Behind the Host with Tia Castle

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Transcript from the Episode

Introduction

[00:00:00] Liam: Welcome to another episode of behind the host podcast. And today we're joined by Tia castle. Tia is that how host and founder of castle Lux property. Based in Sarasota, Florida. Um, if you don't know where that is, it's definitely worth a Google cause it was a beautiful part of the world. Uh, she deals with luxury high-end homes, they're professional management agency looking after real estate investors, uh, investments.

[00:00:32] Liam: She's a presenter, she's an actress. She's a author with hospitable hosts. Um, she helps, uh, other new hosts getting started and I'm really excited to have you on the show today. TSO, thank you for joining us.

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Let's get back to the show.

[00:02:20] Tia: Thanks, Liam. I'm very excited to be here and I do have one correction.

[00:02:38] Tia: It's castle Lux rentals. It used to be castle X properties, but now it's past rentals and it's in beautiful Sarasota.

[00:02:47] Liam: Oh, it's beautiful. Now I literally, I get to learn so many places around the world by doing this. And, uh, I always have a look and it's places, which if people are listening to this as well, I'm sure.

An introduction about Tia and her company

[00:02:57] Liam: Just buy one, Google alone. They'll want to come and come and check out something awesome beaches and those properties. So, first of all, I'd love to just have a introduction into yourself and your company and how you really got started hosting.

[00:03:11] Tia: Okay, well, um, as you mentioned, uh, castle looks rentals is a luxury vacation rental management company.

[00:03:19] Tia: Um, and I decided to get into the luxury realm. About three years ago, I've been in the, um, Uh, vacation rental business for about six years. And it was really out of necessity. I wasn't planning on being in this business, but, um, I was producing television show and I had to travel a lot and I was, uh, in real estate and in real estate forever, but, um, I was doing a show.

[00:03:44] Tia: Um, called a home and castle TV. And it was about luxury properties that were listed that were over a million dollars. And so I was traveling back and forth and my condo was sitting empty and I had no money because I was pouring it all into my TV show. And so I thought, you know, what, what about this, you know, BNB thing.

[00:04:01] Tia: So, um, I started doing it and I was making some really good money. So that's how I got started.

[00:04:07] Liam: That's amazing. That's amazing. It took us a bit more through how you got into the TV presenting and what sparked the need for that program, because it is amazing. And again, for anyone listening, just, just Google, uh, you know, sort of deer castle, and, uh, the show is about.

[00:04:23] Liam: Oh, thank you.

[00:04:23] Tia: Thank you. Um, yeah, so it's, um, my degree is in broadcast journalism, and I went the route of, uh, totally going away from, um, you know, production and broadcasting and, and I love to write and I love to present and it's just something that I don't have to work hard at. It just comes to me. Less stuff.

[00:04:43] Tia: That's easy. So anyway, um, I decided I would marry my love for beautiful homes and real estate with my, um, production capabilities and having worked on, uh, news as a broadcaster. Um, I, you know, marry those two. And do you remember lifestyles of the rich and famous?

[00:05:06] Liam: I do. Yeah, I do. I don't know if I don't know what that says about me, but I do remember that show.

[00:05:12] Tia: I know me too, but, um, yeah, so anyway, uh, it was, it was a new version of that type of show. And, um, I was actually going to have, uh, the, uh, who was it? Robin leach, right. He was the, he was, uh, presenting that show and I reached out to him and I asked him, um, to watch the episodes and he really liked it. And I was trying to get it, you know, on mainstream TV.

[00:05:39] Tia: Um, he was going to be the voice of my show, but unfortunately he passed away several months after we were talking about how to promote it and sell it to the cable companies. So, um, that was sad. Um, but you never know when I might pick it back up, but, um, so that that's a history of, you know, why I got into it and what I was trying to do with it.

[00:06:01] Tia: And who knows, maybe there might be some, uh, vacation rental show coming out at me.

How did Tia get started?

