episode has already come out, but we are going to be opening it back up. Once we have really refined how we are going to be doing this concept, we don’t know when it’s going to be coming back out, but you can still fill out an application and can reach out to you when it does open back up.

 

 

00:06:00

But we do have our early adopters already set. We aren’t going to be taking any more people, but if you do, wants to still join in the future, then fill out an application and you will be notified when it does open back up. So if you’d like my show notes for this episode, go to Short Term, Sage dot com backslash SDR three six, or if you’d like my show notes. For every episode, they can go to Short Term Sage dot com backslash show notes with all that being said onto this week’s conversation. Hey, welcome back, host nation to another episode of short term rental success stories. In this episode, I have these special, special honor of speaking with the one and only Maria Kelly. Maria, would you please introduce yourself? Let the host nation know who you are and what inspired you to get into short-term rentals?

 

 

00:06:39

Yes. Good morning. My name is Maria Kelly. I am the owner of Kelly’s hands on the man. It’s an Aaron and concierge service in Augusta, Georgia. What is inspiring me to start? This company was just, I wanted to start my own business a few years ago and got me into Short Term Holstein or Airbnbs and helping with that platform was faith. I guess I got a customer who needed help and slowly recruited me and has recruited me and brought me to where I’m at because I’m working with one customer. So, yeah.

 

 

00:07:25

Cool. And you, you started, you started off because you actually moved to the Augusta Georgia area, your, your husband’s in the military. Did you, when you moved to this area, did you have like a job lined up or did you really know what you were going to be doing before you got started into this?

 

 

00:07:42

So, yes, my husband’s in the military were originally from Florida west Palm beach, Florida, and I used to work for an attorney’s office remotely. And so when I moved to Georgia, they moved with me, but then I was laid off a couple months later just because the company was going through issues on that. So yeah, that’s when then and there that’s when I was like, okay, well I have a decision to make. I could either go look for a job again and work for another attorney or an office doing kind of what I’ve done, which has always been bookkeeping accounting. But I decided I wanted to like start a business just to set my own schedule. Just I’ll always want it to do my best. I actually had been talking to my husband for years prior. I should do something. I just start a business.

 

 

00:08:40

And he said, well, what do you want to do? I don’t know. I had no idea. He’s like, okay, well, and since I’ve always done bookkeeping the county, that was kind of actually what I was going for. Like, maybe I should start like the bookkeeping virtual assistant. And I think you had a couple clients and just work from home and I started kind of doing some networking and meeting some people. And then because of that is where I met these two investors that are here, another property. And we started with one Airbnb and I was just helping them do the clips and like clean them up. And it was once or twice a week, three times a week. And then, then they go, well, we have another property, you know, the people in the back. Oh, okay, cool. And then they’re like, oh, we bought a little house down the street. And we bought a mansion. That one has five units. How about you do Alan? Can you handle it? I’m sure I’m up to 10 units, mind blowing because I just, I help them. And they’re the ones bringing in that aspect. I’m not out there looking for the client. He’s the one that keeps bringing me with,

 

 

01:10:10

I just think that that is so cool, Maria, and that that’s really why I wanted to be able to get you on the show and talk about this is because it’s it’s so, it’s so interesting. Being able to hear someone, you, you know, you transitioned to this new era, you didn’t have, you got laid off. You’re like, you know, I need to do something. I want to start something on my own. And you started an Erin and concierge kind of like service, helping people. And from that you learned about, you know, having to start a business and how challenging that is. So you started going out, you started networking, you started connecting and through your networking, you found these, these people that were just looking to have their houses cleaned, because that was one of the services you provide. And from there, they just started passing you on clients and clients. And now not only are you running, you know, a concierge and cleaning service, but you’re also now a property manager.

 

 

01:10:59

Yeah. My pure faith. And it’s funny cause I, I enjoy it. I enjoy just growing up. I always wanted to be in hospitality. So I guess in a way,

 

 

01:11:12

So w w what would you say was the most challenging part of starting this business?

