Destin Breaks is a boutique management company that has been managing upscale beachfront vacation rentals in Destin, Florida, since 2016. Their ultimate goal is to create an environment where every guest can enjoy the perfect vacation.
Can you tell us a little bit about your history?
I bought my first beachfront vacation rental in Destin, FL in 2016. It quickly proved to be a good business for me, and I bought four more in the same building. While managing my own vacation rentals, I began the certification to be a Florida Real Estate Broker so that I could begin managing a few units for others, too. My ultimate focus has always been on guest satisfaction; therefore, I didn't want a big business where I would lose my focus. I called it a 'boutique management company', and only accepted to work with property owners who invested in their properties and had good personalities. Now I manage 22 units in the Destin, FL area.
Were you always in VR or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?
I am an Electrical/Electronics Engineer with an MBA. I am a very technical person, which gives me the advantage to deal with software, online tools, and maintaining our properties. My corporate tenure taught me how to deal with all types of people and situationsIf a later career, what did you do before?
This is my 2nd career. I worked in Siemens and Nokia for over 20 years, and lived in 5 countries for my job. I began managing my own properties as a side project while still working at my full time job. In time, it evolved and let me get out of the corporate life.
Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later? If later, is there something that drew you to that area?
I am from Turkey, a country with a lot of beaches and vacation opportunities. I moved to the US in 2014, since then I've lived in Dallas, Texas but often travel to Destin, Florida. We travel a lot and have travelled all over the US. When we went for a vacation to Destin, FL; we were so impressed with the town and its crystal-clear waters. It was no match to anywhere else in the US. That made me think that it would be a good business year around.
What do you love the most about the VR business?
I love the days when people appreciate the service we provide and leave with a very good taste, dropping a handwritten thank you note in the unit and leaving us a great review. We still have a lot of repeat guests visiting us every year.What do you dislike the most about it?
I dislike the bad days 🙂; when a guest damages our property, or something important needs to be fixed urgently. This is a business that you need to be in touch 24/7, even when I am on a vacation, I need to work. I remember a very bad day when my cell phone roaming stopped working in a developing country and I had a failing air conditioning unit while I was abroad.How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?
Once properly set up, OwnerRez offloaded ALL of my routine tasks so that I can focus on the guests and still have time for my family. I have my own website getting 40%+ of my bookings. It is not easy to rank on the first page, it takes time, knowledge and effort. But when you achieve it, you get bookings, everything is automatically processed, and guests are provided with tons of information by email and text. I can also follow-up on how they're doing, using the triggers on OwnerRez. When I began property management, owners loved the statements and the dashboard they can see. It takes me around 30 minutes to consolidate and pay them at the end of the month.
What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?
I love all features but if I ranked them, it would be:
3. Free widgets
Destin Breaks has grown from one rental into a thriving boutique business by focusing on what matters most, creating great experiences for their guests. With 22 beautiful properties in Destin, FL, they’re a wonderful example of how OwnerRez helps property managers grow their business and deliver exceptional service.
