We were lucky to catch up with Wendy Doris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Wendy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

When I first ventured into the vacation rental industry, it was just me and a modest condo in Phoenix. I listed it on Airbnb, and as I shared my experiences on social media, friends started asking for help with their own properties. Before I knew it, I had unintentionally started a management business. My journey continued to unfold on Instagram, where more friends, Realtors, and potential clients began to notice and reach out.

In the beginning, the rapid growth was overwhelming. We accepted any property that matched our design aesthetic, as that was my primary focus at the time. However, I soon realized that not all beautifully designed homes were financially viable. This was a heartbreaking revelation because I had developed a strong bond with many of the homeowners and didn’t want to part ways.

As the market conditions became favorable for selling, some owners decided to move on, providing a natural way to streamline our portfolio. Through this process, I learned the importance of being honest with the remaining homeowners. To my surprise, they were incredibly understanding. I discovered that I had not only chosen attractive properties but had also partnered with excellent, reasonable, and understanding people.

With this newfound insight, I refined my criteria even further. Now, we focus on exceptionally designed homes that guarantee great income because they captivate guests. Equally important, we ensure that the homeowners align with our values and vision. While this selective approach has slowed our expansion, it has guaranteed that each new home and owner added to our collective contributes positively to our business. This strategy not only allows for sustainable growth but also sets a strong example for future owners to follow.

Wendy, 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 career in real estate began as a house flipper, then transistioned to becoming a vacation rental owner and manager. After spending 13 years in the house-flipping industry, I grew tired of the renovation grind and decided to venture into the world of vacation rentals. My journey began with the purchase and renovation of a condo in Phoenix, AZ, which I listed on Airbnb. Initially, I was concerned about my ability to assist guests and doubted my skills, so I enlisted a friend to help manage the property.

However, after a year of slow bookings, I decided to take the reins myself. To my surprise, I discovered a genuine passion for helping guests and learned invaluable lessons from their feedback. As word spread, friends began seeking my assistance with their properties, leading to the birth of my management company.

I soon realized that my true talent extended beyond design. I developed a love for the operational side of the business, creating efficient systems for my team and improving communication with guests. This newfound focus on streamlining processes has become an obsession. My goal is to ensure that every aspect of hosting, from booking to check-in, checkout, and beyond, runs seamlessly. Every detail, from cleaning and maintenance to inspections, is meticulously scheduled before each new guest arrives. We’ve even integrated a concierge service into our operations to enhance the guest experience.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Back in 2017, while I was flipping houses in Phoenix, I decided to explore the world of short-term rentals. It seemed like a fun side project that complemented my real estate business. It offered me a chance to experiment with design in a new way and hold onto properties rather than selling them immediately. The venture was particularly appealing because a friend of mine was willing to manage the rental for me, addressing my biggest concern about moving forward—I was unsure about my ability to attend to guests.

After a year of owning the home, I decided to try self-managing it while still maintaining my house-flipping business. To my surprise, I quickly discovered that I enjoyed hosting guests and wanted to expand this new venture. I purchased my next short-term rental while continuing to flip houses. As my enthusiasm for short-term rentals grew, friends began asking for my help in hosting their homes.

Despite my growing interest in vacation rentals, I continued flipping houses until a transformative road trip made me realize I no longer wanted to pursue that path. Instead of selling the home I was renovating, I decided to add it to my collection of four managed properties. Thus, a new business was born from the ashes of the old one, marking the start of my dedicated journey into vacation rental management.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building a reputation in the short-term rental industry happened almost by accident. I find business dynamics fascinating, and the world of short-term rentals and hosting numerous guests captivates me. I love talking about it—there are so many stories to share! On Instagram, I would post stories, behind-the-scenes antics, and details about the setup process. While social media certainly helped, I also benefited from a robust network of Realtors and vendors from my previous house-flipping business.

All this sharing led to invitations to speak about my experiences on podcasts. Before long, I was invited to join a mastermind group, where I eventually became a coach that members could come to for advice. What started as casual sharing turned into a reputation in the short-term rental world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mostess.host
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mostess.host
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mostess.host/