We recently connected with Carissa Cichacki and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carissa, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
It began as a text from my mentor in California as I was already living in Arizona. We barely talk but she sent me a text that said, “I keep having dreams that you are buying a house, SO BUY A HOUSE!” At first, I thought it was up for dream interpretation, not literally but as I sat with the thought for two weeks, I thought “how can I actually buy a home if I wanted to right now?”
What followed in that next two weeks – a month was contemplating if I financially could afford a down payment, a tough but pivotal financial conversation with my dad, and just casually looking on Trulia where I scheduled my first walk-through.
I believe that when you take a step out in faith, the universe or God meets you where you are to aid you in where you are meant to go.
Once I scheduled that walk-through, I received a call from my (now) realtor, Brad. He was friendly and knew his shit. He made me feel really comfortable when I had no idea what I was doing, reading, or listening to in-regards to home buying. He was willing to help me understand ALL the in’s and out’s. He was meticulous and detail-oriented which made me feel at ease. Brad also grew up in a sister city of where I grew up in Wisconsin, and that established trust immediately.
Brad and I spent 1 month looking at all different types of properties and getting a feel for what I liked. I did not know at the time that the base of my business concept was going to stem from this home purchase but once I started to see this home buying experience as more of an investment, that is when my mindset shifted.
I submitted 2-3 offers and got denied. I sat and prayed about it, wondering if this was really what I was supposed to do.
Then Brad called me late February 2022 about a new home that had fallen out of escrow twice, and had zero issues with the inspection. I had hopes that this one was FOR me. We submitted an offer lower than they were asking for, and I got approved in one of the most popular, luxury condo associations in the Valley.
After doing some research, I saw the potential for a long-term rental and the need for travel-nurse housing. I also saw this as an opportunity to build my portfolio outside of my 9-5 and really exercise my love for interior design. Within 1 week of buying a home/closing escrow, I was using my LLC to borrow money from the bank to furnish my new rental property.
My business became about making a home away from home for others to feel safe and supported.
Carissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My story begins at 4 years old; I was fascinated by the matching sweatsuits that my dad wore, and I couldn’t get enough of watching my mom sift through her piles of fabric to make another quilt. The family I grew up in pinched every penny we had; we took outstanding care of what we owned to preserve the life of it for as long as we could. It was important that we weren’t spending more than we had. Cue the financial literate talks with Mom. This environment kept us humble and grateful.
I eventually joined cheerleading at 11 years old which gave me an in-depth view of (not so) breathable fabric, endless matching outfits, and glitter galore. From my experience of watching the cheerleading industry grow and change, I fell in-love with the sport and carried on in college and professionally.
I double majored in Fashion Marketing and Management (leadership). I’ve modeled on runways and in catalogs, I interned at Disneyland, and I was a NFL cheerleader for the Green Bay Packers.
The attention to detail, uniformity, financial literacy, love for textiles, and customer service awards began to stir up a passion in me that I didn’t even realize was there until I started taking steps to buy a home.
I started Cichacki Properties | Investments, and entered into the rental property industry with thee want to fulfill a dying breed of customer service and luxury stays. I always felt that my customer service had a capacity while working for other companies; I couldn’t quite cater to guests the way I felt was right. Where one company says ‘no’, my business says YES.
My 5-Star customer service and attentiveness to my tenants, and to detail is what sets me apart; it is exactly why I started my own business. I go the extra mile to ensure that my tenants feel cared for and attended to. I understand that they travel a long way to stay at my luxury rental and I don’t want them to be overwhelmed when they get in. Personalized welcome baskets and text check-ins go a long way in an industry where everything is becoming automated and passive.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
The support of my friends and family that were willing to stay at my luxury rental initially, and provide honest feedback and ideas to improve the experience. From there, I was able to make some small changes that would have a positive impact on all tenants.
I also believe that my ability to use my resources (i.e eforms.com, google drive, docusign, thumbtack) has created an organized and formal business structure that keeps tenants excited to come back.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/cichackiproperties
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cichackiproperties/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbcichacki/
- Other: https://www.furnishedfinder.com/property/376849_1