STRA Episode12: Why Does Design Matter and How to Get it Done

The Short Term Rental Authority Podcast

Episode12 Why Does Design Matter and How to Get it Done

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[00:00:05] Hey guys, John and Wendy Williams here with the short-term Rental authority, Your authority for all things short-term rental related to help make you the best operator. Yeah. So today's episodes gonna be a little bit different because Wendy just returned from Dallas, Texas.

[00:00:23] Is that right? The, the low, the long Longhorn State? Lone Star State. Lone Star State, yes. They do have Longhorns, Yes. In Texas. But it's the Lone Star State. Yes. The Lone Star state. Yeah. It. Gorgeous. You'd never been to Dallas? I've never been. I've never been to Well now you anywhere? To Texas. In Texas. Oh really?

[00:00:42] Mm-hmm. Never. Never to Texas. Never been to Texas. That was my first time in Texas and I loved, I loved Dallas. It was gorgeous. Got it. But you weren't there for pleasure. No, I was there for, Work. Work. Oh my God. Yeah. So there's some stories to tell there, I'm sure. But so I, I, I had the idea. I was like, Hey, you know, why don't I interview you because this is some, one of the services that I'm gonna say we offer, but really you provide is you know, we've done this a lot and this wasn't one of our units.

[00:01:13] You were down there setting up units for a client. And it's not the first time that's happened. That's something you. And it's not the first time you've been outta the state doing it either, is it? No, because we, we've been down to Louisiana. Mm-hmm. And you've done some remote mm-hmm. . But as far as being on site, this, this is probably the furthest one away.

[00:01:30] This is the furthest one away. The, Yes. Yeah. So I kind of wanted to talk about the, I'm just gonna interview you a little bit Okay. And talk about this should be interesting. I, you know, cuz I think there were some particular challenges on this one because it was, So many. And you know, just the, the amount of work that goes into setting up a unit if you're, you know, des you, cuz you're designing it, you're not just setting it up, you're designing it.

[00:01:56] So take me all the way back to, you start this [00:02:00] process way before you even go anywhere, right? So tell me what, what does that look like? What do you need as a designer? Well, I need a heads up is what I need. What do you mean? Well, when we coach people, I always tell my coaching clients, before you even sign a lease, mm, you need to double check your designers availability.

[00:02:34] because you really want that to coincide, right? So for example, let's say your designer needs two weeks of planning before she can even get on site mm-hmm. . So you, you call her and, and say, Okay, well I want, when is your availability? And your designer says two weeks. You start the lease two days before your designer can get there.

[00:03:07] Mm-hmm. . And we need at least two days before because we need power and we need internet. And it's preferable if the security system can get install. Before we get there, I mean, it's okay if it gets installed, like the day that we arrive. Why is that? Is it easy to access to? It's just so much easier to access.

[00:03:31] So much easier. And there's another thing, there are so many people coming in and out that all I have to do is give them their own code. Right? And if I, if I'm in one unit, Let's say I'm doing multiple units, like this time I did three units. Mm-hmm. , Let's say I'm in one unit [00:04:00] that's not anywhere near any of the other units.

[00:04:04] I can give the TV installation person their own code to go to another unit. They need to go install some TVs at another. and I can give them their own code and they can just go on in and I don't even have to be there. Yeah, that's a practical thing. One of the reasons I always think about putting the security system in there first is because, well, I'm gonna have all this furniture in there, so I'm wanting, wanting to protect the assets, right?

[00:04:34] So I don't want stuff in there. And then it'd be just free for all. Right. So I'm thinking security. You're thinking practicality. Interesting. Okay, so you need lead time is basically what you're saying is what I'm hearing is Yes. Hey, you can't call me and say, Hey, come tomorrow and set up. No, I, I will say no because there's not only planning, there's ordering, right.

[00:04:53] There's things you have to order. Well, and especially nowadays, the lead times for a sleeper sofa at least three weeks, unless you can get it. locally. Right? Okay. So there's, so there's some planning that goes on just from a, Right. So give your designer at least two weeks. Okay? Heads up. So what do you do then?

[00:05:24] So say we've got that two weeks and I call you and I say, Hey Wendy I've got these three places. I need 'em done. You know, the leases start in two weeks, they'll say, What, what do you do first? Okay, so first thing that I do is I ask the client, Who are you serving? Okay? Because that, that's, that's going to determine everything that goes inside the unit.

[00:05:51] Interesting. Right, So for example, this particular client is serving families who [00:06:00] are coming to Baylor Medical Center, which is literally across the street. I mean, it could not be a better location for families coming for. Procedures at that they're either coming to support someone who is having a procedure done or they want a person in the family is the one having the procedure.

[00:06:23] So knowing, knowing that I know what specific things need to. In the unit, Does it affect the design at all? A little bit. How? Well, for example, somebody who is, is having a procedure is going to need to rest. Mm-hmm. probably during the day. Okay. A lot. Right, Right. So that means blackout curtains are gonna be really important.

[00:07:04] Okay. So they can block out the light while they're sleeping during the day. Okay. Right. Also the, the person that is there to support them, let's say the, the the children are in one room. They're gonna need a, like a TV probably, and good internet. So they're gonna need a tv. In that, up in a bedroom.

[00:07:33] So that's how you decide whether you're gonna put TVs in a bedroom or not? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. So the other person, let's say the, the father is the one that's getting the, the procedure, maybe the, the significant other is working remotely. They're probably staying for a little while. Mm-hmm.

[00:07:56] Right. So that, that person's gonna need a desk. . [00:08:00] Okay, so I'm what I'm hearing, So when I say design, cuz I'm not a designer, I think what colors are things, I'll put that, do that later. What? What everything is. But you're talking functionality. Yes. Okay. Right. Cause that's where it starts, right? I mean, color can come later.

[00:08:19] Right. So I a color comes from the, the artwork Okay. That you, that you choose. Right. So I, I need to know what large furniture items, do I need? A sleeper sofa? Mm-hmm. , Is that, is that going to be important to your customer? If so, that's where I start. Got it. So are you, are they, is the client telling you this.

[00:08:43] Or are you inferring from, Hey, here's who you're serving. This is what you need in your, No, that's, Are you, I guess what I'm asking is, are you coaching them on, Hey, you need this in your unit? It depends on if it's a coaching client or not already. Got it. So if, if it is a coaching client already, I will tell them what I think they should do.

[00:09:05] Mm-hmm. . But if not, I will ask the question, do you want a slipper? So if a yes or no, But you're still asking that person who do they serve? Yes, always. Okay. Because everything revolves around that. Okay. Interesting. All right, so I'll move on from that. So you've asked them who do they serve now what? Now? I start with the largest furniture items.

[00:09:31] So if I need a sleeper sofa, I will call around the local. Places and see if I can locate a sleeper sofa. Okay. So you're looking for the, I think what I heard you said is not necessarily large, but harder to find. Harder to find. Yeah. Yeah. So if I need a sleeper sofa, cuz I know that that's, that's the hardest thing to find, find right now.

[00:09:55] It didn't had, hasn't always been that way. Right. Yeah. It's just been co been since Covid. [00:10:00] Yeah. That's one of the things that's changed. Supply chain stuff. Supply chain stuff, yeah. Yeah. So your lead times are longer or you're having to. Work harder to find the same thing. Right. Cause you can't take it for granted that it's just there.

[00:10:12] Right. Like what? Like I used to, Yeah. Okay. Makes sense. Makes sense. Right. So the sleeper sofa is, is really the hardest thing to find. Yeah. I wanna say you skipped a step. Oh, what is it? Don't you need a floor plan? Don't you measure? I do. Yes. Before you order anything, I do. I need measurements. So I wanna say that what I've seen you do is actually plan everything out on paper.

[00:10:33] Yeah. So you don't just go in and start ordering. Like, No, I wanna say that's a, something that a lot of people do it, especially if they're gonna set up their own units as. basically just start ordering stuff. They're like, Hey, I know I'm gonna need this. I know I'm gonna need that. No, no, no. Right. You, you don't do that at all.

[00:10:50] You plan everything out. So I've, You've got a spreadsheet yes, that has everything that you're gonna buy. The entire budget totaled up how much it's gonna cost, and I'm guessing that you receive payment as well. Before you start any of this. Yes. Right. Cause I remember that was an issue on this one.

[00:11:06] Mm-hmm. was the timelines were compressed. Mm-hmm. , and it wasn't even getting the stuff in. It's like, well, I need. Payment so I can even order the stuff. Yep. With this particular job, it was right. Payment. So there's, there's time there too. So you need all this prep time you need. Right. Not only, hey, I, I gotta get the money so I can order the stuff.

[00:11:28] Right. And that's not always the quickest thing. Depends on how people pay. Right. So if someone pays you, and this is like a little bit behind the scenes, but if you pay someone with a credit card, they don't get that money that day. Oh no. It takes, It goes through the merchant processor and then it finally hits your bank account.

[00:11:46] Yep. And so that $10,000 that you sent us, Will dwindle down to like in Monday 97 too, by the way. Well, yeah. They take their fee out of it. Yeah, but that's up to you is to Right. You know, it doesn't have anything to do with [00:12:00] the consumer, but it, There is a time delay. There is a time delay that affects the, That's, and that's one another reason that we need a.

[00:12:07] You know, the, at least two weeks. Mm-hmm. lead time is that will take the, the pro processing, the payment and receiving the, the things that you order. So let me ask you this. When you're planning out, when you're designing a space, let's say it was one of these, like one of these, Cause you had two one bedroom apartments, I believe, and a two bedroom apartment and a two bedroom apartment that you were doing what size.

[00:12:33] Oh, let's see. Roughly the two bedroom was 1070 square feet. Okay, so about a thousand. The one bedrooms were 830 square feet. Okay. So for those that size place, how long does it take you to design it on paper? Oh, like what planning goes into it before you start ordering. Okay, so once I, I get, Well, let's just talk about the floor.

[00:12:59] Okay. Just by itself. So it's not, it's not just, Hey, here's, here's the floor plan that the apartment complex gives you. Cuz you can find that on the website. Well, sometimes they don't have one either so and Right, but I, And that's fine, but I need to know which way the doors swing. . Mm. I need to know. Do the door swing out this way, like the entryway door, does it swing out this way?

[00:13:33] Or do you open it up this way towards you? Or does it swing this way? Or does it swing to the left? Does it swing to the right? I need to know that information. Why? Cause if you put something there, it might not open. Exactly. And what if the TV has to be right there? Okay, so, I mean, I can't in a bedroom, right?

[00:13:50] Mm-hmm. , like if I'm going into a bedroom, I don't wanna. hit the tv. Mm-hmm. . So I need to know which way the [00:14:00] doors swing left or right, and in and out. Right. That's, that's a biggie. The other thing with the floor plan is I need to know exactly where all the outlets are. Oh yeah. That can be a thing. Right.

