Have You Ever Wanted to Own an AirBNB? Q & A with Local Owner, Lauren Connelly
ABout Pretty Smart Designs
We own and manage short-term rentals in the Triangle. We’re always on the hunt for our next project. If you own a single family home, without an HOA and in a great location, we can become your dream tenants or help you sell. Our landlord partners love us because we’re able to pay premium rent, professionally manage the property free of charge, and take immaculate care of the property!
The Pāpur: What got you interested in owning AirBNB rentals?
Lauren: Growing up, I always loved staying in hotels when going on vacation. I enjoyed the novelty of visiting new places and any change of scenery I could experience. About a decade ago, I began to stay in Airbnbs instead of hotels thanks to the privacy and one-of-a-kind aspect they offer. Eventually, I became interested in hosting my own Airbnbs, mainly because I love to decorate and provide great experiences for people. In 2019, I became a realtor and took a course that taught me how to become a short-term rental host.
Incidentally, I don’t own my first Airbnb property, in Apex. I lease it, and use it as a short-term rental. This is called rental arbitrage. I’m using the same method for my second property, however, I do co-own my third and fourth properties with my business partner and fellow eXp agent, Scott Kleist.
The Pāpur: How long have you been doing it?
Lauren: I listed my first Airbnb in December of 2019.
The Pāpur: How many rentals do you manage?
Lauren: Currently, I host two Airbnbs, my original property near downtown Apex, and my latest one in Chapel Hill, with Scott. He and I rehabbing a mid-century ranch in Raleigh to list on Airbnb, and we recently purchased a tiny house we plan to use as a short-term rental.
The Pāpur: How many do you plan to have eventually?
Lauren: The sky’s the limit really! Aside from as many local Airbnbs as we can handle, we would like to branch out to other locales like Charleston, Savannah, the mountains, etc. Opportunities abound and we’re currently considering a 1940s rehab in Garner, a tiny house lot in Surf City, and an additional tiny house, all of which we could Airbnb.
The Pāpur: Has it been easier than you thought? More difficult? What’s been your experience as a host?
Lauren: Until I had some experience, being a host was intimidating and overwhelming. Hosting Airbnbs is a science. Once you get the “formula” down, you can pretty much automate the business, and it’s relatively easy. Now, I really love being an Airbnb (Super)host. I still clean my Apex property myself because I’m a control freak, but I’ll need to delegate that task soon.
The Pāpur: What feedback from the guests has been the most helpful? Most rewarding?
Lauren: The most helpful feedback I’ve received from my guests concerns items they wish my property had that I’d omitted. For instance, I’ve equipped my Apex property with quite a few extra amenities based on guest feedback. I always appreciate their suggestions and do my best to accommodate them. The most rewarding feedback is when my guests notice all the little details of my properties and appreciate the fact that I offer a lot of extras that make the house feel like a home away from home.
The Pāpur: What percentage of occupancy is typical in a successful 30-day cycle?
Lauren: I would say 25 days a month is a fair estimate. It can be hard to calculate because I have guests who rent the home for three months at a time, and other months I’ll have multiple 2-day stays on the books.
The Pāpur: What advice would you give someone interested in starting their own Airbnb rental?
Lauren: Follow the formula! This is an easy gig to mess up if you do it wrong. I’ve had people ask me for advice and end up going rogue and doing the opposite. Then, they couldn’t book or they find out they’re not supposed to have short-term rentals in their particular property. I’m currently writing a course to help prospective hosts learn how to do it themselves, the right way!
The Pāpur: Tell us about your current Airbnb rentals.
Lauren: My first Airbnb, is a cute 3-bedroom house called The Anam Cara Cottage. This home is cozy, quiet, bright, and cheerful. It’s a quick and convenient 5-minute walk to Downtown Apex. I’m proud to say, it has over 50 positive reviews!
Our newest property is located in Chapel Hill along the ridgeline of Edwards Mountain. It’s called Ravenwood Retreat, and it’s situated in the dense woods. It feels like a mountain house! It’s a fully renovated luxury cabin featuring 3 decks, high-end decor, and an amazing location just minutes from Carrboro and downtown Chapel Hill.
The third home is a circa 1970 ranch located south of Raleigh. We’re in the process of a complete rehab. It’s a 4-bedroom brick house, with original hardwood floors and a dedicated office. It was built in 1970. I plan to design it using inspiration from the era. We hope to have it listed on Airbnb in January 2022.
Our fourth Airbnb, will be our ‘spa retreat’ themed, tiny house. We just purchased it, so our build-out isn’t complete. We’re trying to find a semi-permanent location for it to land. All part of the big adventure!
On behalf of The Pāpur, we want to thank Lauren Connelly for your first hand experience, and taking the time to answer some of our questions. Hopefully, this piece finds readers out there, interested in owning or hosting their own AirBNB property.
To contact Lauren Connelly or Scott Kleist:
Lauren Connelly
(919) 924-6856
Email: prettysmartdesigns@gmail.com
Lauren’s Business Partner: Scott Kleist (919) 300-5145
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One piece of the story has fallen in to place, as we asked police whether Ian Delauder had interaction with the Cary Fire Department (first to arrive on the scene) or the Cary Police Department prior to the self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sergeant Alexander told us, “In listening to radio traffic, it is believed that Mr. Delauder suffered his gunshot wound after the arrival of the fire department. We do not know the timing of his wound in relation to the arrival of police officers. He did not have an interaction with the police.”