How a Vacasa skeptic became one of our biggest believers

Karen is no stranger to challenges of vacation rentals. Her family has owned property in Deep Creek, Maryland, since 1999, and she’s experienced the full spectrum of property management options—from DIY to working with professional companies. With so much knowledge of the industry, Karen believed she had already found the best management solution for her.

A (tentative) try

When Vacasa acquired the property management company she had been using, in August 2017, Karen was reluctant to make the transition. She felt satisfied with her rental income, and—even though her current manager wasn’t full-service—she enjoyed handling the guest relations. “It gave me a sense of control," she told us.

Still, Karen decided to give us a try. “Vacasa doesn't require a long-term commitment. So I told myself, ‘What have I got to lose?'”

She added, “I also liked that I could keep my cleaning crew. I’ve worked with the same housekeepers for nearly fifteen years, and [Vacasa] was the only company that allowed me to keep working with them. That was my biggest reason for trying Vacasa—it meant a lot to me, that they were so accommodating.”

Earning is believing

Right off the bat, Karen found a lot to like about our approach. She was especially impressed with her rental income, and she credits her success to our comprehensive marketing strategy and dynamic pricing.

“I admit, I was skeptical of the pricing at first," Karen told us. "I’m used to, ‘Here’s the rate! Take it or leave it!’ At first I thought, ‘Well, just how low are you going to go? I don’t want to give [my home] away!’ But now I’m getting more bookings than ever before—more bookings than in the entire 15 years we've had our home."

She added, "I don’t know what the Vacasa magic is, but suddenly people are renting my home during the off-season. That never used to happen. In the past, I could pop up there without notice. Now, my bookings are so good, I have to reserve my own vacation time well in advance.”

Local comfort

For Karen, what’s even more valuable than the money is the comfort of knowing that her property is in great hands. “My local manager, Jay, has been great to work with—extremely responsive. If I have a question, he gets back to me right away. I couldn’t ask for anything more from my local team. They’re attentive, not only to me but to the guests.”

Our local presence has allowed Karen to be completely hands-off as an owner, too. “Vacasa takes care of things without me having to ask. My previous manager would call me and say, 'Hey, do you want me to fix the sink?' And I’d think to myself, 'Well, duh!' That never happens with Vacasa. They just handle things. I don’t have to play telephone tag or do anything at all.”

Letting go—and getting more

And that feeling of control? Karen doesn’t miss it all. “Vacasa has just been a win for me. I was very reluctant to hand the reins to Vacasa. I felt I like I needed to be connected with the people renting, and that the guests had to know me. I believed that was the best arrangement. But [Vacasa] has really worked out for me. I've had zero problems, my home looks great, and my income has exponentially exploded.”

When asked what her favorite part of working with Vacasa is, Karen said, “It just goes. Everything is taken care of. It really is Vacasa magic.”