[00:14:13] That way I know if there's, if there's an outlet, if there's only one outlet in a bedroom, I'm gonna have to get extension cords. Or like where, where does the TV go or where did that will affect where the TV goes, right? Yes. Sure. Or where, where can I plug in lamp? Yep. Or, or all these kind, Right. Stuff like that.

[00:14:33] Right? Yeah. Yeah. The, so the I need to know where the windows are. Mm-hmm. and how high the ceilings are too. Mm-hmm. , cause this, these units had 10 foot ceilings and I did not know that. Well, I thought I was told that they were nine foot ceilings, actually. Okay. That's what my client told me. Okay. No, no.

[00:14:54] They're 10. 10 foot ceilings. And why does that matter? Because length of curtains. Oh. Because it looks really stupid when your curtains are too short. Okay. Is that a technical term? It does, but I wanna say like size of artwork and stuff probably is, That matters too, right? Sure, yeah, for sure. So you need not only the floor plan, but you need the measurements.

[00:15:19] I need the exact measurements and yes, the measurements of any doorways. Yes. Where all the outlets are, yes. Where the windows are. because you've, why, because you've run into this before Oh. So many times where you're like, Oh, I didn't know. I need to know that now I do. Exactly. Right, right, right. So now that we've done it so many times, I know, I know what to look for now because, because what, what I do is once I get that floor plan, now I can start, I, and I'll, I'll actually draw it out on paper.

[00:15:51] Okay. Well, this wall is, is 11 foot. And here's the, the outlet on this side, and [00:16:00] here's another outlet out over here. Okay, well, well, I've got 11 feet to work with and I know that a sofa is 80 inches long, for example. Well, how much do I have enough room for? For two end tables? Can I only put one end table?

[00:16:17] That kind of thing. Yeah. Like where am I fitting the desk? Cause it needs to go in there. Exactly. Yeah. That kind thing. All kinda thing. Yeah. Okay. Right. So how, so going back to my question, how long does it take, How long does it take to do that process for the size that we had? Okay. Well, fitting in the furniture pieces and, and drawing it out like that and figuring out where the sofa's gonna go and how many end tables you.

[00:16:46] You need and, and where the desk is gonna go. That really doesn't take very long. I wanna say that only takes less than an hour to figure out per unit. Okay. So that's just placement of items? That's just placement, yeah. Okay. Right. But the next step of that, that's the time consuming part. What is that step that is, The actual design of what it's gonna look like, because you always, always, always start with the artwork first.

[00:17:23] So is that what you do? Yes. Are you talking about colors and things? I'm talking about colors now. Now. Or to what I think design is, but Okay. . Oh no, there's so much more. So you get there, you find a piece of art. Yes. And then you use that as inspiration for I do the rest of the unit, so, Correct. Tell me about that piece.

[00:17:41] What is the. Cause I have these words in my head, like I search cohesive unit. Right, right, exactly. You know? Exactly. Because you want all the colors to flow, You mean throughout the entire unit? Throughout the entire space. Mm-hmm. , that's what makes a cohesive design, is that the colors flow from one [00:18:00] unit to the other, for example.

[00:18:04] And you mean one room to the other? From one. Got it. One room to the other, right? Mm-hmm. . So for example, , I, I look for a, a large statement piece to go over the, the the sofa, right? Or over the bed. Okay. I'll like art, you mean like, or something? Mm-hmm. . Yes. Yes. So that's where I'll start. And that search.

[00:18:33] Hours. It takes hours to find, really find a really great statement piece. Okay. And when you say statement piece, what, what do you look, Why does it take so long? Because it's just a painting. Like why don't you just pick one? Well, , well this is a designer thing, so I'm, I'm really looking for something that has at least three.

[00:19:05] coordinating colors. Okay? And, and it could have some, some neutral, what I call fluff colors, Okay. To go in it, right? Mm-hmm. . And the, the neutral colors are black, white, gray, beige, ivory, white. I already said white. You know those neutral brown, Okay. Those kind of colors. But I need at least. Three other coordinating colors.

[00:19:35] What, like red, blue, green. Yes. Orange. Right? Pink. Pink. I, We've got a pink unit. Yeah. Right. So for, Oh, you did purple this time too. Yeah. So for example, in, in one of the units that turned out so gorgeous, I cannot wait. I cannot wait for everybody to see this. You know, I chose, A statement piece behind the sofa and it [00:20:00] has like that eggplant, purple color.

[00:20:03] Okay. Navy blue and teal in it. Interesting. Okay. Oh, it is gorgeous. And it has, it has some cream and some white and some gray in it too. Right. Okay. So I use those throughout the space, but. The three colors from that painting. Now I know now I can take one of those colors and maybe paint the wall behind the, the one of the beds, one of those colors.

[00:20:38] So that's what I did. I painted one. Oh no, it had the, it was the mustard yellow, that's what it was. This unit had the eggplant, mustard and teal. Okay. That's what it was. So I took the mustard out of that painting and painted the, the accent wall behind the, the master bedroom and the master bedroom.

[00:21:00] That color and then you can pull another one of those colors, maybe, maybe the teal. And that's what I did. I pulled the teal out of that painting and put it in the guest bedroom and then I pulled the purple out of that painting and put it in the dining room. Got it. So what about cause I know we've talked about this having because we're thinking of how.

[00:21:22] Well, not only does it how, how does it look when someone walks in? Cuz you want that wow factor. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Right. So talk a little bit about that. Like, when they walk in the door, what, what do they see? Mm-hmm. . But then there's also the. marketing part of it. Mm-hmm. meaning what are your pictures going to look like?

[00:21:39] Right. And I wanna say that that's one of the things that I've seen you do is Oh yeah, for sure design, not only for who's in the space, but for what the pictures are going to look like. Cause you need those, Well, those money shots I call 'em that stop people from scrolling. Right. Well, that's one thing that I think that I have.[00:22:00]

[00:22:01] it, I have that no other designer has because we are operators ourselves. Mm-hmm. , and we have, we already know what the money shots need to look like. Mm-hmm. , whereas a lot of short term rental designers are not also operators. Mm-hmm. , but that's what we have. . What? What do you, What's the word I'm looking for?

[00:22:28] That's our value add in the marketplace. Yeah, that's an advantage. I bet nobody's ever asked them who they serve either before they start setting. I wanna say that's true. Cause I've noticed there's a lot of things that can look good in person. Yes, they coordinate. The colors are all nice, but in pictures that doesn't translate very well.

[00:22:48] Because it's, Yeah, it all matches and it looks good, and I'd love to live there, but it's not stopping anybody from scrolling. Right. So you're, I'm, we're usually looking for something bold. You're talking about that statement piece. Mm-hmm. , you know something interesting. Yes. That's, And that's why's say, Ooh, what's that?

[00:23:08] That's why we paint accent walls. Yeah, because that, that really pops outta the page, doesn't it? Oh man. I don't know if, if you have never scrolled through Airbnb or vr. Take a minute and do that. Yeah. And just look at the, see what stops you, what stops your eye. And I will guarantee you that it's color.

[00:23:26] Yeah. Because you are very visual. Most things, most units on, on those platforms are just very, beige and gray. And, and they, they don't stand out. Well, they're not designed well. There's that, they're not designed. That's, that's a big piece. Not professionally anyway. But if you, when you, when you find some place that actually has an accent wall in any color really?[00:24:00]

[00:24:00] Red's best and that, ugh, I found my new favorite mustard yellow color. Oh gosh. Okay. It is fabulous. We are using that one in one of ours, but something like that, that really catches the eye. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Yeah. So I, I already know this so I, I know, I know the purpose of, of the design and the purpose of the design is, the guest experience, right?

[00:24:32] Mm-hmm. , first and foremost, and it is to get people in the door. Mm-hmm. , right? So you, it needs to, I already know what our money shots are. , Right? They're the straight on shot of the sofa and the straight on shots of the bed. Mm-hmm. . And that's what I keep in mind when I'm planning all this out. So for example, the one of the units I did a a gorgeous lime green.

[00:25:05] accent wall. Ooh, lime green. Okay. Oh, it looks great. And I guarantee you it will stop you in your tracks when you see it on Airbnb. Okay. Interesting. And then I hung the artwork is black and white. Okay. And it looks amazing. Okay. I can't wait to see the pictures. Oh, it looks amazing. You worked so hard, you didn't take any pictures.

[00:25:28] I worked so hard that I did not get a chance to take any pictures at all. Yeah. So there's that. Okay. So yeah, that, that was just my thought is, hey, I, you know, if you have, because you should be taking professional photos. . Oh, no doubt. So somebody's gonna come in and take pictures of that. Mm-hmm. and really good photography highlights.

[00:25:50] Really good design. But it also highlights really bad design. Yes. . And you can tell. Oh yes. [00:26:00] When someone doesn't have that kind of training or experience even, you can tell. Yeah, you can. Cause it's not cohesive that it's not so, So te now we talked about the pictures. So when you walk in, are you thinking about that too?

[00:26:13] Oh, definitely. Like when they walk in, what's the first thing they see most definitely. Right? Well, when, when we are coaching people, we often tell our own clients, when you go look at. what you, what you really want it to have that wow factor when people open the door is you really want to be able to see all the way through to the end of the unit.

[00:26:42] Mm-hmm. , that's preferable, right? Because that really creates the wow factor when people walk in, right? Mm-hmm. , nobody wants to walk in and see a wall really. Right? You really don't. And if you do put a piece of artwork there, really. So there are some places that are more conducive to design than others?

[00:27:03] Yes. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I've noticed some of those. Those stranger layouts. Yeah. It's hard to make them look good. . Well, we have, Cause the layout's weird. We had one. The living room had a, a wall and it came out like normal. It wasn't like a normal straight wall. It came out normally a little for a little bit and then it like angled this way.

[00:27:30] Like towards the floor? No, like towards the, the, Well it was like a, this, like it angled out. No. Yeah. Like it angle. it, it, it was, it came out straight like this and then it angled a little bit. Okay. So what was the challenge there? Well, I had to find somewhere to hang the tv. Oh, so it was a layout problem for Yeah, that reason, right?

[00:27:52] Like, so now the, like, where am I gonna put the, So I originally, I didn't know this , [00:28:00] right? So the, the, So I hung the TV on that angled part and then put the desk over. The part that was not angled. Okay. And so I had to push the sofa back, get rid of one of the, the end tables and, and the accent chair. So your design changed on the fly?

[00:28:20] Yes. Okay. Interesting. All right. You just got that look like that's, that was a lot of trouble, but, And that was just one. Yeah. So, Okay. So now that you've, we've kind of covered, Okay. We've designed it. We've planned it. Now you guys actually go put the thing together, right? And we're, and we're what, like halfway into the podcast?

[00:28:45] Oh my God. There's like a lot of work. So quickly. Okay. Quickly what, what does, does that look like? So you got all the stuff. Okay. You arrive, It's all there, right? Hopefully, hopefully it's all there. Well, hopefully. Okay. So unless the. I better, unless the post office delivered it Right. , When you got some stuff that did not come because the post office did not deliver.

