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

Hi Harut, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart, starting businesses from a young age. I’ve dabbled in everything from selling fidget spinners in high school to creating my own clothing brand, and I even built a photo booth business from the ground up. I’ve always been on the lookout for new opportunities. While I was working as a product manager for a software development company, I started to feel like I wanted more control over my income and decided to take a chance on starting a vacation rental business. When interest rates fell, I saw it as a great opportunity to invest in real estate and I’m glad I took the leap.

What should our readers know about your business?
As an AirBnB SuperHost, I have found success in the managing my short-term vacation rental homes in the Coachella Valley area. One of my biggest achievements was achieving SuperHost status on AirBnB within the first 6 months of accepting reservations at our current Indio rental. While the process of becoming a SuperHost is straightforward, it is important to follow guidelines and go above and beyond for guests in order to succeed on hosting platforms like AirBnB. My top tip for other hosts is to always provide more value to guests than they expect, whether it be through flexible check-in and check-out times or the ability to bring a pet, as it can go a long way in bringing enjoyment to the guests’ experiences. At our rentals, guests can expect the highest level of care and attention to detail ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

My latest efforts have been focused on the launch of Homies BnB, a new program designed to help owners of rental and vacation properties add an extra stream of revenue to their rental businesses, boosting their income and optimizing their performance and marketing. The platform is scheduled to debut in the early part of this year, and those interested in following the project can do so on Instagram at @HomiesBnB.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our home is a paradise for entertainment with a pool, jacuzzi, billiards table, ping-pong, and outdoor grill. But that’s not all there is to do in the desert! Indio is known for hosting major music festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach, but there are also many food, music, and art festivals in the Coachella Valley throughout the year. If you’re looking for more entertainment, our home is located near numerous resorts and casinos with great restaurants and live performances. And for those who love nature, the Joshua Tree National Park is a must-see, with its stunning desert scenery and vibrant night skies.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the team at Hillcrest Lending. Their amazing team helped me learn about loan opportunities and take advantage of them to get my first property funded quickly, easily, and at an amazing interest rate. Reach out to them on Instagram at @hillcrestlending or call them at (866)204-5828 to see how they can help you get your dream home funded.

I would also like to shout out my amazing Realtor, Anush Ferakhyan. Anush supported me throughout my home-buying journey and helped me get my offer accepted in a very competitive listing. You can reach Anush on Instagram at @anushfera or give her a call at (818)468-5356.

Website: https://airbnb.com/h/indiogetaways-1

Instagram: @indiogetaways

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