When to Build and When to Buy
EP18 - When to Build and When to Buy
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals Podcast
In Episode Eighteen, Paul and Chris discuss the philosophy that has shaped OwnerRez from the beginning: building what matters. They compare their approach to Ferrari’s mentality of building everything in-house, discuss when it makes sense to build versus buy, and explain why owning and having full control over the product experience has helped OwnerRez stay nimble over the years.
They also discuss how AI has impacted software development through the rise of vibe coding and point to the importance of sticking with a product and not sacrificing the refinement stage.
You’ll hear about:
- How OwnerRez approaches building vs. buying
- The value of owning and controlling the full product experience
- Vibe coding and its limitations
- Why great products are built through years of refinement
It’s a real conversation about product development, the value of ownership, and why staying the course has been their approach to building an elite product.
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About the Podcast
Hosted by Paul and Chris, co-founders of OwnerRez, the show is inspired by their long-standing ritual: taking weekly walks together to think through problems, debate ideas, and talk candidly about the business. These walking conversations have shaped countless product decisions, strategy shifts, and breakthrough moments. Now, you get to listen in.
Each episode dives into the lessons learned from more than a decade of bootstrapping, product building, customer challenges, industry changes, and the day-to-day realities of running a tech company that serves thousands of property managers.
Whether you’re a host, manager, entrepreneur, or just curious how vacation rental software gets built, this podcast gives you real conversations, real experience, and real insight, one walk at a time.