[00:29:06] Oh, the post office. Yeah. So anyway, like Joey's on Joey, on friends. Right. So you take inventory, I guess. Yes. So when we, Well the, Okay, let's back up a little bit. We don't have to teach the whole thing. It's in the course. Right. You've, you've done this. You have to, you have to, but prior to doing that, you have to plan it all out first.

[00:29:30] Mm-hmm. , because you have to paint first. You have to paint before you can get the furniture delivered. Mm. Okay. Right. I mean, I don't wanna paint. So it's scheduling around, It's, you have to schedule things in order. So day one, when you get there, you schedule the paint. Okay. Cause, and then the, the next day, that's when you want all the furniture to be delivered.

[00:29:54] Okay? Okay. On, on the next day. And then the day after that, then you [00:30:00] can do schedule the people to hang the TVs. Cuz you have to have furniture. To in order to hang the artwork. Mm. Right. Yeah. Like I, I like to know exactly where it's going. Exactly. Yeah. Right. So paint furniture, and then you can do all the TVs, hang the artwork, hang the curtains and, and that kind of things.

[00:30:27] But so that, those things need to be scheduled in advance. Mm-hmm. . So, cuz you need contractors for that. Yeah. So you got people coming. Right. So you have to do, that's, that's one of the another reason that you need a, a good two week lead time for that. So a week in advance, that's when I schedule all those contractors to come mm-hmm.

[00:30:49] Okay. So I give them a week lead time. Mm-hmm. , I, I've noticed that they need at least that. So when, when we get there now all we have to do is find the boxes. Wherever the crap they are. If they're an Amazon lock, ugh, that was a disaster. Amazon Lockers and the, and the postal service. So now that everything is on site mm-hmm.

[00:31:14] then you can start putting it in the where, where it needs to go. Like this goes in the living room, this goes in the bedroom, this goes in the kitchen, right? Mm-hmm. . And then while one person setting up the kitchen. You can have somebody else setting up the, the living room. And that's usually what I do. So while they are working, hanging the artwork in the living room and the hanging the curtains in the living room, I'm setting up the kitchen.

[00:31:42] Got it. Okay. Right. So I can still be available if they need me. and they usually do. Cuz I'm very specific about how I want my TVs hung. Yeah. And how I want my artwork hung. Well, you should be. Yeah. And my curtains, I'm very particular about that. Yeah. So, so [00:32:00] that, that way I can make myself available. I'm still busy.

[00:32:04] I'm, I'm, No, I'm gonna take that back. I'm still productive and efficient with my time. Mm. So that I I can be there on site. Why? And still manage all the contractors that I've got. Right? Yeah. And then there's the shopping that you inevitably are gonna have to do. Oh, it's inevitable. It's inevitable. Just go ahead and, and pull that Tom in, because it is always something always.

[00:32:36] Like a pillow's missing or guarantee comes broken or, or something just doesn't come at all. Something doesn't arrive at all. Yeah, because it came from the postal service , apparently. Poor postal service. I know. Bless, bless. But, okay, so now you've done all that. You've, you've gotten everything done that you said, That takes about three days or so.

[00:32:58] It takes, it takes two days to set up a one bedroom unit. And three days to set up a two bedroom unit. Okay. Fully. And then it's turnkey. It's done. Yes. And everything's, And then, And then somebody's like cleaners and, and then the cleaners come. Photography comes, But that's not you. Right. Okay. That's not, Got it.

[00:33:19] I do not do cleaners and I don't, do not do photography. Right. I don't clean. You don't want me to clean anything? No. No we don't. We've already talked about that. Yeah. I do not clean. It's, yeah, . So anyway. You don't want me cleaning either? No, apparently not. Cuz the place was a disaster when I got home. Yeah.

[00:33:37] Oh you mean, Yeah. Well we actually cleaned this. She's talking about our house. That we actually cleaned, believe it or not, before you got home. And she's like, This place is a disaster. I'm like, Well, you should have seen it before you walked in the dorm, . It was really a disaster. Oh, you did a good job. Yeah.

[00:33:57] Thank you. Good job. Good job, Mr. Mom. Yeah, I had to [00:34:00] pay the kids too, , pay them to help me. And, and what's funny is I forever rework, I was, I was teaching them about real money versus paper money. Uhhuh, . And I shouldn't have done that because they demanded to be paid in silver dollars. You had to give them silver coins.

[00:34:17] Yes. That's funny. Which are like 20 bucks a piece. That's funny. But whatever. I don't want your paper currency. No, they didn't want my paper currency. We want real money. We want real money. So I had to pay them in silver. I love it. Yeah. That's funny. So there's that. But anyway, That's funny. , that's funny.

[00:34:31] Anyway so that, yeah, that's a lot of work. Yeah, it's a lot of work. That's a lot of work. It's a lot of work up. It is. It is indeed. And so you don't wanna be putting in that work if you're. At the end, you're gonna have great design so that then you can have great photos, then you guests can leave you great reviews, right?

[00:34:47] Yes. Yeah. So you can get those, those reservations that you're looking for. Mm-hmm. . Awesome. Okay. Yep. And that's how it's done right there. All right. Well that was interesting and I guess you're ready for the next one. So I onto the next, if you've got units you want to set up or get.

[00:35:04] am a.

[00:35:48] Oh, and Thomas Crowler. What are you gonna say? We're talking about I'm hungry. We could do[00:36:00]

[00:36:01] setting up a unit. Yeah, but it's more than that. Like you just got back from Dallas and it's one of the services you offer and like how did that go?

[00:36:19] Yeah, so let me handle that part. Don't say what we're gonna talk about. I'll do that part. So you wanna do the intro? No, you do the intro. Just don't tell 'em what we're talking about. Got it. Okay. Okay. So I'll just do, Hey John, winning Williams short term role authority, where we Your authority? Yeah, I need to do that part.

[00:36:37] Okay. Blah, blah, blah. Mm-hmm. , and then stop talking. Mm-hmm. . Got it. , I'll be happy. Okay.

[00:36:50] Oh, my camera stopped. Why did it stop? I don't know. Just work here. You want me to set it back up again? I don't know. Is it just gonna stop again or are you outta space or something? Probably more than likely. All right. We'll just go. Okay.

[00:37:07] you ready? No, but we'll do it again. Okay. Hey guys. Welcome back to the podcast. We are John and Wendy Williams, your aor. Hey guys, John and Wendy Williams here with the short-term Rental authority, Your authority for all things short-term rental related to help make you the best operator. Yeah. So today's episodes gonna be a little bit different because Wendy just returned from Dallas, Texas.

[00:37:36] Is that right? The, the low, the long Longhorn State? Lone Star State. Lone Star State, yes. They do have Longhorns, Yes. In Texas. But it's the Lone Star State. Yes. The Lone Star state. Yeah. It. Gorgeous. You'd never been to Dallas? I've never been. I've never been to Well now you anywhere? To Texas. In Texas. Oh really?

[00:37:55] Mm-hmm. Never. Never to Texas. Never been to Texas. That was my first time in Texas and I [00:38:00] loved, I loved Dallas. It was gorgeous. Got it. But you weren't there for pleasure. No, I was there for, Work. Work. Oh my God. Yeah. So there's some stories to tell there, I'm sure. But so I, I, I had the idea. I was like, Hey, you know, why don't I interview you because this is some, one of the services that I'm gonna say we offer, but really you provide is you know, we've done this a lot and this wasn't one of our units.

[00:38:26] You were down there setting up units for a client. And it's not the first time that's happened. That's something you. And it's not the first time you've been outta the state doing it either, is it? No, because we, we've been down to Louisiana. Mm-hmm. And you've done some remote mm-hmm. . But as far as being on site, this, this is probably the furthest one away.

[00:38:43] This is the furthest one away. The, Yes. Yeah. So I kind of wanted to talk about the, I'm just gonna interview you a little bit Okay. And talk about this should be interesting. I, you know, cuz I think there were some particular challenges on this one because it was, So many. And you know, just the, the amount of work that goes into setting up a unit if you're, you know, des you, cuz you're designing it, you're not just setting it up, you're designing it.

[00:39:09] So take me all the way back to, you start this process way before you even go anywhere, right? So tell me what, what does that look like? What do you need as a designer? Well, I need a heads up is what I need. What do you mean? Well, when we coach people, I always tell my coaching clients, before you even sign a lease, mm, you need to double check your designers availability.

[00:39:47] because you really want that to coincide, right? So for example, let's say your designer needs two weeks of [00:40:00] planning before she can even get on site mm-hmm. . So you, you call her and, and say, Okay, well I want, when is your availability? And your designer says two weeks. You start the lease two days before your designer can get there.

[00:40:20] Mm-hmm. . And we need at least two days before because we need power and we need internet. And it's preferable if the security system can get install. Before we get there, I mean, it's okay if it gets installed, like the day that we arrive. Why is that? Is it easy to access to? It's just so much easier to access.

[00:40:44] So much easier. And there's another thing, there are so many people coming in and out that all I have to do is give them their own code. Right? And if I, if I'm in one unit, Let's say I'm doing multiple units, like this time I did three units. Mm-hmm. , Let's say I'm in one unit that's not anywhere near any of the other units.

[00:41:17] I can give the TV installation person their own code to go to another unit. They need to go install some TVs at another. and I can give them their own code and they can just go on in and I don't even have to be there. Yeah, that's a practical thing. One of the reasons I always think about putting the security system in there first is because, well, I'm gonna have all this furniture in there, so I'm wanting, wanting to protect the assets, right?

[00:41:47] So I don't want stuff in there. And then it'd be just free for all. Right. So I'm thinking security. You're thinking practicality. Interesting. Okay, so you need lead time is basically what you're saying is what I'm hearing is Yes. Hey, [00:42:00] you can't call me and say, Hey, come tomorrow and set up. No, I, I will say no because there's not only planning, there's ordering, right.

[00:42:06] There's things you have to order. Well, and especially nowadays, the lead times for a sleeper sofa at least three weeks, unless you can get it. locally. Right? Okay. So there's, so there's some planning that goes on just from a, Right. So give your designer at least two weeks. Okay? Heads up. So what do you do then?

[00:42:36] So say we've got that two weeks and I call you and I say, Hey Wendy I've got these three places. I need 'em done. You know, the leases start in two weeks, they'll say, What, what do you do first? Okay, so first thing that I do is I ask the client, Who are you serving? Okay? Because that, that's, that's going to determine everything that goes inside the unit.

[00:43:04] Interesting. Right, So for example, this particular client is serving families who are coming to Baylor Medical Center, which is literally across the street. I mean, it could not be a better location for families coming for. Procedures at that they're either coming to support someone who is having a procedure done or they want a person in the family is the one having the procedure.

[00:43:36] So knowing, knowing that I know what specific things need to. In the unit, Does it affect the design at all? A little bit. How? Well, for example, somebody who is, is [00:44:00] having a procedure is going to need to rest. Mm-hmm. probably during the day. Okay. A lot. Right, Right. So that means blackout curtains are gonna be really important.