[00:06:07] Liam: Amazing. Amazing to hear. So you started to doing the hosting off the back of this. What did you find, uh, was the main draw to the area for the properties that you are looking after? And did you start off with your own properties or did you start off managing.

[00:06:23] Tia: Yeah. I started off with my own two bedroom, two bath condo, um, and it wasn't anything special. It wasn't near the beach. Um, it was just a place for people to, you know, stay for a few days, but it did have a swimming pool in my area. Um, when I started there weren't that many rules and, um, but it was, uh, with a condo association and here in America, The associations get really, really strict and they will find you.

[00:06:50] Tia: Um, so, you know, it was kind of a gray area then, and then it turned out where they said, oh no, we're not letting you, you know, rent less than three months at a time here. So I had to kind of like switch gears and then that condo did so well. I, um, Uh, rented a couple other condos that allowed, you know, rentals that were, um, monthly and weekly.

[00:07:15] Tia: And I did really well with them. So, um, I've got into the arbitrage model and, um, then I continued with arbitrage model and I was able to. Uh, uh, make, uh, get contracts with, um, actually very large apartment complex. Um, and I was, um, and then also a, uh, privately owned apartment complex. So I did have about 16 arbitrage, um, apartments in downtown Sarasota.

[00:07:45] Tia: They weren't on the beach, but they were in, you know, a highly, um, visited area. Uh, and, um, then when.

[00:07:52] Liam: That's brilliant. And the, I mean, for anyone listening as well for rental arbitrage or rent to rent is what we've got across here in the UK. It's such a powerful model, isn't it? Because you can soon scale up your business with a, you know, as long as you've got the demand in that particular area for the guests, then you can scale as quick as you like for that.

[00:08:12] Liam: And, uh, you know, taking control of other people's properties while still making a profit, they. You and your guest wins. So that's, that's really such a good model. The guests who were coming to stay with you, were they a certain type of guests? What, what were they expecting from staying in the area? Um, was there a particular avatar that you tend to do.

[00:08:33] Tia: Yeah. At that time, I would say my first three years of, um, you know, being in the business and having mostly rental arbitrage, um, it was about, um, the stays were a little bit shorter. They were like three nights to five nights. And, um, the expectation was they just wanted a clean place that was, um, in the middle of everything.

[00:08:54] Tia: Um, and that that's the expectation that I set because it was downtown and only, you know, two miles to the beach and in where all the action is. Um, so my guest avatar was millennials who, you know, just wanted a clean, a place to stay that was walkable in the city. Um, my avatar has since changed since I got into the luxury business and I decided, well, COVID came along, first of all.

[00:09:22] Tia: And. Wiped out. Um, pretty much all my stays for like, uh, two months. So I was left holding the bag, um, with about close to $20,000 that I owed per month. Um, you know, in rent and nobody paying for. So that was like, you know, it was a hard moment and, um, but luckily, uh, three to four months, um, after COVID hit, um, my leases were coming up, so I was able to get out of my lease.

[00:09:56] Tia: But, uh, you know, we're to the wives without having insurance for things like this. Um, but you know, who would have foreseen that, right.

[00:10:04] Liam: So you need a crystal ball to

[00:10:07] Tia: know. I know. Yeah. So I, um, you know, as you mentioned, you know, that, uh, type of business is, is great to get into because you don't have to come up with a down payment.

[00:10:18] Tia: You know, purchase a property. Um, also you have to do is get into the lease and then buy your furniture and, and, um, you know, make it look right. Um, so it is a good stepping stone for people, but there are, you know, um, things that you have to, you know, think about in case something like this happens and you get stuck with, you know, having to pay those leases.

[00:10:39] Tia: But, and I once said in another interview, I'll never do that arbitrage, you know? And, um, but I'm kind of thinking about it and rethinking about it. And I haven't done it in the last three years, but now there are opportunities and, um, the, you know, since COVID changed everything and people are traveling in a different way and they're staying a little bit longer, I might venture back into.

