How we helped one Vacasa homeowner share her “happy place”

For two decades, Diane’s cabin in Cle Elum, Washington, was just for fun—her happy place, a private retreat from the rest of the world. She had toyed with the idea of renting over the years, but decided her cabin wasn't fixed up enough to share with guests.

A flood of change

After a flood forced Diane to perform extensive repairs, she began to reconsider renting. “My cabin went from dowdy to cute and cozy. That’s when I really started thinking about renting it out,” she recalled. “Then, out of the clear blue, I got a letter from Vacasa. With my home fixed up, it just seemed like a no-brainer!”

A smooth transition

Since Diane was new to renting, she was anxious about what to expect. But even before her property got its first reservation, she found herself overjoyed with our service. “Every effort was made to accommodate a smooth entry into renting my beloved cabin. [Vacasa] assured me every step of the way, taking out all of the worry and stress.”

A “love thing”

Diane’s cabin has been in the family for years, and it means the world to her. “It’s a love thing,” she explained. Needless to say, she wanted a property manager who would care for her home like it was their own.

We haven’t let Diane down—she is beyond pleased with the level of care we provide, and calls our housekeeping “spectacular.” “My home is always clean, and my housekeepers think of everything. They wash the windows every time, dust and oil my furniture, and [make] my floors look amazing. In fact, my furniture and floors look even better than they did ten years ago!”

A local connection

With Vacasa, Diane has the comfort of knowing her property is in caring, local hands. “My local manager, Julia, always picks up her phone on the first ring. If there’s a problem, bang! There she is. She gets someone out there to take care of every little issue. It’s so great having someone right there when you need them.”

Diane is so confident in our level of care that she has no fear about leaving her cabin for long periods of time. “If I went and spent the winter in Arizona, I wouldn’t have any fears. I know it would be completely taken care of.”

Sharing is caring

Diane finds joy in helping create memorable experiences for her guests, and she loves sharing her “happy place” with others. “That’s the number one thing for me,” she said.

Diane enjoys reading her home’s reviews online, and she leaves a special guest book in her cabin for visitors to sign. “It’s great feedback, and when [guests] say something nice about my home, it’s the best compliment. It makes me glow all over.” She added, “I love to read about how long they stayed, what they’re there for, and what they did during their stay.”

More money, more memories

For Diane, making memories is more important than making money—but she thinks the rental income is pretty great, too. “This has been a very positive financial experience. After renting my cabin for a few months, I had $16,000 to put toward improvements. I wouldn’t have had that money without Vacasa.”

In many ways, Vacasa has helped Diane discover—and fuel—her passion. With the income and quality care she receives, she’s able to create even better memory-making experiences for her guests. “This experience has been a win-win for me. I have a gorgeous place I can go with family and friends, plus I generate money on the side—which I can put back into my cabin. Thanks to Vacasa, I feel proud to share my home with others. I love knowing that people enjoy my cabin as much as I do. ”