Meet Sophia

Personal Reflection:

Who are you? Where do you live?
I’m Sophia, and I live in Normal Heights.

What do you do for work? Is it what you always thought you’d be doing?
I’m an attorney at a law firm. Besides marrying rich and living on perpetual vacation, yeah, this
is where I thought I’d end up.

If time, money, and education weren’t a factor, what would you wake up and do every
day?
Travel any and everywhere. Find new adventures in new places and get into trouble. Balanced
with volunteering in my free time.

What’s your WHY? What’s that thing you’re chasing in life?
I’m an extremely goal oriented individual. So as soon as I say I want something aloud, I’m
pretty relentless in my efforts to get it. In other words, my “why” is always getting to the next big
thing I set my eyes on.

If you could achieve one big thing in the next five years, what would it be?
Figuring out how to retire early. That way I can do more of [see question 3].

Airbnb Insights:

What strategies have you used to ensure consistent bookings throughout the year?
Constantly updating my listing, using an SEO booster, always responding as quickly as
possible. I’ve noticed when I don’t consistently do those things, my bookings drop. Having a
near-immediate response time to inquiries has been overwhelmingly appreciated by guests.

What do you think are the current challenges in the San Diego Airbnb market?
Over saturation. There are so many listings available, and I’m constantly brainstorming how to
set my listing apart from others. I see my house and my listing as an opportunity for constant
improvement.

Do you feel the investment was worth it? Why or why not?
I feel the investment has 100% paid off so far! The beginning was definitely a challenge, but
now I’ve worked out the kinks. However with many years left on the mortgage, let’s see if I can
keep the momentum going.

What inspired the design and theme of your Airbnb?
Once I (quickly) learned that younger partiers was not the demographic of clients I wanted, I
really tried to tailor my listing to families. When kids stay in the house, everyone is in bed by 8P
and I don’t receive neighbor complaints! I used Pinterest to get ideas of how to furnish and
decorate, and I tried to make it a home I would want to stay in myself.

What’s the most unique feature of your home that guests rave about?
Having one of the only pools in the neighborhood is particularly helpful for gaining bookings. I
was never looking for a pool when I was buying, but now I feel extremely lucky to have such an
asset. Almost every guest books my place to use the pool, so it’s definitely a great feature.

What have you done to make your Airbnb stand out in a competitive market?
I often look at other Airbnbs to see what attracts me to their listing. I often find that decor plays
a big part in liking a listing. So I will take notes on what I like and attempt to incorporate similar
qualities into mine.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from hosting?
To let go of control. I had to learn that every type of guest will be moving through my house,
and I will not be able to control them. So giving them the benefit of the doubt that they will
respect my home had been quite a challenge for me. Luckily, there have been no horror stories
yet.

Have you faced any unexpected challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Once my older neighbors found out I was STR, they were extremely displeased. As someone
who feels awful inconveniencing others, I tried my best to enforce stricter rules on the guests
and win over favor in my neighbor’s eyes. It is definitely a work in progress, but I think we have
improved our relationship (somewhat).

Do you manage the property yourself or use a property manager? Why did you choose
that option?
Since I also live on the property, I manage it myself. I feel like I don’t have an excuse to hire a
management company when I’m 10 feet away from the house. I have considered from time to
time what hiring a management company would look like for me, but for now it’s easy to handle
all matters.

How do you handle maintenance and cleaning between bookings?
Over time I’ve accumulated some really great resources and contacts. I have a wonderful
cleaner that is basically a second mother to me. I have a Taskrabbit that is all things handy and
is extremely reliable. If other issues arise, I try to handle since I’m nearby. Don’t put it past me to
frantically call a friend when I need a second pair of hands to take care of something.

What are your goals for your Airbnb property in the next year?
Keep bookings high of course. But also find ways to improve the property. This will be the
second year with the property, so I try to stay on top of improvements others offer and ensure
that I stand out.

Would you recommend investing in an Airbnb to others? Why or why not?
I would recommend an Airbnb…to the right person. It often feels like a second job when there
are so many things to juggle. I’m grateful for a flexible work schedule to take care of
emergencies. I do find that checking on the property frequently is a must. So I’m not sure I
would recommend to someone if they are never around and expect the house to take care of
itself.

How has hosting on Airbnb impacted your lifestyle or career?
At first, it was quite the impact. I felt like I need to always be around to clean, repair, water
plants, etc. But as handed more responsibilities to my cleaner and got into the groove of
hosting, it’s been significantly easier. There is little interference with my lifestyle or career lately.

Do you see yourself expanding your Airbnb portfolio in San Diego or elsewhere?
Not particularly. Airbnb is great for meeting my financial needs at the moment, but having a
portfolio of STR does not really interest me. If I bought property in another city, I could
potentially see myself renting it out when I’m not around.

San Diego Lifestyle (for some local flavor):

If you’ve got an out-of-towner visiting, how would you show them San Diego through
your eyes?
I love taking visitors to Torrey pines and hiking up to see the ocean. I love going to the Nolan
rooftop bar downtown as there are almost always Petco fireworks to watch at some point while
you have a cocktail. Little Italy can be fun if I’m just trying to be a basic bitch.

Where’s the most “San Diego” place you’ve ever had a moment that felt like, “Yeah, I live
in paradise”?
Anytime I walk along the boardwalk of the beach or I see a show at Beach House as the sun is
setting over the ocean, I’m reminded that “damn I really do live in the coolest place.” I’m
originally from Texas, so it does not take much to impress me when it comes to a beautiful place
to live.

Where do you go for the best sunset in town?
Sunset Cliffs (duh!) without a doubt. There’s plenty of space to avoid others and get an
excellent view of the sunset.

What’s your favorite date night spot?
My favorite restaurant is Fort Oak, and I would never turn down a date invitation there (no
matter the person). It’s moody, every dish is beyond excellent, and mission hills is such a cute
neighborhood to walk off the gluttony when dinner is over.

How would you describe your ultimate San Diego day, from morning to night?
Wake up and go for a long run along the boardwalk by the ocean, grab brunch with some
friends (Morning Glory if I can make it happen), go to the farmers market and find some
inspiration for dinner, make dinner, and finish off the evening sitting around the fire pit with
friends.