[00:44:17] Okay. So they can block out the light while they're sleeping during the day. Okay. Right. Also the, the person that is there to support them, let's say the, the the children are in one room. They're gonna need a, like a TV probably, and good internet. So they're gonna need a tv. In that, up in a bedroom.

[00:44:46] So that's how you decide whether you're gonna put TVs in a bedroom or not? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. So the other person, let's say the, the father is the one that's getting the, the procedure, maybe the, the significant other is working remotely. They're probably staying for a little while. Mm-hmm.

[00:45:09] Right. So that, that person's gonna need a desk. . Okay, so I'm what I'm hearing, So when I say design, cuz I'm not a designer, I think what colors are things, I'll put that, do that later. What? What everything is. But you're talking functionality. Yes. Okay. Right. Cause that's where it starts, right? I mean, color can come later.

[00:45:31] Right. So I a color comes from the, the artwork Okay. That you, that you choose. Right. So I, I need to know what large furniture items, do I need? A sleeper sofa? Mm-hmm. , Is that, is that going to be important to your customer? If so, that's where I start. Got it. So are you, are they, is the client telling you this.

[00:45:56] Or are you inferring from, Hey, here's who you're serving. This is what you [00:46:00] need in your, No, that's, Are you, I guess what I'm asking is, are you coaching them on, Hey, you need this in your unit? It depends on if it's a coaching client or not already. Got it. So if, if it is a coaching client already, I will tell them what I think they should do.

[00:46:18] Mm-hmm. . But if not, I will ask the question, do you want a slipper? So if a yes or no, But you're still asking that person who do they serve? Yes, always. Okay. Because everything revolves around that. Okay. Interesting. All right, so I'll move on from that. So you've asked them who do they serve now what? Now? I start with the largest furniture items.

[00:46:44] So if I need a sleeper sofa, I will call around the local. Places and see if I can locate a sleeper sofa. Okay. So you're looking for the, I think what I heard you said is not necessarily large, but harder to find. Harder to find. Yeah. Yeah. So if I need a sleeper sofa, cuz I know that that's, that's the hardest thing to find, find right now.

[00:47:08] It didn't had, hasn't always been that way. Right. Yeah. It's just been co been since Covid. Yeah. That's one of the things that's changed. Supply chain stuff. Supply chain stuff, yeah. Yeah. So your lead times are longer or you're having to. Work harder to find the same thing. Right. Cause you can't take it for granted that it's just there.

[00:47:25] Right. Like what? Like I used to, Yeah. Okay. Makes sense. Makes sense. Right. So the sleeper sofa is, is really the hardest thing to find. Yeah. I wanna say you skipped a step. Oh, what is it? Don't you need a floor plan? Don't you measure? I do. Yes. Before you order anything, I do. I need measurements. So I wanna say that what I've seen you do is actually plan everything out on paper.

[00:47:46] Yeah. So you don't just go in and start ordering. Like, No, I wanna say that's a, something that a lot of people do it, especially if they're gonna set up their own units as. basically just start ordering stuff. They're like, Hey, I know I'm gonna need this. [00:48:00] I know I'm gonna need that. No, no, no. Right. You, you don't do that at all.

[00:48:03] You plan everything out. So I've, You've got a spreadsheet yes, that has everything that you're gonna buy. The entire budget totaled up how much it's gonna cost, and I'm guessing that you receive payment as well. Before you start any of this. Yes. Right. Cause I remember that was an issue on this one.

[00:48:19] Mm-hmm. was the timelines were compressed. Mm-hmm. , and it wasn't even getting the stuff in. It's like, well, I need. Payment so I can even order the stuff. Yep. With this particular job, it was right. Payment. So there's, there's time there too. So you need all this prep time you need. Right. Not only, hey, I, I gotta get the money so I can order the stuff.

[00:48:41] Right. And that's not always the quickest thing. Depends on how people pay. Right. So if someone pays you, and this is like a little bit behind the scenes, but if you pay someone with a credit card, they don't get that money that day. Oh no. It takes, It goes through the merchant processor and then it finally hits your bank account.

[00:48:59] Yep. And so that $10,000 that you sent us, Will dwindle down to like in Monday 97 too, by the way. Well, yeah. They take their fee out of it. Yeah, but that's up to you is to Right. You know, it doesn't have anything to do with the consumer, but it, There is a time delay. There is a time delay that affects the, That's, and that's one another reason that we need a.

[00:49:20] You know, the, at least two weeks. Mm-hmm. lead time is that will take the, the pro processing, the payment and receiving the, the things that you order. So let me ask you this. When you're planning out, when you're designing a space, let's say it was one of these, like one of these, Cause you had two one bedroom apartments, I believe, and a two bedroom apartment and a two bedroom apartment that you were doing what size.

[00:49:46] Oh, let's see. Roughly the two bedroom was 1070 square feet. Okay, so about a thousand. The one bedrooms were 830 square feet. Okay. So for those that size place, how [00:50:00] long does it take you to design it on paper? Oh, like what planning goes into it before you start ordering. Okay, so once I, I get, Well, let's just talk about the floor.

[00:50:12] Okay. Just by itself. So it's not, it's not just, Hey, here's, here's the floor plan that the apartment complex gives you. Cuz you can find that on the website. Well, sometimes they don't have one either so and Right, but I, And that's fine, but I need to know which way the doors swing. . Mm. I need to know. Do the door swing out this way, like the entryway door, does it swing out this way?

[00:50:45] Or do you open it up this way towards you? Or does it swing this way? Or does it swing to the left? Does it swing to the right? I need to know that information. Why? Cause if you put something there, it might not open. Exactly. And what if the TV has to be right there? Okay, so, I mean, I can't in a bedroom, right?

[00:51:03] Mm-hmm. , like if I'm going into a bedroom, I don't wanna. hit the tv. Mm-hmm. . So I need to know which way the doors swing left or right, and in and out. Right. That's, that's a biggie. The other thing with the floor plan is I need to know exactly where all the outlets are. Oh yeah. That can be a thing. Right.

[00:51:26] That way I know if there's, if there's an outlet, if there's only one outlet in a bedroom, I'm gonna have to get extension cords. Or like where, where does the TV go or where did that will affect where the TV goes, right? Yes. Sure. Or where, where can I plug in lamp? Yep. Or, or all these kind, Right. Stuff like that.

[00:51:46] Right? Yeah. Yeah. The, so the I need to know where the windows are. Mm-hmm. and how high the ceilings are too. Mm-hmm. , cause this, these units had 10 foot ceilings and I did not know that. Well, I [00:52:00] thought I was told that they were nine foot ceilings, actually. Okay. That's what my client told me. Okay. No, no.

[00:52:07] They're 10. 10 foot ceilings. And why does that matter? Because length of curtains. Oh. Because it looks really stupid when your curtains are too short. Okay. Is that a technical term? It does, but I wanna say like size of artwork and stuff probably is, That matters too, right? Sure, yeah, for sure. So you need not only the floor plan, but you need the measurements.

[00:52:32] I need the exact measurements and yes, the measurements of any doorways. Yes. Where all the outlets are, yes. Where the windows are. because you've, why, because you've run into this before Oh. So many times where you're like, Oh, I didn't know. I need to know that now I do. Exactly. Right, right, right. So now that we've done it so many times, I know, I know what to look for now because, because what, what I do is once I get that floor plan, now I can start, I, and I'll, I'll actually draw it out on paper.

[00:53:04] Okay. Well, this wall is, is 11 foot. And here's the, the outlet on this side, and here's another outlet out over here. Okay, well, well, I've got 11 feet to work with and I know that a sofa is 80 inches long, for example. Well, how much do I have enough room for? For two end tables? Can I only put one end table?

[00:53:30] That kind of thing. Yeah. Like where am I fitting the desk? Cause it needs to go in there. Exactly. Yeah. That kind thing. All kinda thing. Yeah. Okay. Right. So how, so going back to my question, how long does it take, How long does it take to do that process for the size that we had? Okay. Well, fitting in the furniture pieces and, and drawing it out like that and figuring out where the sofa's gonna go and how many end tables you.

[00:53:59] You need [00:54:00] and, and where the desk is gonna go. That really doesn't take very long. I wanna say that only takes less than an hour to figure out per unit. Okay. So that's just placement of items? That's just placement, yeah. Okay. Right. But the next step of that, that's the time consuming part. What is that step that is, The actual design of what it's gonna look like, because you always, always, always start with the artwork first.

[00:54:36] So is that what you do? Yes. Are you talking about colors and things? I'm talking about colors now. Now. Or to what I think design is, but Okay. . Oh no, there's so much more. So you get there, you find a piece of art. Yes. And then you use that as inspiration for I do the rest of the unit, so, Correct. Tell me about that piece.

[00:54:54] What is the. Cause I have these words in my head, like I search cohesive unit. Right, right, exactly. You know? Exactly. Because you want all the colors to flow, You mean throughout the entire unit? Throughout the entire space. Mm-hmm. , that's what makes a cohesive design, is that the colors flow from one unit to the other, for example.

[00:55:16] And you mean one room to the other? From one. Got it. One room to the other, right? Mm-hmm. . So for example, , I, I look for a, a large statement piece to go over the, the the sofa, right? Or over the bed. Okay. I'll like art, you mean like, or something? Mm-hmm. . Yes. Yes. So that's where I'll start. And that search.

[00:55:46] Hours. It takes hours to find, really find a really great statement piece. Okay. And when you say statement piece, what, what do you look, Why does it take so long? Because it's just a [00:56:00] painting. Like why don't you just pick one? Well, , well this is a designer thing, so I'm, I'm really looking for something that has at least three.

[00:56:18] coordinating colors. Okay? And, and it could have some, some neutral, what I call fluff colors, Okay. To go in it, right? Mm-hmm. . And the, the neutral colors are black, white, gray, beige, ivory, white. I already said white. You know those neutral brown, Okay. Those kind of colors. But I need at least. Three other coordinating colors.

[00:56:48] What, like red, blue, green. Yes. Orange. Right? Pink. Pink. I, We've got a pink unit. Yeah. Right. So for, Oh, you did purple this time too. Yeah. So for example, in, in one of the units that turned out so gorgeous, I cannot wait. I cannot wait for everybody to see this. You know, I chose, A statement piece behind the sofa and it has like that eggplant, purple color.

[00:57:16] Okay. Navy blue and teal in it. Interesting. Okay. Oh, it is gorgeous. And it has, it has some cream and some white and some gray in it too. Right. Okay. So I use those throughout the space, but. The three colors from that painting. Now I know now I can take one of those colors and maybe paint the wall behind the, the one of the beds, one of those colors.

[00:57:50] So that's what I did. I painted one. Oh no, it had the, it was the mustard yellow, that's what it was. This unit had the eggplant, mustard [00:58:00] and teal. Okay. That's what it was. So I took the mustard out of that painting and painted the, the accent wall behind the, the master bedroom and the master bedroom.

