Meet Amanda Bergeron | Airbnb Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Bergeron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I think of taking risk, I think of how you only live once. I think about how will you know, if you don’t try? I think about risk in a way that you will always learn- whether that risk works out the way you wanted it to or not, you learned from it. I think about risk as everything is figureout-able. What is life without taking risks? That being said, the biggest risk i took at 29 yrs old was draining my savings account to put a down payment on an investment property. Not to mention, I was recently self employed at this point. This property was a house with the intention of turning it into an Airbnb. This house was located in a very transitioning area where I honestly had not done too much research on, I just fell in love with the house and went with my intuition that it would make the perfect Airbnb. My first investment property, my first AirBnB, my first time draining my savings account since entering the adult world, my first big risk as I would call it. Who knew if it would succeed as an Airbnb, and if it didn’t who knew if it would re-sell for more, who knew if the area would continue to transition or not? No one knew!!! But- within 7.5 months of this house listed as an active Airbnb, I already made my down payment back & then some!! Each month has sat right around a 90% occupancy rate. I’ve hosted at least 100+ parties of people from all over the U.S. and have maintained Super Host Status since the first quarter I could qualify for. And the area, let me tell you… non-stop construction and new houses going up every where!

This risk of making this investment has not only changed my life financially but emotionally and physically. I am a better person for it, I am able to live my life fuller and I am on the path to create freedom for myself and my future family. As a recovering perfectionist, this risk has been one I look back upon often and it is a reminder to myself that I don’t have to know everything to start something new. That I can take one step in the direction of a new risk and I can figure the rest out along the way. I encourage others to take risks and I feel proud that I have seen my influence in others who have taken those risks.

What should our readers know about your business?
Running a short term rental as an AirBnb host involves a lot more than you would think. I would say the number one thing that sets me apart as a host, is my attention to detail. I am very specific when it comes to cleanliness, placement, customer service, experience and how I run my every day life! It could be something as small as having an extra fan in the bedrooms for guests who like to sleep with an extra fan at night to making sure the front porch is swept and showing all signs of cleanliness for when the guest walks to the door for the first time. We hear it all the time- “its the little things in life.” And truly, it is. I am most proud of the 80+ positive reviews guest have left within a short 9.5 months. To satisfy 100+ different guests, from all different backgrounds, all different locations, with different walks of life, is no easy task. I truly believe where I am now came from being so attention to detail in all aspects, recognizing trends, staying up on the decor, keeping additions coming, asking my guests for feedback and implementing changes where I saw the feedback to be a fit. Being new to the Airbnb space as a host, I would have to say that you really learn as you go. You can prepare for what you think to be everything, but guests will surprise you. Or, they will receive something in another light and it will alter you to think twice. To me, overcoming challenges with the property itself and/or guest for me has always started with transparency. I find if you are transparent with others, they are 100% more likely to trust you. And with someone staying as your guest, your #1 priority is to make sure they feel safe & accepted. At the end of the day, this industry is all about customer service/hospitality and when you keep that front and center, I truly don’t think you can go wrong. If it is finding a service for the house, the more transparent and direct I am with the vendor, I have found it has made for longterm business relationships, other connections and kept it very easy to do repeat business with them.

What I’d love for others to take away from my overall story is to take action on a dream of yours. Do it scared, but do it any way. You never know what is on the other side unless you try. And don’t wait and keep saying “someday.” Take action now, tomorrow is not promised.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a week long trip, I would pick a different city inside of the perimeter to show them each day. I’d choose an activity & one restaurant for them to experience within each! +Inman Park – Delbar for drinks, food & overall great vibes. Paired with Ponce City Market for a day of shopping, followed by the rooftop full of games to play!

+West Midtown – The Rooftop LOA at The Interlock Hotel. For all of the above! Food, drinks & a rooftop pool.

+Midtown – Visit the High Museum of Art and then enjoy some shopping and/or eating in Atlanta Station, its a good atmosphere.

+Buckhead – Go to Fetch Park during the day to day drink around a bunch of dogs! Then head next door to Buckhead Village District for dinner at Le Colonial, Gypsy Kitchen or Storico Vino.

+and then one whole day designated just to the Beltline!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt, my parents. And that is not to be mistaken for a cliche answer. I was born into an entrepreneurial family and I’ve since grown up around entrepreneurs. My father has always been the man to take action even if he doesn’t have the research, the answer or never having done it before. He acts and figures it out along the way. I have always, always admired him for it and I tell him often that it is his greatest strength. Seeing him always in action, always there with a solution to my problems in specific and always taking risks in the business world, is truly what has given me my mental ability to “just do it.” My mother, she is an ultimate gem. She has always been my #1 supporter, she is beauty and the brains to our family. With that being said, she is the one who found this investment property with her researcher self and the brains to think to research out of my budget. 😉 haha! She supports everything I do but she isn’t just along for the ride, she will voice the pros and cons and then allow me to make my own decisions. I truly admire that about her because she never tries to push her opinions on me or sway me to believe/act differently. I always say I am 50% my mother and 50% my father. In continuation of my entrepreneurial family, I must mention my Grampy. He always talked business and always encouraged to be successful. He is the one who helped me to seal the deal on this investment property. It was during an emotional time as he was in the hospital and came back to life after his heart had stopped. We were on the phone when I told him what I was in the process of doing with purchasing this home and he first said, “where’d you get all that money?” haha! He was always a tough one to impress, but I think I impressed him enough because he followed it up with saying he was proud of me. A week went by and the house appraised under asking price so I called to update my Grampy. While still in the hospital, he said clearly over the phone that he would be happy to give me the remaining funds I would need to bring to the table to close on this property. I was in disbelief. Until I saw the funds come through… A couple weeks later, he went on to pass away. This risk I took and this house I own, is a tribute to my Grampy and I know I am continuing to make him proud. I truly could go on and on shouting out about many influential people, places, organizations and books that contribute to where I now am in life but i’ll end it by saying, I hope if you’re reading this and you don’t feel supported by those surrounding you in life, that you find the courage to disengage with those people and go find some who do support you.

Website: www.airbnb.com/h/amandabnb

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amandabergeron

Image Credits
Kenny Casimir