 

 

01:11:17

The networking, and just getting out of my comfort zone, doing things that, you know, having to get up in front of people and, you know, express what you have in your head and actually bring them out into words, because I actually did everything. I did everything for my business. When I, when I got laid off, I was home for a couple months before I actually, it was in July. And then we decided, okay, I’m going to start my business in January, 2018. So I got, I got laid off July, 2017. So I had a few months, right. And those months I did the logo, I came up with a name. I registered the company. I did a website. I mean, I’m using a platform, but I have no, I’m not, I’m computer savvy, but not create websites. And I can do this now. I just don’t know how to do it. Right,

 

 

01:12:20

Right. It’s, it’s, it’s a lot of work to start a business. And there’s a bunch of different things that you, that you just have to learn along the way.

 

 

01:12:27

So that was one, the networking and just, I guess, coming out of my comfort zone. And I think the other biggest one at the beginning is, you know, trying to tell people, look, I can help you and actually getting them to trust you and like you, because you really need that in order for you to be able to start getting your post. So I think that was, to me, one of the, the biggest challenge, just to get people, to hear you

 

 

01:12:56

And networking, what type of networking did you do? So people that maybe are starting in this business, maybe they’re, they’re offering their own cleaning services. And they’re saying, Hey, I’m just going to start off cleaning other people’s properties. But I want to get connected with maybe people that do have multiple properties and that are scaling this business. How, what type of networking did you do in order to find your, your real estate investor clients?

 

 

01:13:21

Well, networking. I actually joined a group here in Augusta, Georgia that is ran by Patrick is called inspire solution. And I also joined BNI. BNI is business network international. It’s also like it’s a worldwide networking group. So I started meeting people because of the networking group and started meeting all, all the small business owners out here, or people with small businesses actually here in Augusta, Georgia. There’s so many people think there’s like 50% and it’s a huge number of small business here. So people like to support that and it’s a big community. So that was what helped me, especially with, with Amy. I mean, because over there it’s like, she, wasn’t only networking. She taught me she’s a business consultant, right. So she taught me how to go out there and get those clients. What are your ideal words? What is your ideal client look like?

 

 

01:14:29

You know, you’re, you’re golden a client that you’re just doing it to do it because you have, you know, so putting me in a different mindset, you know, picking positive words, how to speak to people, how to present yourself. So many little apps, so many little things that we kind of put them together. You know, they, they help. I think that’s also been, you know, a lot of those that have gone with the networking and then just meeting the people around and, you know, getting to learn about everybody, everybody we all at the end of the day have the same challenges. Everybody has a small business. Like, yeah, we do a different service. We sell different products, the same challenges.

 

 

01:15:17

I think, I just want to point out to the listeners, to the host nation, that this is such a, a networking driven business to be able to go out and meet clients, meet investors, meet, you know, property owners and then be able to offer these services yet. Yeah, you do have to, you have to be able to sell it and pitch your services, but this is, this is all about people. And it’s all about finding those right connections. The, the, because you weren’t really planning on getting into property management and just kind of that golden goose kind of fell in your lap. And then he kind of took it and ran with it. What, if you could talk about the, the, how you’re, you’re kind of a little bit, because I know that we were talking a little bit about how you’ve structured your deal with your investors, because you feel that you were, you were in a position where it’s like, you didn’t know anything about, you know, short-term mentoring and property management, but your investors are kind of grooming you into that position. Can you kind of talk about that when you’re, when you don’t have that experience, but you, and this deal that you’ve made with them to be able to help you learn and, and also make money.

 

 

01:16:24

Yeah. So like learning, because I got into this, I I’ve been trying to learn, and that’s how I came across you and listening to a lot of podcasts and just other people, you know, there’s a lot, thankfully, a lot of information also out there about the Airbnb world and all those platforms. When I started with the investors, they’re like, oh, it started as cleaning. So I will make in the full cleaning, this is not bad. Cause I’m coming in, I do this for an hour, an hour and a half. I’m making 40 bucks. Awesome. That’s awesome. That’s not bad. Right. So, but again, my investors are the ones grooming me because at the beginning I wasn’t also doing the answering and the co-hosting in Airbnb on the, on the app. All I did was text them, Hey done. And they will handle all that. I didn’t deal with the drought.