[00:58:13] That color and then you can pull another one of those colors, maybe, maybe the teal. And that's what I did. I pulled the teal out of that painting and put it in the guest bedroom and then I pulled the purple out of that painting and put it in the dining room. Got it. So what about cause I know we've talked about this having because we're thinking of how.

[00:58:35] Well, not only does it how, how does it look when someone walks in? Cuz you want that wow factor. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Right. So talk a little bit about that. Like, when they walk in the door, what, what do they see? Mm-hmm. . But then there's also the. marketing part of it. Mm-hmm. meaning what are your pictures going to look like?

[00:58:52] Right. And I wanna say that that's one of the things that I've seen you do is Oh yeah, for sure design, not only for who's in the space, but for what the pictures are going to look like. Cause you need those, Well, those money shots I call 'em that stop people from scrolling. Right. Well, that's one thing that I think that I have.

[00:59:14] it, I have that no other designer has because we are operators ourselves. Mm-hmm. , and we have, we already know what the money shots need to look like. Mm-hmm. , whereas a lot of short term rental designers are not also operators. Mm-hmm. , but that's what we have. . What? What do you, What's the word I'm looking for?

[00:59:41] That's our value add in the marketplace. Yeah, that's an advantage. I bet nobody's ever asked them who they serve either before they start setting. I wanna say that's true. Cause I've noticed there's a lot of things that can look good in person. Yes, they coordinate. The colors are all nice, but in pictures that doesn't [01:00:00] translate very well.

[01:00:01] Because it's, Yeah, it all matches and it looks good, and I'd love to live there, but it's not stopping anybody from scrolling. Right. So you're, I'm, we're usually looking for something bold. You're talking about that statement piece. Mm-hmm. , you know something interesting. Yes. That's, And that's why's say, Ooh, what's that?

[01:00:21] That's why we paint accent walls. Yeah, because that, that really pops outta the page, doesn't it? Oh man. I don't know if, if you have never scrolled through Airbnb or vr. Take a minute and do that. Yeah. And just look at the, see what stops you, what stops your eye. And I will guarantee you that it's color.

[01:00:39] Yeah. Because you are very visual. Most things, most units on, on those platforms are just very, beige and gray. And, and they, they don't stand out. Well, they're not designed well. There's that, they're not designed. That's, that's a big piece. Not professionally anyway. But if you, when you, when you find some place that actually has an accent wall in any color really?

[01:01:13] Red's best and that, ugh, I found my new favorite mustard yellow color. Oh gosh. Okay. It is fabulous. We are using that one in one of ours, but something like that, that really catches the eye. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Yeah. So I, I already know this so I, I know, I know the purpose of, of the design and the purpose of the design is, the guest experience, right?

[01:01:45] Mm-hmm. , first and foremost, and it is to get people in the door. Mm-hmm. , right? So you, it needs to, I already know what our money shots are. , Right? They're the straight on [01:02:00] shot of the sofa and the straight on shots of the bed. Mm-hmm. . And that's what I keep in mind when I'm planning all this out. So for example, the one of the units I did a a gorgeous lime green.

[01:02:18] accent wall. Ooh, lime green. Okay. Oh, it looks great. And I guarantee you it will stop you in your tracks when you see it on Airbnb. Okay. Interesting. And then I hung the artwork is black and white. Okay. And it looks amazing. Okay. I can't wait to see the pictures. Oh, it looks amazing. You worked so hard, you didn't take any pictures.

[01:02:41] I worked so hard that I did not get a chance to take any pictures at all. Yeah. So there's that. Okay. So yeah, that, that was just my thought is, hey, I, you know, if you have, because you should be taking professional photos. . Oh, no doubt. So somebody's gonna come in and take pictures of that. Mm-hmm. and really good photography highlights.

[01:03:03] Really good design. But it also highlights really bad design. Yes. . And you can tell. Oh yes. When someone doesn't have that kind of training or experience even, you can tell. Yeah, you can. Cause it's not cohesive that it's not so, So te now we talked about the pictures. So when you walk in, are you thinking about that too?

[01:03:26] Oh, definitely. Like when they walk in, what's the first thing they see most definitely. Right? Well, when, when we are coaching people, we often tell our own clients, when you go look at. what you, what you really want it to have that wow factor when people open the door is you really want to be able to see all the way through to the end of the unit.

[01:03:55] Mm-hmm. , that's preferable, right? Because that really [01:04:00] creates the wow factor when people walk in, right? Mm-hmm. , nobody wants to walk in and see a wall really. Right? You really don't. And if you do put a piece of artwork there, really. So there are some places that are more conducive to design than others?

[01:04:16] Yes. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I've noticed some of those. Those stranger layouts. Yeah. It's hard to make them look good. . Well, we have, Cause the layout's weird. We had one. The living room had a, a wall and it came out like normal. It wasn't like a normal straight wall. It came out normally a little for a little bit and then it like angled this way.

[01:04:42] Like towards the floor? No, like towards the, the, Well it was like a, this, like it angled out. No. Yeah. Like it angle. it, it, it was, it came out straight like this and then it angled a little bit. Okay. So what was the challenge there? Well, I had to find somewhere to hang the tv. Oh, so it was a layout problem for Yeah, that reason, right?

[01:05:05] Like, so now the, like, where am I gonna put the, So I originally, I didn't know this , right? So the, the, So I hung the TV on that angled part and then put the desk over. The part that was not angled. Okay. And so I had to push the sofa back, get rid of one of the, the end tables and, and the accent chair. So your design changed on the fly?

[01:05:33] Yes. Okay. Interesting. All right. You just got that look like that's, that was a lot of trouble, but, And that was just one. Yeah. So, Okay. So now that you've, we've kind of covered, Okay. We've designed it. We've planned it. Now you guys actually go put the thing together, right? And we're, and we're what, like halfway into the podcast?

[01:05:58] Oh my God. There's like a lot of work. So [01:06:00] quickly. Okay. Quickly what, what does, does that look like? So you got all the stuff. Okay. You arrive, It's all there, right? Hopefully, hopefully it's all there. Well, hopefully. Okay. So unless the. I better, unless the post office delivered it Right. , When you got some stuff that did not come because the post office did not deliver.

[01:06:19] Oh, the post office. Yeah. So anyway, like Joey's on Joey, on friends. Right. So you take inventory, I guess. Yes. So when we, Well the, Okay, let's back up a little bit. We don't have to teach the whole thing. It's in the course. Right. You've, you've done this. You have to, you have to, but prior to doing that, you have to plan it all out first.

[01:06:43] Mm-hmm. , because you have to paint first. You have to paint before you can get the furniture delivered. Mm. Okay. Right. I mean, I don't wanna paint. So it's scheduling around, It's, you have to schedule things in order. So day one, when you get there, you schedule the paint. Okay. Cause, and then the, the next day, that's when you want all the furniture to be delivered.

[01:07:07] Okay? Okay. On, on the next day. And then the day after that, then you can do schedule the people to hang the TVs. Cuz you have to have furniture. To in order to hang the artwork. Mm. Right. Yeah. Like I, I like to know exactly where it's going. Exactly. Yeah. Right. So paint furniture, and then you can do all the TVs, hang the artwork, hang the curtains and, and that kind of things.

[01:07:39] But so that, those things need to be scheduled in advance. Mm-hmm. . So, cuz you need contractors for that. Yeah. So you got people coming. Right. So you have to do, that's, that's one of the another reason that you need a, a good two week lead time for that. So a week in advance, that's when I [01:08:00] schedule all those contractors to come mm-hmm.

[01:08:02] Okay. So I give them a week lead time. Mm-hmm. , I, I've noticed that they need at least that. So when, when we get there now all we have to do is find the boxes. Wherever the crap they are. If they're an Amazon lock, ugh, that was a disaster. Amazon Lockers and the, and the postal service. So now that everything is on site mm-hmm.

[01:08:27] then you can start putting it in the where, where it needs to go. Like this goes in the living room, this goes in the bedroom, this goes in the kitchen, right? Mm-hmm. . And then while one person setting up the kitchen. You can have somebody else setting up the, the living room. And that's usually what I do. So while they are working, hanging the artwork in the living room and the hanging the curtains in the living room, I'm setting up the kitchen.

[01:08:55] Got it. Okay. Right. So I can still be available if they need me. and they usually do. Cuz I'm very specific about how I want my TVs hung. Yeah. And how I want my artwork hung. Well, you should be. Yeah. And my curtains, I'm very particular about that. Yeah. So, so that, that way I can make myself available. I'm still busy.

[01:09:17] I'm, I'm, No, I'm gonna take that back. I'm still productive and efficient with my time. Mm. So that I I can be there on site. Why? And still manage all the contractors that I've got. Right? Yeah. And then there's the shopping that you inevitably are gonna have to do. Oh, it's inevitable. It's inevitable. Just go ahead and, and pull that Tom in, because it is always something always.

[01:09:49] Like a pillow's missing or guarantee comes broken or, or something just doesn't come at all. Something doesn't arrive at all. Yeah, because it came from the postal service , [01:10:00] apparently. Poor postal service. I know. Bless, bless. But, okay, so now you've done all that. You've, you've gotten everything done that you said, That takes about three days or so.

[01:10:11] It takes, it takes two days to set up a one bedroom unit. And three days to set up a two bedroom unit. Okay. Fully. And then it's turnkey. It's done. Yes. And everything's, And then, And then somebody's like cleaners and, and then the cleaners come. Photography comes, But that's not you. Right. Okay. That's not, Got it.

[01:10:32] I do not do cleaners and I don't, do not do photography. Right. I don't clean. You don't want me to clean anything? No. No we don't. We've already talked about that. Yeah. I do not clean. It's, yeah, . So anyway. You don't want me cleaning either? No, apparently not. Cuz the place was a disaster when I got home. Yeah.

[01:10:50] Oh you mean, Yeah. Well we actually cleaned this. She's talking about our house. That we actually cleaned, believe it or not, before you got home. And she's like, This place is a disaster. I'm like, Well, you should have seen it before you walked in the dorm, . It was really a disaster. Oh, you did a good job. Yeah.

[01:11:10] Thank you. Good job. Good job, Mr. Mom. Yeah, I had to pay the kids too, , pay them to help me. And, and what's funny is I forever rework, I was, I was teaching them about real money versus paper money. Uhhuh, . And I shouldn't have done that because they demanded to be paid in silver dollars. You had to give them silver coins.

[01:11:29] Yes. That's funny. Which are like 20 bucks a piece. That's funny. But whatever. I don't want your paper currency. No, they didn't want my paper currency. We want real money. We want real money. So I had to pay them in silver. I love it. Yeah. That's funny. So there's that. But anyway, That's funny. , that's funny.

[01:11:44] Anyway so that, yeah, that's a lot of work. Yeah, it's a lot of work. That's a lot of work. It's a lot of work up. It is. It is indeed. And so you don't wanna be putting in that work if you're. At the end, you're gonna have great design so that then you can have great photos, then you guests can leave you great [01:12:00] reviews, right?