[00:11:06] Liam: It's such a good model to test out, you know, sort of new advertise new markets and that sort of thing. Um, like you say, you can't predict with, with things like COVID, I mean, nobody can predict that, but talk us through the mindset of what happened, because I think so important that, um, hosts, you know, getting behind the host and understanding the mindset that w w we do have to deal with unexpected things.

[00:11:27] Liam: What was your, um, what was your kind of reaction and what advice would you have for other people who find themselves in a situation, which they didn't expect to be in.

[00:11:40] Tia: So, first of all, my reaction was pure panic as an unknown, you know? Um, but in hindsight and, and you know what, I really lucked out because, you know, I said my leases were up within three to four months.

[00:11:54] Tia: Um, and I had, um, Uh, I had taken those leases and I decided that I, there was one building where there were six apartments. And so what I did was I, um, took instead of leasing all of them at once. So if you are going to be doing this model is a great way to do it. Um, so that all your leases are not up at the same time and that, um, you know, you can stagger what you're doing, especially if you've got two.

[00:12:23] Tia: Fill those apartments with furniture and design and, and takes a long time to, you know, launch a property correctly. It doesn't happen in a day. So, um, you know, stagger those leases. So maybe you have to that you start the lease in July to an August to September that will really help you out in when you're building your business.

[00:12:43] Tia: Um, the other thing is this is very important, which I didn't realize how important it was at the time. But I did have one large house that I was, um, renting and, um, it, uh, it alone, it was like $7,000 a month. And, um, but in the contract I had, uh, that this contract can be broken if there is any. Type of change in the policies or the rules of the ordinance of the city that say that they will no longer allow short-term rentals.

[00:13:20] Tia: And I also had in there that if there are some, if there is an unforeseen event where that prevents us from being able to rent on a short-term basis, then we can immediately, you know, um, get out of the country. Uh, COVID was one of those unforeseeable events and that just saved me. So, um, you know, it's the way you put the contract together.

[00:13:49] Liam: It seems like, you know, I know you said you, you, you you've, you've felt quite lucky by having that, but I always say that half of everything is luck and the other half is hard work. And it sounds that you've done your due diligence and the work beforehand with the contracts to make sure that, you know, you kind of saved yourself in that situation.

How has the luxury side of things changed your types of guests and properties?

[00:14:07] Liam: The adaptation to move from your existing model to now the luxury model, you know, that's, that's, that's such a, um, a, a skill set to be able to adapt and to be able to see those changes as well. So, um, yeah. So talking more than about your, your current business model, you've moved into kind of the luxury side of things now, how has that changed the type of guests and the type of properties that you now look to take?

[00:14:36] Tia: Yes. You know, um, as you move to the larger luxury homes, uh, my avatar is families with kids and multi-generational visits where, you know, um, grandma and grandpa from Florida want to meet, you know, their son and daughter with all their, their kids. And they all come together. And I usually house about eight to 10 sometimes.

[00:15:00] Tia: 12 people. Um, so it's, um, most of my rentals are four bedrooms and three baths. Um, and so, um, you know, uh, the. You know, the, the, the shift is that the type of people that I deal with now are looking for the experience as opposed to just a clean place to stay. Um, it is the house itself is part of a destination instead of the geography.

[00:15:29] Tia: So you have to do things that. Um, our special about that house provides special things like, um, in one of the houses, um, we have a game room for the kids and then we have a yoga area for, you know, the parents who can sit outside by the pool when the sunrises, and just to be able to, you know, get back there before.

[00:15:50] Tia: And I'm away from the game room where the kids might be. Um, and, um, there's also it's on a canal, so we provide, um, an easy way to rent a boat from a marina close by. So there's a lot more planning, um, for the families. And it is more about their experience at the house.

[00:16:12] Liam: I love that how you've anticipated the guests needs certainly as a, as a father, myself, having that separation, you know, and, and peace, uh, at times when needed and also having a place where the kids can be entertained.

