We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynette Guy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynette below.
Hi Lynette, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I purchased my first vacation rental cabin in 2018. I didn’t have any idea what I wanted to name it. I knew I wanted guests to have a sanctuary where they would have freedom from the stresses of their daily life. I was also working in a job that I didn’t like and I wanted this to be the first step in achieving freedom from a traditional W2 job. I ended up naming the first cabin Freedom Finder, but knew that I wanted to purchase more in the future. That’s where the name, Freedom Finder Vacation Rentals came from. In late 2021, I quit my W2 in order to devote my focus fully on my vacation rental business.
Lynette, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
In 2018 I had an involuntary job reassignment that I wasn’t happy about. I knew I wanted to do something else, not another job, but a business that would bring me joy. I’ve always loved real estate. My ex-husband and I used to purchase distressed properties and rehab them, flipping them or renting them. I’ve also had a love for hospitality, growing up in a home where my friends were welcomed every weekend and I helped my mom prepare for frequent dinner parties. Venturing into the vacation rental business was the perfect combination for both of my passions.
Currently, I have two vacation rental cabins in Helen, Georgia. I have also been a co-host, helping others who don’t have the time for the day-to-day management of their own vacation rentals, and I am a certified vacation rental stager.
I focus on setting myself part from other rentals by focusing on the small details as well as personalizing the guest experience. I try to put myself in the guests shoes and think of everything that can make their stay more convenient, relaxing, special, and luxurious. Many of my guests have mentioned they love seeing their names on the welcome board when they walk in and receiving a hand-written card.
I set myself apart from others in the industry by focusing on the guest experience instead of the number of heads in beds. Guests receive a digital guidebook before their reservation that has details about every aspect of their stay. The kitchen is stocked with everything they need if they want to cook while they’re here. If they forgot an item, I probably have it on hand for them. When decorating the cabins, I enjoy creating custom features that can’t be found anywhere else. In decorating my newest cabin, “Memory Maker”, I used mountain laurel from the property to create several custom pieces.
I am most proud of the fact that I have created one-of-a-kind spaces and top notch experiences for my guests. It has always been my goal that my guests make memories that will last a lifetime. I have numerous repeat guests and that is the best compliment I could ever receive. Repeat guests and guest referrals are great accolades and I appreciate their trust and confidence. I am truly thankful for my guests and the relationships that have been made the past few years.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When Covid first hit, my business, like many others took a huge hit. I went from being booked for months to having cancellation after cancellation. Just before this, my crawl space had flooded and I needed to have French drains installed, so it was a double whammy to lose the bulk of my income and have a big expense as well. It was a difficult time, but I came out stronger and learned that there will always be things beyond my control and I have to be flexible and be willing to adapt to evolving situations.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I believe that guest reviews and word of mouth has helped build my reputation within the vacation rental industry. It’s a very competitive industry and having testimonials from previous guests has solidified my reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://freedomfindervacationrentals.com/
- Instagram: @myfreedomfinder
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfreedomfinder
- Other: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/23281806 https://airbnb.com/h/memory-maker https://www.vrbo.com/1246954 https://www.vrbo.com/2737237
Image Credits
Kurtis Miller