[01:12:00] Yes. Yeah. So you can get those, those reservations that you're looking for. Mm-hmm. . Awesome. Okay. Yep. And that's how it's done right there. All right. Well that was interesting and I guess you're ready for the next one. So I onto the next, if you've got units you want to set up or get.

[01:12:17] I am a.

[01:13:47] Oh, and Thomas Crowler. What are you gonna say? We're talking about I'm hungry. We could do[01:14:00]

[01:14:00] setting up a unit. Yeah, but it's more than that. Like you just got back from Dallas and it's one of the services you offer and like how did that go?

[01:14:19] Yeah, so let me handle that part. Don't say what we're gonna talk about. I'll do that part. So you wanna do the intro? No, you do the intro. Just don't tell 'em what we're talking about. Got it. Okay. Okay. So I'll just do, Hey John, winning Williams short term role authority, where we Your authority? Yeah, I need to do that part.

[01:14:36] Okay. Blah, blah, blah. Mm-hmm. , and then stop talking. Mm-hmm. . Got it. , I'll be happy. Okay.

[01:14:50] Oh, my camera stopped. Why did it stop? I don't know. Just work here. You want me to set it back up again? I don't know. Is it just gonna stop again or are you outta space or something? Probably more than likely. All right. We'll just go. Okay.

[01:15:06] you ready? No, but we'll do it again. Okay. Hey guys. Welcome back to the podcast. We are John and Wendy Williams, your aor. Hey guys, John and Wendy Williams here with the short-term Rental authority, Your authority for all things short-term rental related to help make you the best operator. Yeah. So today's episodes gonna be a little bit different because Wendy just returned from Dallas, Texas.

[01:15:36] Is that right? The, the low, the long Longhorn State? Lone Star State. Lone Star State, yes. They do have Longhorns, Yes. In Texas. But it's the Lone Star State. Yes. The Lone Star state. Yeah. It. Gorgeous. You'd never been to Dallas? I've never been. I've never been to Well now you anywhere? To Texas. In Texas. Oh really?

[01:15:54] Mm-hmm. Never. Never to Texas. Never been to Texas. That was my first time in Texas and I loved, I [01:16:00] loved Dallas. It was gorgeous. Got it. But you weren't there for pleasure. No, I was there for, Work. Work. Oh my God. Yeah. So there's some stories to tell there, I'm sure. But so I, I, I had the idea. I was like, Hey, you know, why don't I interview you because this is some, one of the services that I'm gonna say we offer, but really you provide is you know, we've done this a lot and this wasn't one of our units.

[01:16:26] You were down there setting up units for a client. And it's not the first time that's happened. That's something you. And it's not the first time you've been outta the state doing it either, is it? No, because we, we've been down to Louisiana. Mm-hmm. And you've done some remote mm-hmm. . But as far as being on site, this, this is probably the furthest one away.

[01:16:42] This is the furthest one away. The, Yes. Yeah. So I kind of wanted to talk about the, I'm just gonna interview you a little bit Okay. And talk about this should be interesting. I, you know, cuz I think there were some particular challenges on this one because it was, So many. And you know, just the, the amount of work that goes into setting up a unit if you're, you know, des you, cuz you're designing it, you're not just setting it up, you're designing it.

[01:17:08] So take me all the way back to, you start this process way before you even go anywhere, right? So tell me what, what does that look like? What do you need as a designer? Well, I need a heads up is what I need. What do you mean? Well, when we coach people, I always tell my coaching clients, before you even sign a lease, mm, you need to double check your designers availability.

[01:17:46] because you really want that to coincide, right? So for example, let's say your designer needs two weeks of planning before [01:18:00] she can even get on site mm-hmm. . So you, you call her and, and say, Okay, well I want, when is your availability? And your designer says two weeks. You start the lease two days before your designer can get there.

[01:18:19] Mm-hmm. . And we need at least two days before because we need power and we need internet. And it's preferable if the security system can get install. Before we get there, I mean, it's okay if it gets installed, like the day that we arrive. Why is that? Is it easy to access to? It's just so much easier to access.

[01:18:43] So much easier. And there's another thing, there are so many people coming in and out that all I have to do is give them their own code. Right? And if I, if I'm in one unit, Let's say I'm doing multiple units, like this time I did three units. Mm-hmm. , Let's say I'm in one unit that's not anywhere near any of the other units.

[01:19:16] I can give the TV installation person their own code to go to another unit. They need to go install some TVs at another. and I can give them their own code and they can just go on in and I don't even have to be there. Yeah, that's a practical thing. One of the reasons I always think about putting the security system in there first is because, well, I'm gonna have all this furniture in there, so I'm wanting, wanting to protect the assets, right?

[01:19:46] So I don't want stuff in there. And then it'd be just free for all. Right. So I'm thinking security. You're thinking practicality. Interesting. Okay, so you need lead time is basically what you're saying is what I'm hearing is Yes. Hey, you can't call [01:20:00] me and say, Hey, come tomorrow and set up. No, I, I will say no because there's not only planning, there's ordering, right.

[01:20:06] There's things you have to order. Well, and especially nowadays, the lead times for a sleeper sofa at least three weeks, unless you can get it. locally. Right? Okay. So there's, so there's some planning that goes on just from a, Right. So give your designer at least two weeks. Okay? Heads up. So what do you do then?

[01:20:36] So say we've got that two weeks and I call you and I say, Hey Wendy I've got these three places. I need 'em done. You know, the leases start in two weeks, they'll say, What, what do you do first? Okay, so first thing that I do is I ask the client, Who are you serving? Okay? Because that, that's, that's going to determine everything that goes inside the unit.

[01:21:03] Interesting. Right, So for example, this particular client is serving families who are coming to Baylor Medical Center, which is literally across the street. I mean, it could not be a better location for families coming for. Procedures at that they're either coming to support someone who is having a procedure done or they want a person in the family is the one having the procedure.

[01:21:35] So knowing, knowing that I know what specific things need to. In the unit, Does it affect the design at all? A little bit. How? Well, for example, somebody who is, is having a [01:22:00] procedure is going to need to rest. Mm-hmm. probably during the day. Okay. A lot. Right, Right. So that means blackout curtains are gonna be really important.

[01:22:16] Okay. So they can block out the light while they're sleeping during the day. Okay. Right. Also the, the person that is there to support them, let's say the, the the children are in one room. They're gonna need a, like a TV probably, and good internet. So they're gonna need a tv. In that, up in a bedroom.

[01:22:45] So that's how you decide whether you're gonna put TVs in a bedroom or not? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. So the other person, let's say the, the father is the one that's getting the, the procedure, maybe the, the significant other is working remotely. They're probably staying for a little while. Mm-hmm.

[01:23:08] Right. So that, that person's gonna need a desk. . Okay, so I'm what I'm hearing, So when I say design, cuz I'm not a designer, I think what colors are things, I'll put that, do that later. What? What everything is. But you're talking functionality. Yes. Okay. Right. Cause that's where it starts, right? I mean, color can come later.

[01:23:31] Right. So I a color comes from the, the artwork Okay. That you, that you choose. Right. So I, I need to know what large furniture items, do I need? A sleeper sofa? Mm-hmm. , Is that, is that going to be important to your customer? If so, that's where I start. Got it. So are you, are they, is the client telling you this.

[01:23:55] Or are you inferring from, Hey, here's who you're serving. This is what you need in your, No, that's, [01:24:00] Are you, I guess what I'm asking is, are you coaching them on, Hey, you need this in your unit? It depends on if it's a coaching client or not already. Got it. So if, if it is a coaching client already, I will tell them what I think they should do.

[01:24:18] Mm-hmm. . But if not, I will ask the question, do you want a slipper? So if a yes or no, But you're still asking that person who do they serve? Yes, always. Okay. Because everything revolves around that. Okay. Interesting. All right, so I'll move on from that. So you've asked them who do they serve now what? Now? I start with the largest furniture items.

[01:24:43] So if I need a sleeper sofa, I will call around the local. Places and see if I can locate a sleeper sofa. Okay. So you're looking for the, I think what I heard you said is not necessarily large, but harder to find. Harder to find. Yeah. Yeah. So if I need a sleeper sofa, cuz I know that that's, that's the hardest thing to find, find right now.

[01:25:07] It didn't had, hasn't always been that way. Right. Yeah. It's just been co been since Covid. Yeah. That's one of the things that's changed. Supply chain stuff. Supply chain stuff, yeah. Yeah. So your lead times are longer or you're having to. Work harder to find the same thing. Right. Cause you can't take it for granted that it's just there.

[01:25:24] Right. Like what? Like I used to, Yeah. Okay. Makes sense. Makes sense. Right. So the sleeper sofa is, is really the hardest thing to find. Yeah. I wanna say you skipped a step. Oh, what is it? Don't you need a floor plan? Don't you measure? I do. Yes. Before you order anything, I do. I need measurements. So I wanna say that what I've seen you do is actually plan everything out on paper.

[01:25:45] Yeah. So you don't just go in and start ordering. Like, No, I wanna say that's a, something that a lot of people do it, especially if they're gonna set up their own units as. basically just start ordering stuff. They're like, Hey, I know I'm gonna need this. I know I'm gonna need [01:26:00] that. No, no, no. Right. You, you don't do that at all.

[01:26:02] You plan everything out. So I've, You've got a spreadsheet yes, that has everything that you're gonna buy. The entire budget totaled up how much it's gonna cost, and I'm guessing that you receive payment as well. Before you start any of this. Yes. Right. Cause I remember that was an issue on this one.

[01:26:18] Mm-hmm. was the timelines were compressed. Mm-hmm. , and it wasn't even getting the stuff in. It's like, well, I need. Payment so I can even order the stuff. Yep. With this particular job, it was right. Payment. So there's, there's time there too. So you need all this prep time you need. Right. Not only, hey, I, I gotta get the money so I can order the stuff.

[01:26:40] Right. And that's not always the quickest thing. Depends on how people pay. Right. So if someone pays you, and this is like a little bit behind the scenes, but if you pay someone with a credit card, they don't get that money that day. Oh no. It takes, It goes through the merchant processor and then it finally hits your bank account.

[01:26:58] Yep. And so that $10,000 that you sent us, Will dwindle down to like in Monday 97 too, by the way. Well, yeah. They take their fee out of it. Yeah, but that's up to you is to Right. You know, it doesn't have anything to do with the consumer, but it, There is a time delay. There is a time delay that affects the, That's, and that's one another reason that we need a.

[01:27:19] You know, the, at least two weeks. Mm-hmm. lead time is that will take the, the pro processing, the payment and receiving the, the things that you order. So let me ask you this. When you're planning out, when you're designing a space, let's say it was one of these, like one of these, Cause you had two one bedroom apartments, I believe, and a two bedroom apartment and a two bedroom apartment that you were doing what size.