[00:16:24] Liam: Just sounds to me as though you've, you've really thought about what their needs are going to be before they come and stay. And. Another thing after the pandemic. I imagine that there's more families now traveling intergenerationally to kind of, they've had some time apart. They've not seen people as much as they'd like over the last few years, then I come in and traveling together and getting some more quality time and building those experiences.

Has the kind of tech Tia used changed?

[00:16:46] Liam: So that's really cool. Um, so your business at the moment is the, it's the tech stack behind your business? I'd love to, uh, obviously talk about the tech stack there, have, um, behind the host and. Has that changed from what it was with your rental arbitrage business to what is now with the luxury property management and what kind of tech do you use?

[00:17:11] Liam: Yeah.

[00:17:11] Tia: Yeah. You know, I've tried everything basically because, you know, my business has moved in so many different ways and it's shifted from, you know, different avatars. Um, so I'm definitely want to give you an idea of how different things were when I had my arbitrage and I was up to like 15 properties.

[00:17:30] Tia: I was using a much bigger program. Um, and I was using Guesty actually. And, um, because they had the component where, um, they would, uh, be able to communicate with the guests as a live person, you know, not just automated messages. And I had check-ins and check-outs every single day. There's no way I could keep up with that.

[00:17:50] Tia: And, um, I didn't have a large staff, so I relied heavily on, um, that, uh, property management company, um, However, they do take a percentage. Um, and now that I've scaled back, although I have less properties, I have bigger ones. So, um, but it's much easier for me to funnel in exactly what I need since it's less properties, you know, and really focusing more intimately with the people who stay.

[00:18:19] Tia: So I've changed. I believe I've used about or tried about four or five different property management systems. Um, right now what works for me is hopefully. And, um, I like it because, um, you know, I don't waste money anywhere. Um, and it's, it's a flat fee. Um, and there is the guest communication. Automation is great, but since I don't have so many properties, I like to jump in there and give my guests a human touch.

[00:18:53] Tia: Um, and I like the calendar. Um, and then, so that is my PMs system. Um, I like to use, um, I have used price labs off and on, uh, as far as pricing. Um, however, um, I like to get in there and, and I don't like things, you know, totally set it and forget it and automated. I like to leverage them, but I don't like them to totally, um, you know, take over my accounts.

[00:19:24] Tia: So, um, I don't set it and forget it. You still have to look at what's going on in your marketplace. And so I do a combination of that. Um, sometimes, uh, Oh, it's funny how, like I use both, um, VRVO and I use Airbnb and then I do direct bookings as well. So, um, it's interesting how BRBO likes to say, Hey, you need to hike your prices.

[00:19:50] Tia: Um, Airbnb's like, oh, Hey, you need to lower your prices. It's like, oh, wait a minute. You know, so,

[00:20:00] Tia: right, right, right. So, um, I like to try the higher one first and it's interesting how, um, BRBO will give you, um, an idea of what they think it should be. And sometimes I'll just cut off, uh, you know, the automation and just play with it a little bit, um, play with the pricing little bit and see what I could get.

[00:20:21] Tia: So I, I use a combination. Um, and then, um, what other tech do I use? Um, oh, um, I used to use a maid service, um, uh, organization, but, um, what I do now is. And able to use a hosts fully to alert, um, you know, when cleaning needs to be done. And, um, I let my, um, any staff, whether it's, you know, my cleaning staff or maintenance people, they have the ability to, you know, get into the account just to see the calendar and what needs to be done.

[00:20:58] Tia: And so, pretty much everything I need is done with that. Right.

[00:21:02] Liam: That makes sense with having a PMs, which can do so much of what you need it to, to take the hassle out of the day-to-day, that you can still have that personal touch and dive into with host families, unified inbox and that side of things. Um, but also to be able to give you clean as access again, depending on different PMs.

[00:21:26] Liam: We'll allow different, um, uh, abilities and different sort of aspects of that. So it's cool that hopefully then covers everything you need when you moved from Guesty to. You mentioned, you went to a few, how easy is it to move? And I know this will be something that people listening will go well, I'm with I'm with this one, but actually, you know, it sounds, it has managed to move fairly easily.

