A new vacation rental space is launching in Leland.
Eric Breon is starting his second vacation rental space in northwest Michigan after his Vacasa agency established itself in the Glen Arbor and Honor region.
“It’s been four years since I ran Vacasa, and in that time, I experienced property management both as a guest and a homeowner. I’m not impressed with the industry’s direction,” says Eric Breon, Founder & CEO of Fairly. “Companies have been squeezing housekeeper pay while living costs grew. Excessive fees are rampant. And increasingly, when you call a property management company, you get your call routed to someone who isn’t local.”
Breon said the new company isn’t a property management company, at least not in the traditional sense.
Breon says, “Fairly is a platform for empowering local professionals: specifically, real estate agents and housekeepers. We help them build their business,” he said. “Local companies have started adopting the worst practices of large management companies, like excessive guest fees and outsourcing calls to virtual assistants who aren’t familiar with the properties nor location. And across the board, companies are underpaying their housekeepers.”
Fairly shares half of their fee with local partners: 25% to the housekeeper (in addition to the cleaning fee they negotiate directly with the homeowner) and 25% to the Advisor, typically a real estate agent who helps clients get started renting.
“Exceptional local real estate agents are a tremendous resource for people looking to buy a vacation home they intend to rent. Historically, they’ve bowed out as soon as the property closes. With Fairly, they take them one step further, helping their owner get started renting.”
“I know vacation rentals are a controversial topic in many towns. We want to be a responsible partner on this front. With Fairly, more of the money stays local, and our rentals in Leelanau Peninsula can help support other businesses in the community, creating jobs and bringing in tax revenue,” says Breon.
Glen Arbor realtors Bob and Rene Ihme sold Glen Arbor Vacation Realty to Vacasa last year and have since continued working with them.
“When it come to revenue producing the rentals vacasa has got it down,” Rene said.
With Fairly’s launch in the Leelanau Peninsula, they are actively recruiting housekeepers and real estate agents, especially those who frequently help buyers find vacation rentals.
Breon says the company will focus on hyperlocal with its customer service while having the technology and funding that come with expensive startups.
Fairyl dubbed themselves as “the future of vacation rental management.”
Breon has not been to the Leelanau Peninsula yet, although he plans to visit when the weather is warmer.