 

 

01:17:21

If somebody had a complaint, come in Tuesday, you have this come in from this time. And I said, okay, that was all. So, so when they offered me, Hey, Maria, and we need you to start because they couldn’t handle it anymore, too much for one person to do because they’re doing other stuff. They offered me a flat fee. So I make a $7 flat per booking clause. Now I have a team because since I have 10, I really can’t handle the 10 plus be able to be in my Aaron and concierge service, which w I also hope another business with other stones. And that’s also, full-time. I have a team for that. So it’s, I have a lot of movie plate. So because of that, I started making the team. So now I make also a flat fee, like I’m making a mouse when the cleaning crew goes, but like I was explaining to you earlier, I don’t, I’m not right now doing also, like, I hear a lot of people when they do, they have an, a percentage, they do a lot more work. They, they called the people. They said the cleaners, I don’t do that because I must say that the investor he’s fully involved and he does help me then this weekend, when I was away, he took over so I could be away. So he does help me. It’s not like, oh, no, Maria, you’re you’re by yourself. And this is all we’re paying. So, I mean right now for what I’m learning and what I’m doing, I think, I think it’s pretty fair.

 

 

01:19:00

Right. And you, you were saying from, because right now you’re managing 10 properties. We, we, you, you kind of estimated that with the cleaning fee and the management fee that you are doing, you’re, you’re making anywhere around 10 to 15%, which still isn’t, isn’t bad for, you know, for just people throwing properties at you, and you already had that cleaning team set up. It’s like, okay, give me more so, but, but if you were to go into full-time, you know, full-time management, then you could be looking more at anywhere from 10 to 25%, depending on the level of service. But I think that it’s, it’s pretty cool that you, you know, you got in and they, you know, they, they, they found you as a cleaner, but then they said, okay, well, we want you to start becoming more. And now they’re, they’re starting to pass you, not only to help your cleaning business, but it’s also helping you open up avenues towards, towards property management as well. The, and I just want to point out, you know, for the listeners, I mean, for 10 properties at around 10 to 15%, you know, you’re, you’re making around, how much would you say that you’re making a month off of these, these 10 properties?

 

 

02:20:07

Well, no, a base about $400 to 500 a month

 

 

02:20:11

Per property.

 

 

02:20:13

Per property. Yeah. That’s I mean, if, when they’re nice, when they’re both mom, the whole mom and we’re having a good month and, you know, because that also, if it’s a slow month, that varies, but yeah. If the property has a good book in an area that could be very possible.

 

 

02:20:31

Yeah. And that’s, that’s, that’s really not bad. That’s, that’s, that’s a, that’s a full-time income for a lot of people. And this is just off of the 10 properties that you are managing. Plus you also have the cleaning business for the other, you know, the other side. So that, that, that is really awesome. What has been, what has been the most challenging part of scaling this business? I know that you do have those investors, but you have, you started looking to acquire more properties or, or, or more clients

 

 

02:21:01

I’m actually just in the worst of that. I think right now my biggest challenge is I want to put everything in, in manuals. Not only I have manuals at the Airbnbs for the guests, but now I want to do manuals for the owner. And I want to do manuals for the cleaning company I have for the cleaning, but I want, I want to go more into, I want to be more like, okay guys, this is exactly how we’re going to do it. So I think that’s right now, my biggest challenge. And just, just because one property doesn’t have laundry husband, the laundry, cause I do it at home. So it’s been killing me, but we find it other than that, no. I mean, I think at the end of the day, what a lot of business owners, one of their biggest challenges, and this is just for anybody, is finding the help that is reliable professional, and it’s doing it exactly how, how you would like for it to be done. Thankfully, I’ve been lucky for the most part with that. So, you know, I think that’s been one of my biggest roadblocks and challenges for sure.

 

 

02:22:16

Now talk a little bit about the, this, this masters golf tournament. I know that, I guess that’s very popular for the masters. The, you know, that’s the big, big golf tournament of the year it’s held there. W w what is, what is business like for you during, during this? Is it a week long or,

 

 

02:22:35

Yeah, it’s usually a week long. And I mean, business just gets really, really crazy because for the most part that whole week we give books. So we, we try to make it a little bit nicer for these customers, because usually they’re paying a lot more than what the normal rate is. You know, it’s just that week, everything goes up, hotels wise, at least then that kind of stuff, because masters brings a lot of people and, you know, it’s a big, big event that, you know, costly. So for me, it just books me, it keeps me really busy. I put more hours in because I have to go in and we put a champagne and we put water and we make it look extra nice. Cause we want the people to feel like, Hey, at least we’re getting, so we, last year I came up with a basket, like I said, with champagne, water treats and I personalized role personally, role notes.

