All Forum Posts by: Alice Horn

Hi Richard, we are property managers and can definitely help on the cleaning and maintenance side. We have additional Windsor Hills units and know the community well - we also live nearby. PM me and I can send you the name of an inspector as well! Good luck with the property, it’s a great place to buy.

Hi Christina, I would love to chat with you about the Orlando/Disney market. Many will tell you the STR market is oversaturated here, but there is always a niche for truly unique, attention-grabbing design. If you can identify the right type of property at the right price and transform it into a show-stopper that photographs well, you will find a constant stream of travelers who come year-round.

Other key advantages in our market:  we are less hurricane-prone and we have a wide array of STR-legal properties to choose from.

I would love to brainstorm the possibilities with you.

 Figures. Florida Woman!

 Hi @Kiran Shridhar we are property managers with STR properties scattered throughout the Orlando market. Happy to chat and share our boots on the ground experience working with the various STR communities, home types and investment strategies. We have worked with many UK investors over the years - just met with a new potential investor from the UK yesterday to help him evaluate the home he was considering, in partnership with his realtor. Feel free to reach out!

 OK, that is hysterical. Thanks for the chuckle!

 I haven't tried this, as we use a channel manager. But I would imagine once you have your Airbnb/Vrbo set up - you can amplify those listings to specific niche audiences by posting them in a FB group?

 @Aaron Washington, we have a fantastic insurance broker, based here in Kissimmee who is very familiar with the STR market and can quickly get you a number of appropriate quotes (the well known and lesser known companies) DM me your email and I will intro you.

Hi @Tim Phillips!

I’m a property manager with a diverse portfolio of homes in the Disney/Orlando market. I’m happy to share my perspective on communities and home types in the area. We see many investors who, like you share a love of ​Central Florida and Disney. They are balancing that with the need to make a solid investment decision.

The key is to think a bit outside the box. The Disney/Orlando market is vast, and it's unrealistic to believe you can buy a home that is already nicely decorated with "typical" theming, in a resort area with hundreds of similar homes -- and expect exceptional performance.

So how do you find/or create uniqueness in this market? We always recommend...

Geographic Location - consider a home in and older resort, closer in to Disney and transform it to a uniquely decorated home. Typically, you can pick up these homes for far less, and if decorated properly they will book for the same rates or even more than a similar home in the newer resorts. Many guests appreciate knowing they won't have to fight traffic to get to the parks.

Location within the resort - Guests appreciate privacy. Look for a home that backs on a forest view or a lake view, or at least a corner lot. Alternately, find a house that's close to the clubhouse so everyone can just walk from the home to the community amenities.

Decor - Make sure your decorator uses a unique approach in every home. Guests appreciate clever and unique touches in the theming, as well as unique amenities in the game room, etc. Those cookie cutter Mickey or Harry Potter rooms don't cut it any more.

Don't overlook the pool area - South or West facing pools mean more sun. Also, Pool amenites such as pool basketball, Four square, Giant Jenga etc. help guests imagine themselves having a Florida experience with their own pool on vacation.

In short, in a saturated market find a way to make your home exceptional, and you can generate decent income while still enjoying the home with your family. If you are seeking purely an investment property, you will want to consider additional markets.

 Can you tell us a bit about how you’re marketing the MTR to the nurses?

Hi @Ken Almira - once you have narrowed your market, make sure you build a team from the start so you'll get the best education in that particular area. In addition to your realtor, you'll want to reach out to local PM's, decorators or contractors, etc. The education process starts at the very beginning.

If you, as an investor don't fully understand what it takes to manage a specific type of home in that market, you'll make unwise purchasing decisions. We sometimes get buyers who have highly unrealistic expectations on performance, ease of self-managing and other aspects of owning the home. 

By having a second pair of eyes throughout the buying and selection process, you'll end up more realistic expectations. Also, you won't be rushing at closing to hire your ongoing partners.

If you ever want to chat about the Orlando/Disney market from the property management perspective, feel free to reach out!