Was it easy to switch between PMS?

[00:21:51] Liam: Um, yeah. How easy was it to move? And, um, did you find that there was a case of any channel manager or any PMs has got everything you want in one box? Or is it a case of you could pick bits from all of them? If, if, if you have the terms.

[00:22:08] Tia: Yeah, you never going to find everything in one box, perfectly suits you.

[00:22:14] Tia: So you have to like make a list of like your top three wishes that you absolutely have to have and then find a PMs that will work for that, that are your most important needs. And then, you know, take the rest with a grain of salt. Um, And I will warn you. It's difficult to move from PMs to PMs. Um, I have done it about once every year to year and a half.

[00:22:40] Tia: Um, and so I've learned how to move from PMs to BMS. Um, so, uh, what you need to make sure that you do is you have to download every bit of information because the, the, uh, The most common mistake. If you're moving is you will, um, possibly not have the transition of bringing over what's on your current calendar and doing that correctly.

[00:23:06] Tia: And so if there's any type of payment system that has gone through the PMs, not direct to your account and they're all different, um, you have to rearrange all that. So it's, it's not easy. Um, I just kept trying to look for that perfect, you know, situation. Um, and it doesn't really exist. Um, I, the, the PMs is out there really, you know, do the best they can.

[00:23:30] Tia: And, um, they can't be a hundred percent for a hundred percent of all hosts out there. I mean, just everyone has their different challenges and their different needs. So you just have to pick one that really suits your particular needs and kind of get clear on really what it is. That, um, is most important to you or what your challenges are.

[00:23:49] Tia: And usually the most number one important thing is getting your calendar, right? Because you do not want to double book

[00:23:56] Liam: no, a hundred percent. And that I love what you've said there, because each time people say, well, what is the perfect PMs, which is the one to go for all the time? Don't they, they they're always asking that, that kind of question.

[00:24:08] Liam: Yeah. A bit like our guests, I suppose that each one of our businesses is unique. Our needs are different. Our type of guests, we serve a different in the same way that for PMs is their type of perfect host as in us would be different. So, um, yeah. What you said there about listing the top three is, is really good and great advice for people listening.

How does Tia get guests to book direct?

[00:24:29] Liam: So you've, you mentioned on there about booking direct is an important part. And you know, if I didn't pick up on that as part of boosting, obviously that. Boostly is about in general. How do you get guests to book direct within your, within your business model? You mentioned you're on Airbnb and V RBO.

[00:24:47] Liam: Um, yeah. What, what is the importance of your, your direct booking? Yeah. So,

[00:24:52] Tia: um, a lot of the direct bookings will come from, uh, our guests who have already stayed and they're wanting to come back a second year or third year. Um, the other one is that the guests that have stayed, refer it to their friends. So, um, and then.

[00:25:11] Tia: You, um, you know, we have a gigantic real estate company called Zillow that you can advertise your rentals on that desk cost anything, and you can get referrals from them. Um, since, uh, you know, since I am in a, in a town that has a lot of, um, you know, vacation rentals and a lot of tourism, um, that works really, really well.

[00:25:38] Tia: And it's, you know, um, I think it was Airbnb that said, Hey, we don't have enough houses for all the people who want to go and stay on vacations. We're like down, like, what is it a million is, do you remember what I'm talking about was an

[00:25:53] Liam: article put out recently? Um, directly after the pandemic was there, there was just, there's too much demand and not enough supply.

[00:26:00] Liam: Right, right,

[00:26:00] Tia: right. And, and I totally see that. Um, so I think it's becoming a little bit easier if you just reach out to a few different channels than relying on, you know, the, the tos, the normal go-to, um, and, um, you know, you will have people at, and I've had people that have just inquired because they've seen it off, you know, my website.

