We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amani Spicer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amani below.

Amani , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

From the beginning, I was drawn to the idea of real estate investing, but the “how” of it always felt elusive. I spent countless hours researching ways to make money from a property, fueled by the simple yet complex question: how could I turn a house into a source of income?

Initially, I planned to purchase a two-family house. My vision was to live in one unit while renting out the other, ideally to families in need through low-income housing programs. However, when I got preapproved for a loan of $160,000, I quickly realized that amount wouldn’t cover the cost of a two-family property. It felt like a setback, and for a moment, I worried I had missed my opportunity.

That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of short-term rentals. The more I looked into it, the more it made sense as an option I could afford and an opportunity to maximize my investment.

The process of purchasing the property took about 90 days, and I knew I had to save aggressively for the closing costs. I picked up every DoorDash shift I could, adding to my primary income, which was around $1,100 every two weeks. Despite the challenge, I managed to save $10,000 in that period. It wasn’t just about earning and saving, though; during that time, I was also deeply immersed in planning how I wanted this Airbnb to look and feel.

I analyzed every other Airbnb listing I could find, carefully noting what they lacked and brainstorming ways to differentiate my own rental. I envisioned a space that felt thoughtfully curated, somewhere guests would genuinely enjoy. By the time I finally got the keys, I had my design fully mapped out – from the color scheme to the specific stores where I’d buy each item and the exact cost of each piece of furniture and décor.

With this preparation, it only took two weeks to fully furnish the house, though those were two weeks of sleepless nights. I was determined that my first month’s earnings would cover my mortgage, setting the tone for a self-sustaining investment.

The first month on Airbnb, my property earned $3,000. That moment felt surreal – a confirmation that all the planning, saving, and sleepless nights had been worth it. In the next 16 months, my Airbnb grew to earn over six figures. What began as a backup plan had blossomed into a thriving business, launching me into the world of real estate entrepreneurship with a confidence I hadn’t felt before.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Since high school, I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by my dad, a creative custom tailor and designer. A finance class helped me structure my finances and build my credit, but it was my sister who encouraged me to buy my first property, solidifying my path in real estate.

Today, I assist new Airbnb hosts in building and optimizing their listings for success. I also offer creative interior design services for both personal and commercial properties, along with consultations on establishing business and personal credit for aspiring real estate investors.

What sets me apart is my creativity, prompt execution, and keen attention to detail, which has allowed me to scale my business successfully.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Being an Airbnb host hasn’t always been glamorous; I’ve faced my fair share of challenges. There was one particularly tough month when I couldn’t seem to satisfy any guests. They complained about minor details, my neighbors, and the neighborhood, leaving harsh reviews that nearly shut down my Airbnb.

Despite having tens of five-star reviews, the impact of those few negative ones hurt my visibility and left my income at nearly zero. There was even a month where I made nothing. I almost gave up.

Instead, I decided to treat these complaints as opportunities for improvement. I addressed each issue, adding and refining elements in the space to enhance guest satisfaction. Since then, I’ve been able to maintain consistent five-star reviews.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I have learned to scale my business on other platforms, such as Vrbo and Expedia to expand my market

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/52259605?adults=1&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76&unique_share_id=6D43EDB9-7F62-43B9-AC9B-1E2AFB8A72F0
• Instagram: Urbrannedtvacations_