 

 

02:23:39

Thank you for staying. I thank you for choosing us and, you know, and left the with each person’s. So that was it because it was just sometimes, you know, one place was booked for one night. So we had to go in and do all flood, you know, so it was more of that, of that because the price really doesn’t go up because I haven’t seen, I get the flat fee and the cleaning doesn’t really go up in Airbnb because of the week, the price for the cleaning fee stays the same. So to me in that sense, it doesn’t really, it just keeps me busy and my investors to also help me and take care of me and pay me for the additional hours that I put in. So in that sense, I do get like a little extra, but like, for example, the other week that we had the hurricane coming around, since we are so close to the coast, we had the whole week, I had like 25 flips in one week. That’s a lot of lifts to do in one cleaning clip. So it kind of felt like a masters week, you know, but I’m not as intense as usually what masters week will be. So, yeah.

 

 

02:24:54

I’m curious about the relationship between the, the investors, because they’re, they’re, you know, they’re a little bit more involved in the business and they found you through cleaning and they they’re trying to have you incorporated it into their, their business model. What, what would you say, you know, being, being on the other end of, you know, the, the cleaning and also, you know, the grooming aspects, what is the best type of relationship would you say? Like, if you could, if you could redo this relationship and kind of structure it the way that, that you would prefer, what, what do you think would be the best way to have like investors that are looking for cleaners, that to teach them how to become property managers, what would be the best way to be able to have that type of relationship?

 

 

02:25:38

That’s that’s a really good question. Cause I think, again, my, my situation so unique, my, my relationship with these guys have not been what I think my future relationship when I pursued new clients will be just because we’ve also become friends. And so I’ve seen them, like I mentioned earlier, like a mentor. So I, the way I picture my future relationships or how I will handle the future ones will be more like obviously more professional term with less mistakes and coming out more organized. Because again, at the beginning there was no manuals. There was nothing that says, Hey, make sure to make the place look nice and make it smell pretty. That was our thing. Make it look nice and make it smell pretty. So I think definitely it will be something where I will have more organization when I come into the relationship and show them like, this is how I have found it to be easier to, to work in, to help you grow your business and to help your, you know, you’re probably thrive.

 

 

02:26:43

This is what we should do and just give them those ideas that I’m also coming up with along the way. But I I’ve been able to kind of learn with these guys with the investors, using them as my Guinea pig is called. But, you know, I think that will be my, one of my biggest, my biggest changes in the relationship that I’ve handled with them. But again, because I’ve seen them more as a mentor and helpers as well, because they’re kind of holding my hand through the process, I guess that just makes us so much more different than know most people that already structuring this really professional and really, really company. And when they offer themselves to the company that it’s, it looks different than the way I came in with them.

 

 

02:27:28

So it sounds like, it sounds like almost, they were very kind of new into this, this business aspect as well, because they took you under and they didn’t really have that good organization. So you felt like you were learning and they, they were also kind of learning like what to do with,

 

 

02:27:45

Yeah. They were new to the Augusta market. They have, I believe they have like six Airbnbs in Colorado and they have another few in Utah and they have just properties there as well that they do long-term rentals as they have here because they just don’t have the Airbnb. They’ll still have a few long-term rentals that they have. So they are because like, for example, the guy in Colorado that does their flips and does what I’m doing here, I believe he’s like a relative. So he’s like a friend and they also hold his hand and they said, you know, they started together. So yeah, we’re all kind of learning together. Sometimes I’ll be like, oh my God, we need to do this. Oh, that’s an amazing idea. Yes. Let’s implement that. You know, please add this. So we are like, oh, I heard this on Airbnb podcasts because of you guys. They know now that I’m all into them and we need to use noise where, or we need to do this. And they’re like, wow, we didn’t even know that exists. So

 

 

02:28:51

They’re going to have to be the next episode after this one.

