Super Mom: Growing a STR Portfolio While Working Full-Time and Raising Kids with Rachel Vigil
Jan 29, 2025
Discover how Rachel turned her passion into a thriving short-term rental portfolio while juggling motherhood and a full-time job. She shares insights on crafting unforgettable guest experiences with thoughtful amenities that lead to repeat bookings. Learn about her innovative marketing strategies to boost occupancy rates and the importance of personal touches in hospitality. Rachel also reveals practical tips for remote property management and entertaining anecdotes about travel quirks, all while debunking myths in vacation rental investments.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Exceptional Guest Experience
Create a positive guest experience from pre-booking communication to post-stay follow-up.
Surprise guests with special treats upon arrival, catering to all members of their group, including pets.
question_answer ANECDOTE
From Short Sale to Vacation Rental Success
Rachel and her husband initially struggled in real estate, having to short sell two properties.
They rebuilt their credit and leveraged their primary residence to purchase their first vacation rental in Big Bear.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Bootstrapping and Reinvesting
Start with essential upgrades and gradually improve the property over time by reinvesting profits.
Prioritize outdoor amenities and create a strong theme for the property.
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Atlas Obscura is a meticulously curated guide that reveals the world's most surprising, mysterious, and weird-but-true places. Created by the founders of the popular website of the same name, this book includes over 600 entries, each detailing an extraordinary location around the globe. From the still-standing Ferris wheel near Chernobyl to a falcon hospital in Abu Dhabi, and from a church built within a Polish salt mine to a 500-year-old grass bridge in Peru, this book is a treasure trove of awe-inspiring adventures and information. It features compelling descriptions, hundreds of photographs, and maps for every region of the world, making it a must-have for both armchair travelers and die-hard adventurers.
Join us for Mark Lumpkin’s very first episode as the newest host of the STR Investing Podcast! In this debut, Mark interviews Rachel Vigil, a hands-on short-term rental owner and the founder of Up Close Marketing—to discuss how she bootstrapped her way into buying her first cabin, then expanded into properties in Big Bear and Maui. Rachel shares her secrets on delivering exceptional guest experiences through small, thoughtful touches that lead to stellar reviews and repeat bookings. She also reveals how her new company provides hosts with free, high-quality products to delight visitors.
Tune in as Mark dives headfirst into the world of STR podcasting, gleaning real-life lessons in hospitality, financing, and long-term wealth building from an investor who’s living proof that success in vacation rentals is within anyone’s reach.
Check out her website here: https://www.upclosemktg.com/
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Episode Sponsored By: STR Search
STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com