[01:27:45] Oh, let's see. Roughly the two bedroom was 1070 square feet. Okay, so about a thousand. The one bedrooms were 830 square feet. Okay. So for those that size place, how long does it take [01:28:00] you to design it on paper? Oh, like what planning goes into it before you start ordering. Okay, so once I, I get, Well, let's just talk about the floor.

[01:28:11] Okay. Just by itself. So it's not, it's not just, Hey, here's, here's the floor plan that the apartment complex gives you. Cuz you can find that on the website. Well, sometimes they don't have one either so and Right, but I, And that's fine, but I need to know which way the doors swing. . Mm. I need to know. Do the door swing out this way, like the entryway door, does it swing out this way?

[01:28:45] Or do you open it up this way towards you? Or does it swing this way? Or does it swing to the left? Does it swing to the right? I need to know that information. Why? Cause if you put something there, it might not open. Exactly. And what if the TV has to be right there? Okay, so, I mean, I can't in a bedroom, right?

[01:29:02] Mm-hmm. , like if I'm going into a bedroom, I don't wanna. hit the tv. Mm-hmm. . So I need to know which way the doors swing left or right, and in and out. Right. That's, that's a biggie. The other thing with the floor plan is I need to know exactly where all the outlets are. Oh yeah. That can be a thing. Right.

[01:29:25] That way I know if there's, if there's an outlet, if there's only one outlet in a bedroom, I'm gonna have to get extension cords. Or like where, where does the TV go or where did that will affect where the TV goes, right? Yes. Sure. Or where, where can I plug in lamp? Yep. Or, or all these kind, Right. Stuff like that.

[01:29:45] Right? Yeah. Yeah. The, so the I need to know where the windows are. Mm-hmm. and how high the ceilings are too. Mm-hmm. , cause this, these units had 10 foot ceilings and I did not know that. Well, I thought I was [01:30:00] told that they were nine foot ceilings, actually. Okay. That's what my client told me. Okay. No, no.

[01:30:06] They're 10. 10 foot ceilings. And why does that matter? Because length of curtains. Oh. Because it looks really stupid when your curtains are too short. Okay. Is that a technical term? It does, but I wanna say like size of artwork and stuff probably is, That matters too, right? Sure, yeah, for sure. So you need not only the floor plan, but you need the measurements.

[01:30:31] I need the exact measurements and yes, the measurements of any doorways. Yes. Where all the outlets are, yes. Where the windows are. because you've, why, because you've run into this before Oh. So many times where you're like, Oh, I didn't know. I need to know that now I do. Exactly. Right, right, right. So now that we've done it so many times, I know, I know what to look for now because, because what, what I do is once I get that floor plan, now I can start, I, and I'll, I'll actually draw it out on paper.

[01:31:03] Okay. Well, this wall is, is 11 foot. And here's the, the outlet on this side, and here's another outlet out over here. Okay, well, well, I've got 11 feet to work with and I know that a sofa is 80 inches long, for example. Well, how much do I have enough room for? For two end tables? Can I only put one end table?

[01:31:29] That kind of thing. Yeah. Like where am I fitting the desk? Cause it needs to go in there. Exactly. Yeah. That kind thing. All kinda thing. Yeah. Okay. Right. So how, so going back to my question, how long does it take, How long does it take to do that process for the size that we had? Okay. Well, fitting in the furniture pieces and, and drawing it out like that and figuring out where the sofa's gonna go and how many end tables you.

[01:31:58] You need and, [01:32:00] and where the desk is gonna go. That really doesn't take very long. I wanna say that only takes less than an hour to figure out per unit. Okay. So that's just placement of items? That's just placement, yeah. Okay. Right. But the next step of that, that's the time consuming part. What is that step that is, The actual design of what it's gonna look like, because you always, always, always start with the artwork first.

[01:32:35] So is that what you do? Yes. Are you talking about colors and things? I'm talking about colors now. Now. Or to what I think design is, but Okay. . Oh no, there's so much more. So you get there, you find a piece of art. Yes. And then you use that as inspiration for I do the rest of the unit, so, Correct. Tell me about that piece.

[01:32:53] What is the. Cause I have these words in my head, like I search cohesive unit. Right, right, exactly. You know? Exactly. Because you want all the colors to flow, You mean throughout the entire unit? Throughout the entire space. Mm-hmm. , that's what makes a cohesive design, is that the colors flow from one unit to the other, for example.

[01:33:16] And you mean one room to the other? From one. Got it. One room to the other, right? Mm-hmm. . So for example, , I, I look for a, a large statement piece to go over the, the the sofa, right? Or over the bed. Okay. I'll like art, you mean like, or something? Mm-hmm. . Yes. Yes. So that's where I'll start. And that search.

[01:33:46] Hours. It takes hours to find, really find a really great statement piece. Okay. And when you say statement piece, what, what do you look, Why does it take so long? Because it's just a painting. Like why don't [01:34:00] you just pick one? Well, , well this is a designer thing, so I'm, I'm really looking for something that has at least three.

[01:34:17] coordinating colors. Okay? And, and it could have some, some neutral, what I call fluff colors, Okay. To go in it, right? Mm-hmm. . And the, the neutral colors are black, white, gray, beige, ivory, white. I already said white. You know those neutral brown, Okay. Those kind of colors. But I need at least. Three other coordinating colors.

[01:34:47] What, like red, blue, green. Yes. Orange. Right? Pink. Pink. I, We've got a pink unit. Yeah. Right. So for, Oh, you did purple this time too. Yeah. So for example, in, in one of the units that turned out so gorgeous, I cannot wait. I cannot wait for everybody to see this. You know, I chose, A statement piece behind the sofa and it has like that eggplant, purple color.

[01:35:16] Okay. Navy blue and teal in it. Interesting. Okay. Oh, it is gorgeous. And it has, it has some cream and some white and some gray in it too. Right. Okay. So I use those throughout the space, but. The three colors from that painting. Now I know now I can take one of those colors and maybe paint the wall behind the, the one of the beds, one of those colors.

[01:35:50] So that's what I did. I painted one. Oh no, it had the, it was the mustard yellow, that's what it was. This unit had the eggplant, mustard and teal. [01:36:00] Okay. That's what it was. So I took the mustard out of that painting and painted the, the accent wall behind the, the master bedroom and the master bedroom.

[01:36:13] That color and then you can pull another one of those colors, maybe, maybe the teal. And that's what I did. I pulled the teal out of that painting and put it in the guest bedroom and then I pulled the purple out of that painting and put it in the dining room. Got it. So what about cause I know we've talked about this having because we're thinking of how.

[01:36:34] Well, not only does it how, how does it look when someone walks in? Cuz you want that wow factor. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Right. So talk a little bit about that. Like, when they walk in the door, what, what do they see? Mm-hmm. . But then there's also the. marketing part of it. Mm-hmm. meaning what are your pictures going to look like?

[01:36:51] Right. And I wanna say that that's one of the things that I've seen you do is Oh yeah, for sure design, not only for who's in the space, but for what the pictures are going to look like. Cause you need those, Well, those money shots I call 'em that stop people from scrolling. Right. Well, that's one thing that I think that I have.

[01:37:13] it, I have that no other designer has because we are operators ourselves. Mm-hmm. , and we have, we already know what the money shots need to look like. Mm-hmm. , whereas a lot of short term rental designers are not also operators. Mm-hmm. , but that's what we have. . What? What do you, What's the word I'm looking for?

[01:37:40] That's our value add in the marketplace. Yeah, that's an advantage. I bet nobody's ever asked them who they serve either before they start setting. I wanna say that's true. Cause I've noticed there's a lot of things that can look good in person. Yes, they coordinate. The colors are all nice, but in pictures that doesn't translate very [01:38:00] well.

[01:38:00] Because it's, Yeah, it all matches and it looks good, and I'd love to live there, but it's not stopping anybody from scrolling. Right. So you're, I'm, we're usually looking for something bold. You're talking about that statement piece. Mm-hmm. , you know something interesting. Yes. That's, And that's why's say, Ooh, what's that?

[01:38:20] That's why we paint accent walls. Yeah, because that, that really pops outta the page, doesn't it? Oh man. I don't know if, if you have never scrolled through Airbnb or vr. Take a minute and do that. Yeah. And just look at the, see what stops you, what stops your eye. And I will guarantee you that it's color.

[01:38:39] Yeah. Because you are very visual. Most things, most units on, on those platforms are just very, beige and gray. And, and they, they don't stand out. Well, they're not designed well. There's that, they're not designed. That's, that's a big piece. Not professionally anyway. But if you, when you, when you find some place that actually has an accent wall in any color really?

[01:39:12] Red's best and that, ugh, I found my new favorite mustard yellow color. Oh gosh. Okay. It is fabulous. We are using that one in one of ours, but something like that, that really catches the eye. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. Yeah. So I, I already know this so I, I know, I know the purpose of, of the design and the purpose of the design is, the guest experience, right?

[01:39:44] Mm-hmm. , first and foremost, and it is to get people in the door. Mm-hmm. , right? So you, it needs to, I already know what our money shots are. , Right? They're the straight on shot of the [01:40:00] sofa and the straight on shots of the bed. Mm-hmm. . And that's what I keep in mind when I'm planning all this out. So for example, the one of the units I did a a gorgeous lime green.

[01:40:17] accent wall. Ooh, lime green. Okay. Oh, it looks great. And I guarantee you it will stop you in your tracks when you see it on Airbnb. Okay. Interesting. And then I hung the artwork is black and white. Okay. And it looks amazing. Okay. I can't wait to see the pictures. Oh, it looks amazing. You worked so hard, you didn't take any pictures.

[01:40:40] I worked so hard that I did not get a chance to take any pictures at all. Yeah. So there's that. Okay. So yeah, that, that was just my thought is, hey, I, you know, if you have, because you should be taking professional photos. . Oh, no doubt. So somebody's gonna come in and take pictures of that. Mm-hmm. and really good photography highlights.

[01:41:03] Really good design. But it also highlights really bad design. Yes. . And you can tell. Oh yes. When someone doesn't have that kind of training or experience even, you can tell. Yeah, you can. Cause it's not cohesive that it's not so, So te now we talked about the pictures. So when you walk in, are you thinking about that too?

[01:41:25] Oh, definitely. Like when they walk in, what's the first thing they see most definitely. Right? Well, when, when we are coaching people, we often tell our own clients, when you go look at. what you, what you really want it to have that wow factor when people open the door is you really want to be able to see all the way through to the end of the unit.

[01:41:54] Mm-hmm. , that's preferable, right? Because that really creates the [01:42:00] wow factor when people walk in, right? Mm-hmm. , nobody wants to walk in and see a wall really. Right? You really don't. And if you do put a piece of artwork there, really. So there are some places that are more conducive to design than others?

[01:42:16] Yes. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I've noticed some of those. Those stranger layouts. Yeah. It's hard to make them look good. . Well, we have, Cause the layout's weird. We had one. The living room had a, a wall and it came out like normal. It wasn't like a normal straight wall. It came out normally a little for a little bit and then it like angled this way.