 

 

02:28:56

So if you were to redo this, so let’s say you were to start, you were in the position that they are and you were taking on maybe cleaners and grooming them to be, to manage your properties. What would be your process for that? Because obviously, you know, when people are learning that their commission is going to be a little bit smaller because you know, there’s, there’s going to be maybe mistakes or there’s going to be, you know, maybe they have a primary business model, which is cleaning. What would you be doing with your cleaners if you were to groom them up?

 

 

02:29:27

So what I’ve been learning is is the training like really just take time and show people exactly how things want to be. You want, you would like for them to be. And like what I say, make it, make it the place you want to come to make a, you know, that experience that you would like to be when you go into a hotel, because you know, a lot of people have a bad experience. They’re like, oh, hotels. And they think it’s always dirty. Some places are really, really nice. Well, we’re not the highest, but we try to keep the places as nice as we can, especially because we also have older homes. So we have older homes, but they’re very modern inside the decoration and everything. So one of the things that we take most pride in is the keeping it as clean as possible.

 

 

03:30:13

So again, it’s the manuals as the training of one of an idea that I’m going to start implementing. Now, I want to find the owners kind of like maybe more pictures or videos of exactly how things should be. So then it’s better for the eye of the person that is helping when they’re learning, when they’re learning, how to do it, like, okay, well here, here, watch this video of how the bathroom should always look, you know, kind of situation. If you deal with this issue within here. So solution for this, that’s what I think should be something, somebody starting a business should implement, because another thing is the way I see it as what if tomorrow I don’t wake up, you know, I need my cleaners to continue, or at least for a little bit, or this could be something my kids to change. My husband can continue, you know? So it’s just like, you want the business to keep running or you want to sell it in the food trends that you have to be. It’s valuable. It’s valuable the value of keeping the log of your information in a process. And everybody is always on the same page because then one cleaner comes in does this, and then the next cleaner comes in, does this, and then nobody paid attention to this in the middle. Then you got,

 

 

03:31:37

Yeah, you gotta, you gotta have the systems in place. And that’s what you’re, you’re learning and what you feel that would be better if you were in that position, was creating those systems, creating those processes, creating videos, you know, journals tutorials, so that you can pass that onto people. So that if you were to, if something were to happen to you or you need to take a vacation, even that you can give that to somebody else. And they can repeat that.

 

 

03:31:57

They have a question when I’m not available, they could go in and pick it up right away or anything like that, you know? So, so that helps them.

 

 

03:32:05

What type of person, you know, Maria, what would it take to if like, let’s say you, you have a cleaner, what, what, what would qualify them as being a person that would be able to maybe start the grooming process for being able to help them become property managers themselves?

 

 

03:32:22

That’s a great question. I think slowly, like just showing them around the property and teaching them about the property, teaching them, you know, small tasks, maybe like the guys with me, like slowly, you’re just doing the cleaning. Can you help us also do this now? And then can you answer the Airbnb? I think maybe feeding the steps from becoming a cleaner, to becoming a property manager. They’re not married different because it’s really does contacting and scheduling more and talking more with other contractors to help you place the property. But if you’re able to have a good team and you’re able to have a good resources of the people around you, that, you know, it’s not as hard. So I just think slowly doing everything based, say, okay, I’m doing the cleaning, I’m doing the cleaning. And I have to call the yard guy. For example, now I’m doing the cleaning.

 

 

03:33:21

Now I get to pay attention to the filter and that, you know, all the light bulbs are always good and, you know, water the plants. I dunno, let’s fix the gate, like small little things that property managers could do that is involved in doing the property management. Yeah. I think that would be like the best way to kind of transform you to becoming from a cleaner to becoming a, a, a property manager. But again, I have some, I have background on that too. So to me, this was kind of like second nature. Oh, the grass was in color. Do you want me to call him, give me the number I’ll call him. It’s just to me, it’s second nature. The work that I’ve done that has also involved property.

 

 

03:34:07

So from what it sounds like, it sounds like it’s for the type of person that would be best for this type of position. It’s, it’s someone that is eager and looking to take on more responsible.

 

 

03:34:18

Absolutely. Absolutely. I will definitely say the person who is eager and willing to take the responsibility and make sure it gets done correctly. I think that’s pretty much the most important thing in a person

 

 

03:34:33

Now for cleaning companies. Cause you’re also doing a cleaning and the Aaron concierge service, you know, big, big question always on the show is, you know, finding reliable cleaners, finding and building that team. What is your process with finding people that can, you know, join your team?