[00:26:23] Tia: And so, um, I really need to pay more attention to, you know, how my website is doing and, and I don't have as much intake as I would like to, and it needs to be, I need to work on getting that, um, that technical part of it, uh, more. So actually, you know, boost.

[00:26:46] Liam: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Um, it's worth having a call about that in itself because just having that smooth process, one of the things which Lee does is, has that smooth process. So when somebody lands on your website, then, you know, The type of field they'll have we talked about the experience. They can kind of feel that when they first land on there and then it's sticky, it's memorable and people can easily book where it uses an API connection through to a channel manager through to PMs and especially with, uh, you know, hopefully as partnered with, with Bruce Lee in particular.

[00:27:19] Liam: So that'd be nice and easy for yourself.

[00:27:24] Liam: It was, I mean, it has, um, over the years, I mean, Bruce Lee has worked with, and these, as far as we're aware, the only, um, website development who works with so many who partners with so many different PMs, um, and the importance of that is that it's then seamless. When people can book on your website, they can seamlessly book without having to go to a often, the way people do is they'll book.

[00:27:50] Liam: And that will have to go to the backend of the software. So it will move from, you know, what is the front page to the PMs is page, uh, at the back of it. So this is where Bruce Lee really wants to keep everybody on your webpage, where you can then track where they're clicking. You can have your blogs, you can have your, and this is one of the things that, um, you know, I noticed with, uh, castle Lux rentals, you've got such a big presence with.

[00:28:15] Liam: First of all, you know, target and, um, other investors and people looking to invest for the type of properties that you can manage and all the videos which are in there, you can track where people are able to, you know, click it on and where they're clicking, which is so important. So it's data led decisions using your own website, which is why I like to talk about that.

[00:28:36] Liam: Um, you know, direct book inside of things. And of course the commission you can do. From those repeat bookings is just massive as well. So, yes.

[00:28:46] Tia: Yeah. And when I do right now, as I'm doing it, you know, direct booking for my website, I have to handle everything. Um, you know, uh, instead of having it connected to, you know, my calendar.

[00:28:58] Tia: Um, so at, it takes a lot, a lot of time. So I would like to be able to save time.

[00:29:05] Liam: Definitely. And that is that that's where Lee comes in. Really. So one of the other things that I'd love to dig into, cause we're in a project together called hospital hosts. Yeah. I'm so excited about this. So for those listening, if you don't already know, there is a book coming out called hospitable hosts.

How did Tia get involved with Hospitable Hosts?

[00:29:21] Liam: It was created by Jodie Sterling. And the concept is, is taken 40 hosts from all across the globe and putting them together, sharing their experiences, their advice. Uh, all into one place in this awesome book where everybody's got a, a chapter each. So talk to me how you got involved in the hospitable hosts project and what it is, um, to you to be a hospitable host.

[00:29:47] Tia: Yes. Well, you know, um, I believe in continuous education and I was in this, uh, group called legends acts and it was a three month, um, deep dive into how to, um, uh, grow your business and, um, you know, possibly sell it in the future. And that's what I'm interested in is, is really. Understanding, you know, how to grow the business that I have.

[00:30:16] Tia: And, um, no, um, you know, other people's stories about how they actually sold their business and what it took and what, um, you know, buyers are looking for. So, you know, when you're looking into mergers and acquisitions and all that type of stuff, um, that's something that I really wanted to, uh, learn about.

[00:30:35] Tia: So when you, when you take these education courses, you meet. People from all around the world, which is what happened to me. And, um, through this group, um, I was introduced to the book. So, um, you know, the networking is, is just incredible. When you, when you get into, you know, your Facebook groups, your education groups.

[00:30:57] Tia: Um, so that's how I got introduced to this. So I wish I could go to London for the, um, the launch at the. Um, but yeah, the book launch, I'm not gonna be able to make it, but there's going to be a launch here in the United States. So.