[01:42:42] Like towards the floor? No, like towards the, the, Well it was like a, this, like it angled out. No. Yeah. Like it angle. it, it, it was, it came out straight like this and then it angled a little bit. Okay. So what was the challenge there? Well, I had to find somewhere to hang the tv. Oh, so it was a layout problem for Yeah, that reason, right?

[01:43:04] Like, so now the, like, where am I gonna put the, So I originally, I didn't know this , right? So the, the, So I hung the TV on that angled part and then put the desk over. The part that was not angled. Okay. And so I had to push the sofa back, get rid of one of the, the end tables and, and the accent chair. So your design changed on the fly?

[01:43:32] Yes. Okay. Interesting. All right. You just got that look like that's, that was a lot of trouble, but, And that was just one. Yeah. So, Okay. So now that you've, we've kind of covered, Okay. We've designed it. We've planned it. Now you guys actually go put the thing together, right? And we're, and we're what, like halfway into the podcast?

[01:43:57] Oh my God. There's like a lot of work. So quickly. [01:44:00] Okay. Quickly what, what does, does that look like? So you got all the stuff. Okay. You arrive, It's all there, right? Hopefully, hopefully it's all there. Well, hopefully. Okay. So unless the. I better, unless the post office delivered it Right. , When you got some stuff that did not come because the post office did not deliver.

[01:44:18] Oh, the post office. Yeah. So anyway, like Joey's on Joey, on friends. Right. So you take inventory, I guess. Yes. So when we, Well the, Okay, let's back up a little bit. We don't have to teach the whole thing. It's in the course. Right. You've, you've done this. You have to, you have to, but prior to doing that, you have to plan it all out first.

[01:44:42] Mm-hmm. , because you have to paint first. You have to paint before you can get the furniture delivered. Mm. Okay. Right. I mean, I don't wanna paint. So it's scheduling around, It's, you have to schedule things in order. So day one, when you get there, you schedule the paint. Okay. Cause, and then the, the next day, that's when you want all the furniture to be delivered.

[01:45:06] Okay? Okay. On, on the next day. And then the day after that, then you can do schedule the people to hang the TVs. Cuz you have to have furniture. To in order to hang the artwork. Mm. Right. Yeah. Like I, I like to know exactly where it's going. Exactly. Yeah. Right. So paint furniture, and then you can do all the TVs, hang the artwork, hang the curtains and, and that kind of things.

[01:45:39] But so that, those things need to be scheduled in advance. Mm-hmm. . So, cuz you need contractors for that. Yeah. So you got people coming. Right. So you have to do, that's, that's one of the another reason that you need a, a good two week lead time for that. So a week in advance, that's when I schedule all [01:46:00] those contractors to come mm-hmm.

[01:46:01] Okay. So I give them a week lead time. Mm-hmm. , I, I've noticed that they need at least that. So when, when we get there now all we have to do is find the boxes. Wherever the crap they are. If they're an Amazon lock, ugh, that was a disaster. Amazon Lockers and the, and the postal service. So now that everything is on site mm-hmm.

[01:46:26] then you can start putting it in the where, where it needs to go. Like this goes in the living room, this goes in the bedroom, this goes in the kitchen, right? Mm-hmm. . And then while one person setting up the kitchen. You can have somebody else setting up the, the living room. And that's usually what I do. So while they are working, hanging the artwork in the living room and the hanging the curtains in the living room, I'm setting up the kitchen.

[01:46:54] Got it. Okay. Right. So I can still be available if they need me. and they usually do. Cuz I'm very specific about how I want my TVs hung. Yeah. And how I want my artwork hung. Well, you should be. Yeah. And my curtains, I'm very particular about that. Yeah. So, so that, that way I can make myself available. I'm still busy.

[01:47:16] I'm, I'm, No, I'm gonna take that back. I'm still productive and efficient with my time. Mm. So that I I can be there on site. Why? And still manage all the contractors that I've got. Right? Yeah. And then there's the shopping that you inevitably are gonna have to do. Oh, it's inevitable. It's inevitable. Just go ahead and, and pull that Tom in, because it is always something always.

[01:47:48] Like a pillow's missing or guarantee comes broken or, or something just doesn't come at all. Something doesn't arrive at all. Yeah, because it came from the postal service , apparently. [01:48:00] Poor postal service. I know. Bless, bless. But, okay, so now you've done all that. You've, you've gotten everything done that you said, That takes about three days or so.

[01:48:11] It takes, it takes two days to set up a one bedroom unit. And three days to set up a two bedroom unit. Okay. Fully. And then it's turnkey. It's done. Yes. And everything's, And then, And then somebody's like cleaners and, and then the cleaners come. Photography comes, But that's not you. Right. Okay. That's not, Got it.

[01:48:32] I do not do cleaners and I don't, do not do photography. Right. I don't clean. You don't want me to clean anything? No. No we don't. We've already talked about that. Yeah. I do not clean. It's, yeah, . So anyway. You don't want me cleaning either? No, apparently not. Cuz the place was a disaster when I got home. Yeah.

[01:48:50] Oh you mean, Yeah. Well we actually cleaned this. She's talking about our house. That we actually cleaned, believe it or not, before you got home. And she's like, This place is a disaster. I'm like, Well, you should have seen it before you walked in the dorm, . It was really a disaster. Oh, you did a good job. Yeah.

[01:49:09] Thank you. Good job. Good job, Mr. Mom. Yeah, I had to pay the kids too, , pay them to help me. And, and what's funny is I forever rework, I was, I was teaching them about real money versus paper money. Uhhuh, . And I shouldn't have done that because they demanded to be paid in silver dollars. You had to give them silver coins.

[01:49:29] Yes. That's funny. Which are like 20 bucks a piece. That's funny. But whatever. I don't want your paper currency. No, they didn't want my paper currency. We want real money. We want real money. So I had to pay them in silver. I love it. Yeah. That's funny. So there's that. But anyway, That's funny. , that's funny.

[01:49:43] Anyway so that, yeah, that's a lot of work. Yeah, it's a lot of work. That's a lot of work. It's a lot of work up. It is. It is indeed. And so you don't wanna be putting in that work if you're. At the end, you're gonna have great design so that then you can have great photos, then you guests can leave you great reviews, right?

[01:49:59] Yes. [01:50:00] Yeah. So you can get those, those reservations that you're looking for. Mm-hmm. . Awesome. Okay. Yep. And that's how it's done right there. All right. Well that was interesting and I guess you're ready for the next one. So I onto the next, if you've got units you want to set up or get.

[01:50:16] Designed you have several options for that, don't you? So you don't No, that's do that. You do. This was a full service. This was a, what I call my, my turnkey package. Mm-hmm. . So this is a, this is a complete turnover. Like somebody, as soon as you get it cleaned, Literally, somebody can check in, right? And see.

[01:50:37] So they hand you the keys, you do everything, the keys back, I do everything. And then I hand you your keys back. Yes. Okay. That is every, that's called the turnkey package. So I also have a design package that is just a, it, it's a spreadsheet. So I will design it for you on paper, paper. being, being the spreadsheet.

[01:51:02] I'll tell you exactly what to order and I'll even give you the URL links. I can do that for you. Got it, got it. So you're doing all that stuff at work up front, you were talking about, of designing it. Mm-hmm. Getting the measurements. Mm-hmm. , making sure everything fits. Planning out on paper and you just stop at the point where you would normally order mm-hmm.

[01:51:26] and then go set it up. Correct. So you're, you're providing all of that and then it's, Okay, here you go. You order, here's all the stuff you order, you order it, and you set it up. That's all you gotta do. Right. But it's designed, but it's designed, it's fully designed. I tell you exactly how many and I plan it out on paper.

[01:51:47] You know the sofa's gonna go here and we ha even have. Predesigned consultation. Mm-hmm. . So I need to know who your customer's gonna be for that too. Yeah. And you still need that layout [01:52:00] and I still need, you need that stuff, the layout for sure. I need to know where the plugs are and the door orientation and, and that kind of thing.

[01:52:08] I, I still need to know all that information. But I'll get all that information on the pre design consultation and then we will have a post design consultation after the unit's been set up. Mm-hmm. so that I can get any feedback. And then I'm also available during that whole process for you in case some, something on the spreadsheet's not available, for example.

[01:52:34] Cause that happens quite often on Amazon. Is something's not available in your area, like in between the time you mm-hmm. designed it and they actually went to order it. Mm-hmm. , like it became Una or mm-hmm. . Hey, it's now, it's not gonna come till Exactly. Not go, come time till January or something. That won't work.

[01:52:50] Mm-hmm. . So you need to substitute, right? Sure. I know that comes up sometimes, so I can be available for, for substitutions if substitutions are needed. I, I, I'm also available. Design consultation. So for example if, if we had to make substitutions for something, then maybe we need to switch up the design a little bit.

[01:53:10] Sometimes that happens. Yeah, too, right? So that I'm available for that too, for, with that package. So, and then I have a, a middle, middle, one of those packages. , I can design it for you and I can order it for you. I'm just not gonna come on site and set it up for you. So they have to manage the project. Got it, but, But you just have to be there just to manage the peoples.

[01:53:46] Okay. Yeah. So you've got three different levels. Correct. All right. Yes. So I just wanted to put that out there. Got it. Because you should tell people what you do. Right. Okay. But that is one of the services we offer. And obviously Wendy primarily offers that I go along sometimes [01:54:00] as help. That's true. You do.

[01:54:01] And she puts me to work. So I just work here, but . But yeah. So I do like to tell you what to do. Yeah, you do. I do. Sheila like to tell me what to do. I do. And she needs to tell me what to do cause I have no idea what I'm doing. Unfortunately. That's true. You went to the wrong school. That. Well, that has nothing to do with design.

[01:54:18] has to do with picking up children. And it's true. I went to the wrong school to pick them up. Oh my gosh. That is hilarious. I was like, Why is there nobody in the parking ? I was like, Oh, they're not in elementary school anymore. Nope. They go to middle school now. . I'm at the wrong school. That amused me. Yeah, well laugh it up.

[01:54:36] Chuckles,

[01:54:40] Oh that. But I got it done. I finally got, Hey, they're still alive. Yeah, everybody got fed, including the cats. That's true. That's true. And the dogs. That's true. So good job. Well done. Yes. Thank you, . All right, well that was our episode on setting up, setting up and design. I kind of wanted to go through that since it was fresh in your mind.

[01:55:01] Okay, Very good. Something you just, just got back from doing. And just kind of illustrate what that process is and how much work actually goes into it so much. And you know, why you want it done, You know, why do you want design done? And I think we covered all three of those topics. I, I think so too.

[01:55:16] Good job. Okay. Good job. All right. Well take us out, Wendy. Okay. Well we hope that you found value in this episode. If so, like and subscribe. And we are John and Wendy Williams with the short term rental authority. Your authority. All things short term rental related to help make you the best operator ever.

[01:55:38] Onto the next, onto the next

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