 

 

03:34:52

So that’s also been something I’m learning along the way. So I’ve picked up people from different places. I had one through a friend that I met at a networking that was her friend. So that was somebody who knew somebody. And that’s how I have her. Right. I had one that I actually posted. I got a post and I made it in Facebook jobs and I posted it there and she came through there and we met and she’s wonderful. I’m like, oh my God, Facebook, thank you. You know, I had, I have one that’s currently helping me and I met her at the pool. So I think the only real process that I have created, and I was just like, okay, where do I post it? And I thought Facebook and thought there was another one. There was a big like hiring website in the yes, I believe. Yes, it was in the, and I remember because one of my other services is a medical courier. So I remember a few months ago I was looking for drivers. So I went to indeed and I had a great result. So I’m like, oh, well let me go to indeed. So that was my strategy.

 

 

03:36:09

You’re doing something right. I mean, right now you’re doing like a little shotgun approach, you know, for, for the marketing aspect, but for the types of people that you qualify, because I’m sure that maybe you got a few interested applicants. W w how do you sip through that to be able to find quality people that are going to be reliable and be able to, you know, be able to be consistent.

 

 

03:36:32

I just kind of going, and then trying to learn about the person, because I’m not a cleaner, but I’m doing this clean job. So I understand that you don’t have to be exactly just a cleaner, if you just also be the way you are, like one of the ladies she’s like, she’s like, she doesn’t, she’s never cleaned before she’s worked in the office before, but she isn’t, like you said, she’s eager and she wants to help. And she likes the flexibility with working with me. So she does an amazing job. Right. So I think that’s, that’s, you know, the biggest, the biggest part of it with them, I feel them out really. I just kind of like, see where they’re going. I touched them the first few times. I I’m all behind. And I kind of, I see what the client or our guests are also reviewing what they’re stating.

 

 

03:37:28

The guys also have somebody who kind of goes around. We have eyes on it after I see, okay, they’re doing good. They, they weren’t able to handle it. I see when challenges come along and how they’re handling, that kind of brings me into the father’s okay. They can handle, I could give her more than just one or the, you know, they’re able to, to work more or they really liked this, or this is not for them. Maybe I need to put them on my other side of my company, with my seniors or with the pets, because we do so many other little services. So that’s kind of how I, I go by where the people I interview them. I explain like all the craziness, all the stuff that we do, and I ask them, what do you like to do most of what makes you most comfortable?

 

 

03:38:15

And they’ll tell me, oh, this is great. This is what I like more, or, oh, no, I think I can do that. And I’ll show them. And because for the most part, I must say, dear BNB, community people take care of the place. So I think that’s what helped me to, that’s not just a cleaning company, cause I don’t do cleaning, residential, cleaning. I do cleaning. We help people. So if you’re sick and you need your house clean, absolutely. We’ll go in and clean your house. No problem. But I get calls like, oh, can you come? And we want somebody to come every three weeks to clean every week clean. I really don’t have the staff. I don’t, it’s harder. It’s something totally different. So I really don’t get into that. You know? So because of how Airbnb is in the community and for the most part of the place such conditions, it’s not like we’re coming into making them clean all the time, wiping everything, make it look pretty and small. So it’s not that hard. You don’t have to be, you know, yours just eager to help. Honestly, most of my ladies don’t have cleaning experience. We have just been a team that I’ve told them how to do this. They’re the way they are, has also helped with, with me. So I guess I’ve gotten even lucky with, with that sense of my business is just finding people that are willing to work. And with me,

 

 

03:39:50

You’re, you’re, you’re a very lucky person. You get the golden goose. So you get the golden employees, you’re doing something, you’re doing something right. And whatever you’re doing, you know, you gotta, you gotta spread that to the listeners today. What would you do differently if you had to start from scratch?