[00:31:15] Liam: Well, I wish I could come across there. I'll see you at the bar. If that was the case,

[00:31:20] Tia: I have some cider

[00:31:21] Liam: for you

[00:31:26] Liam: and I'll get to try the wine as well. Um, But yeah, I mean, it's an incredible project. I'd like to say that the lesson to take from this is when you start putting yourself out there and, um, you know, you meet all these people across the world. There's the old slogan, which is your, your network is your net worth.

[00:31:44] Liam: And that that's, that's so important here. Isn't it? Yeah. So

[00:31:47] Tia: true. Absolutely. And, um, you know, it just broadens your understanding of, you know, what this business is about and, um, you know, you tend to, because we're pretty much all, um, uh, Right. Have you heard that term? Um, and we're kind of like in a silent one to ourselves, um, it can get lonely.

[00:32:08] Tia: So I'm just the excitement of, you know, being able to do this project with all these people. And I didn't really have to lift a finger. Jody took care of everything. I mean, how easy is that? All you have to do is, you know, um, Right about yourself and what you're doing and, you know, provide some things that you think might be inspiring.

[00:32:27] Tia: How easy is that? And it was fun and it was cathartic and I can't wait till it comes out.

[00:32:32] Liam: I can't wait. I can't wait to read everyone's chapters, yours included. Oh,

[00:32:36] Tia: I know. I think we're all telling secrets. Did you tell any secrets?

[00:32:40] Liam: Um, yeah, I mean, I've told things that I've never told anyone else, so yeah, definitely.

[00:32:47] Liam: Just exciting to, to hear. And the diversity within the book from people telling stories of saving lives to, uh, people telling, you know, funny guest stories to how to get started there's information in there, which people listening are going to find really valuable. And of course that's out on may the 16th of 2022 and will be available on Amazon.

Tia’s coaching program

[00:33:06] Liam: Um, so that, that is really awesome. And I hear now that you're now coaching others to get started as well. So talk us through.

[00:33:15] Tia: I am, you know, um, I didn't set out to have a coaching program, but, um, I've been asked like quite a few people. And so, um, I put together some courses that they can access. And I also have the ability for someone to just, you know, uh, put on my calendar through my website, Hey, I want a half hour session or I want an hour session.

[00:33:35] Tia: And, um, I find that since individuals have so many different needs, that that really seems to work really well because we can, you know, talk about. There specific challenges and, and what's holding them up and, you know, if they want, if they're at the very beginner and they're trying to decide, okay, what model should I go after?

[00:33:53] Tia: Um, I can help them figure out, you know, what will work for them to anyone who's looking to scale their business and, or, you know, work with a bigger investors that I'm doing since I have my real estate license, um, I am able to help, you know, investors get into. Um, it vacation rental property that will actually make money.

[00:34:14] Tia: Um, you know, you have to, uh, really be careful, especially nowadays with the price of real estate, you know, what you're getting into. So anything from the very beginner, all the way to the very advanced, a kind of gone every single route in the last seven years, um, with every different way of doing it. So many different PMs is, um, so many different, you know, Like my tech stack has changed in many, many different ways.

[00:34:39] Tia: So, um, yeah, so I find that I have a lot of things that I can share and you know, I'm happy to do that.

[00:34:47] Liam: That's amazing. That's amazing. And the, just say all that experience just rolled into in, into one sort of places is fantastic. Especially with the real estate side of things. Similar here, I've, I've got into, uh, you know, sort of real estate property in the, in the UK.

A little more about Tia

[00:35:03] Liam: That's how I got started in, in Airbnb itself. So, uh, it's one of the things. Lincoln up with some of those networks and some of those Facebook groups is so important as well to really understand the market. Isn't it. So, yeah, that's, that's brilliant. So what I'd like to do is towards the end, we always fire a couple of quick fire questions and, uh, on behind.

[00:35:25] Liam: So how, so this is answers can be as short or as long as you like more fun, not necessarily hospitality related, but who is the most famous person that you've ever hosted or met? I had to ask because of the TV connection.

[00:35:41] Tia: Okay. Um, yeah. Well, I used to live in Holland. So, so did you pick that question just for me because you knew I lived in Hollywood.

