Today we’d like to introduce you to Slumber ATX. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Christina and Whitney have been friends and partners in entrepreneurship for over a decade. Christina, a former facility manager with experience at a number of large universities, has been in Austin for 15 years. She is a mother of two and has a sweet cat named Harrison. Whitney, a former licensed Speech Language Pathologist, is a mother of two wonderful boys and has a 15-year-old pup named Clifton. Christina and Whitney were introduced through a friend after they purchased houses 2 streets away from each other in 2010. They owned and operated successful health and wellness companies together for a decade. Recently, Christina started renting out her garage apartment as a vacation rental and fell in love with hosting. She took special consideration in furnishing her space with handmade rugs and antique statement pieces like a secretary’s desk. Her guests regularly comment on the charming and inviting feel of her space. With certain restrictions on short-term rental permits in the City of Austin, Christina recognized that acquiring additional properties and converting them to short-term rentals was not an option. This ignited her idea of starting a business to host and manage homes for other property owners, and it was a no-brainer to team up with Whitney to collaborate with her. They knew short-term property management companies existed in Austin. However, they wanted to improve upon the experience for both proprietors and guests. Having stayed in short-term rentals themselves, Christina and Whitney were driven to do business in a way that allowed the guest to feel as if they were actually in the abode of a natural host and not just a bland space run by remote automation or a sterile property management company. In speaking with proprietors who have worked with larger property management companies, Christina and Whitney knew they were tasked with operating with transparency, attention to detail, and mindfulness. Christina and Whitney strive for each owner to feel confident their home will be lovingly maintained while hosting all guests as if they were in their own homes. The tagline for their brand is “Stayin Austin.” It is an obvious nod to the slight southern accent noted when a local speaks in the Capital City. Additionally, it points to the idea of keeping Austin weird, charming, and shaped by small businesses.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
They are building Slumber ATX with the future in mind! Christina and Whitney are growing in a direction that will facilitate success through the years rather than a flash in the pan. One challenge has been knowing their limits and recognizing when to call in the professionals. Neither has started a company from the ground up, so segmenting the big goal into smaller tasks has been useful. They are also working with a small budget, encouraging Christina and Whitney to attempt some tasks independently. Getting the LLC proved to be straightforward, and they were able to omit the attorney fees. However, their attempts to create their logo and build a website were laughable. Both women come with liberal arts degrees and know very little about graphic design or coding. Learning when to call in competent creators has greatly benefited from achieving the polished look and level of professionalism they desire. Another obstacle in building Slumber ATX was juggling their responsibilities as caretakers for their families. Christina and Whitney are dedicated mothers of elementary-aged children, which means meal planning, handling child-related needs for school and extracurriculars, daily transportation, scheduling doctor visits, helping with field trips, assisting with homework, coordinating playdates, etc. Whitney also has the pleasure of helping her grandmother weekly with doctor appointments, grocery trips, and errands around town and aiding her stay active in the community. This power team knows to only bite off what they can chew to not disturb the balance of care for their dependent loved ones.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Slumber ATX Rental Management?
Slumber ATX is a small female-led team of two who live in the area they serve. They want to keep things local and personal. Having stayed in many Airbnbs, Christina, and Whitney strive to create a safe, clean, and welcoming space for each guest. Slumber ATX is a boutique short-term property management company. They partner with homeowners in Austin to rent out spaces on Airbnb, VRBO, and their direct booking website on, www.slumberatx.com. They handle everything for the homeowners who want their property to be rented for shorter than 30 days, for example- a vacation, a work trip, or a getaway from your family! Slumber ATX creates a profile on each booking site, handles the schedule, sets property pricing, coordinates cleaning, attends to the needs of the guest during their stay, and ensures the utmost quality before the next guest check-in. Nobody wants to stay in a dirty space. Christina and Whitney are serious about cleaning! They take steps to welcome each guest with handwritten notes, a local coffee/tea selection, and a special treat for any celebration at a Slumber ATX property! Living in Austin, Christina, and Whitney are accustomed to a more eco-friendly way of life which they carry over in the way they do business, right down to the cleaning products and preferred supplies for the properties. Austin is such a special place; when you can stay where the locals stay, a richer experience can be offered. Slumber ATX provides a neighborhood guide specific to each property for guests to explore local restaurants, shops, and other attractions. Slumber ATX wants their guests to feel like they can get the insider tips that make the neighborhood shine! They love when the small local establishments are supported in each neighborhood; that helps the community thrive.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Friends who have sent us new client referrals and our clients and guests who take a chance on this female duo to provide a local experience in our beautiful city
Logo design: The Bunyip Collective https://www.bunyipcollective.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: www.slumberatx.com
- Instagram: slumber_atx
Image Credits
Angela Doran-Photographer- https://
Jamie Renee -Web design- https://www.