 

 

04:40:08

I go back to the manuals and the systems, because let me tell you with one of my services. I w at one point I lost a really, really big contract because everything was properly taught and properly trained. And like, if I also had, you know, that would have been, that’s also another one that just came out of nowhere and that was growing really fast. And it was kinda, I was just kind of thrown in it too. No manuals, no nothing. So that, to me, I don’t know. I find it to be one of the most important things to do and that I would have done differently from the beginning and those months before I opened it, maybe I will. But again, since from the beginning, I would have written down every step and Hey guys, this is exactly what you guys want. Okay, cool. Let’s write it down.

 

 

04:40:55

Let’s do this. So I think that organization and when networking, I got, I got so lucky here because networking is such a big thing that I didn’t know about networking before. Like the way I learned the year, you know, but it’s funny because I’m Columbia and in Columbia, that’s how things happen. That’s just kind of lodging to me. My dad’s own businesses always. And you know, in Columbia, down the street, she does a great job. So everybody in your family just goes to the lady down the street. So she does a great job. And that’s, you have your network of friends and family and you go, so that, that, and like I said, just putting a better process and procedures in place and getting more out of my comfort zone. That’s one thing that has been hard for me. And even now it is hard for me to get off, but I find that it has to be necessary because if you’re not able to do that, then you can continue. You know what I mean? You have to be able to get out of your comfort zone and let people that just helps you grow every time you out of your comfort zone and you overcome that uncomfortable situation. Now you’re a step ahead of yourself. So that has been one of the things that I will definitely be. I would love to work on a lot more before I started doing

 

 

04:42:24

Great. And if you could just give one piece, one piece of advice to someone who is looking to maybe they are a cleaner and they’re looking to get into the more property management, what would, what would you give to that person?

 

 

04:42:39

I will say just, you know, be to me, I just, I’ve been real. I’ve been really real. Like I take care of the Airbnbs. Like they were my own, like I’m the owner and, and accept your mistakes or whatever. How can I fix it? That’s not no reason to get like, mad about like flipping. Don’t be negative about the mistakes that mistakes can I do now to face this. And then tomorrow demonstrate doesn’t happen again. Instead of being like, I can’t believe they called me out on them. So that’s definitely something that

 

 

04:43:21

I really love that, that you, you shared that Maria, because, you know, it’s one of those questions where it’s like, is she going to say something different than all the other stuff that she was saying before about the networking about, you know, all of that. But I think that it’s so cool that you, that you shared that because what you basically said to recap was your, your for, to give to somebody else, you have to look at that property, like it’s your own and you have to become invested into it. You know, you’re, you’re looking at this, not just like, oh, I messed up. Well, I’m just a cleaner. So whatever, I, you know, you’re looking at this, like, you’re looking at this, like, I’m, this is, this is something that I care about. This is something that, you know, this is their business and you know, this is my business

 

 

04:44:05

Together. We can come up with something, you know, help each other out.

 

 

04:44:09

That’s great. And what is a question that maybe you have a, for another professional have someone that is maybe at a similar position than you, or maybe that next level? What, what would you ask them? Oh,

 

 

04:44:26

I guess what’s their biggest challenge because I see a lot of people, they do like a properties or they have, you know, I’m only doing 10, but, and again, I know my situation is different, but like, wow, what’s, what’s overall your biggest challenges at time, because how do you handle your time? Like, we need more hours than 24 hours a day, you know? So yeah. Just say, how do you handle that part of running such a big business? I mean, there’s, I’ve heard of people even like a thousand company. Airbnb’s a lot around the world. Oh my gosh. Obviously they’re not doing it all by themselves. They’re not answering all those know still that’s, that’s just, how do you handle your time? How are you? I mean, I know about time scheduling, calendar scheduling and all that, but like, I’m doing 10, you’re doing a hundred or thousand. That’s just crazy. I will definitely be. My biggest question is how do you manage?

 

 

04:45:32

Awesome. Great. Well, thank you so much, Maria, for taking the time to come out here and share your experience. I think it’s so cool. Your yours is a very unique situation. It’s very, you know, you’re, you’re going to be the first on the show that has kind of shared this experience from, you know, kind of being cleaner to property manager and, and even more. So thank you so much for taking the time and sharing this. And until next time, post nation, keep on hosting, hope he hosts benefit from the show. If you found value, please go on over to iTunes, leave us a review and let us know what you enjoy about the show. If you’d like to talk to the hosts that have been featured in these episodes, as well as the community, going over to our Facebook group, the host nation.