[00:35:52] Liam: I didn't know you used to live in Hollywood, but yeah, this sounds perfect. I could say I could lie and say yes I did, but no.

[00:36:00] Tia: Yeah. So, um, well, let's see. Um, I would have to say one of them I've met a lot of.

[00:36:08] Tia: Um, I would have to say one really memorable star that, um, I sat next to and had a drink with, um, on Hollywood and vine with Stevie wonder.

[00:36:18] Liam: Yeah, that's amazing. He's like, eh, it might have a half absolutely loves Stevie wonder. So she would be, yeah, she'd be like, wow, that is that's brilliant. And he

[00:36:27] Tia: actually, so, um, where I lived was connected to a big w hotel on Hollywood and vine, that's like downtown, downtown Hollywood.

[00:36:36] Tia: And, um, they had these great jazz nights. And so you would never know what star white come in. And he came in with his entourage. And, uh, you know, there was somebody, there was just a regular Sunday night, um, uh, jazz group playing he's walked up on stage, took over the keyboard and started saying,

[00:37:02] Liam: yeah, That's legend. Um, so I think that's the top person I've ever I've ever asked that question. I asked everyone that before doing the behind the host podcast to check people. Um, but yeah, that is that's amazing. And probably the biggest name I've been given. So what's your favorite podcast? What do you listen to.

[00:37:20] Liam: Oh, my goodness.

[00:37:22] Tia: Um, I listened to a ton of podcasts and also YouTube. Um, I haven't told you that I'm very much into, um, web three and cryptocurrency, and, um, I am looking at different applications in both real estate and for vacation rentals. So nowadays I am listening to. You know, uh, non fungible, token, um, information, uh, and, um, uh, I can't remember all the names of them, but that's when I'm listening to.

[00:37:54] Liam: Amazing. I would love you to message me those ones. Cause I love listening to that sort of stuff because it's such an exciting space and there's people like Luca who involved in, you know, even, uh, we got asked with booster, can, can we pay for a website with crypto? You know, like we're actually starting to get asked for that side of things.

[00:38:11] Liam: So it's such a big, a big. It's going to

[00:38:14] Tia: be our world, um, in several years and it's coming on faster than most people think. Yeah. I just got certified as a, um, crypto agent, um, through a company called uh proppy and so, um, I do knew how to work with NFTs and property,

[00:38:30] Liam: Nathan. Amazing. Um, so what would be the one thing that you take with you to a desert island?

[00:38:37] Liam: If there was just one thing.

[00:38:41] Tia: You mean besides

[00:38:41] Liam: food? Yeah. Besides food, water, and the essentially

[00:38:48] Liam: a call for help is the other one we tend to get, but okay. So

[00:38:54] Tia: does that count? If so, you're saying like, if I couldn't use my cell phone, uh,

[00:38:59] Liam: anything you like, so we have all sorts of answers. Some people assume they've got their cell phone, but all sorts of answers.

[00:39:08] Tia: Yeah, it would, it would be my cell phone.

[00:39:09] Tia: Yeah. I, I can't live with that.

[00:39:12] Liam: That's cool. So I feel like we've digested quite a lot of, um, you know, sort of different areas of the business and it's been really, really fun and really interesting to find out about your self and, and the business here. Um, if people who are listening wanted to get in touch with you, and what's the best way to do.

[00:39:28] Tia: Yeah. So, um, my personal website, which is Tia castle.com and, um, you can schedule time with me, uh, right on that website. And, um, then it also has links to everything else I had. So that's the best place.

[00:39:45] Liam: Brilliant. Well, thank you so much for today. Tia. This has been really interesting. I can't wait to read your chapter of the book.

[00:39:52] Liam: Um, and yeah, definitely send me those recommendations and, uh, let's have a chat about boostly website.

[00:39:58] Tia: Definitely. Thank you, Liam. I enjoyed myself as well.

[00:40:01] Liam: Thank you. Bye-bye.

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