Real estate pro and homeowner knows an ideal partner when she sees one

An experienced real estate agent, Jennie C. knew she wanted to add a short-term rental to her investment portfolio. More importantly, she wanted a family vacation home to make long-lasting family memories and to pass along generation to generation.

Finding the right destination was crucial. It had to deliver non-stop fun and activities to satisfy her extroverted nature, along with a chill atmosphere that would allow her introverted family members to kick back and relax. Her search landed on a bay front condo, Bahia By the Bay in Baytowne Wharf on the west side of Destin, FL.

A quaint cobblestone village perched at the edge of Choctawhatchee Bay, Baytowne bustles with restaurants, shops, nightclubs, and kid-friendly attractions. The best part? The wide variety of entertainment, like art and food festivals, Tuesday fireworks, and the Wednesday night concert series.

When she finally settled on a condo in Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort, she inherited something (or someone) that made all the difference—the Vacasa property manager, Krystal.

Krystal and Vacasa had been hired by the condo’s previous owners. Little did Jennie know, this was just the beginning of a budding success story.

Meeting her #1 criteria—communication

Right away, Jennie was impressed with how often—and how well—Krystal kept her up-to-date on all things that mattered to her vacation rental.

“We may have inherited her, but I ended up falling in love with her transparency and honesty,” Jennie says. “If she can help, she will. If she can’t, she’ll find someone who will.”

“I really value her.”

Jennie appreciated Krystal’s thoroughness so much that when it came time to purchase another property, it was a no-brainer.

“We chose another condo at Sandestin, right next door to our first one. Having Krystal manage both of our condos is a win-win for us. Sticking with her and Vacasa was a major factor in our decision,” she explains.

Since then, Jennie’s management team has extended to include a local manager named Grady, along with 15 Vacasa staff members who care for her homes and other Sandestin properties—from housekeepers to maintenance crew.

“They’re so enjoyable to work with,” Jennie says. “They really care for my home and for me. That’s what really matters.”

No other manager compares

Jennie asserts that all smart investors should continue to be open to better opportunities and partnerships. And she’s done exactly that. Even with the great relationship she has with her local Vacasa team in Sandestin, she has explored other management companies to see what they could offer her.

“I’ve also considered managing it myself a few times. However, at the end of the day, Krystal and Grady really take the burden of day-to-day management off my plate,” she says. “With the personal customer service I receive from them—plus the value for what I receive after paying the management fee—Vacasa is still the right partner for me and my bottom line.

Jennie has also found that while other management companies may charge less, they can’t offer personal service or a trusted relationship.

“To those other vacation rental managers, you’re just another number. Just another house,” Jennie says. “The pros of moving to another vacation rental manager never outweigh the benefits I get with Vacasa. I have no desire to change.”

Going above and beyond, and then some

Jennie says she made the right decision to stay with Krystal and Vacasa when they first bought their vacation home.

“That decision has had a massive impact. I may not have been able to manage my home as efficiently, or marketed it as well as they do,” she says.

“Plus, I would have had to learn about a new market—vacation homes in Destin. Vacasa and the local team are long-time experts.”

She continues to be surprised by how much Vacasa comes through for her.

One day, water flooded their hardwood floors. So Jennie’s husband used all the towels in the condo to soak it up. Without being asked, Grady coordinated for housekeeping to pick up those wet towels and drop off a clean, fresh set.

“They didn’t have to do that,” Jennie recalls, knowing they could have easily washed the towels themselves in the washer and dryer. “Yet Grady wanted to save us the trouble.”

Once the new flooring was installed, Grady also stopped by personally to make sure everything was all set for the upcoming guests to check in.

“Unfortunately, the flooring crew had left behind a bit of a mess,” Jennie says. “But Grady jumped right in to make sure the condo was cleared out and thoroughly cleaned, so that I didn’t have to.”

Her local Vacasa team has also been somewhat of a mentor for her, guiding her way as a new vacation home owner. Says Jennie, “I’ve gained so much knowledge thanks to how much they know and share about the industry.”