Today we’d like to introduce you to Dina Venezia and Joey Schechter.
Hi Dina and Joey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourselves.
Joey and I met working for a short-term rental hospitality company. As two motivated, hard-working individuals, we were instantly drawn to each other. We were both parts of the operations team at our company so we worked closely alongside one another often and while building out rooms and organizing inventory, we got to know each other quite well. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Pandemic cost us both our jobs and we were left, for lack of a better word, devastated. It was a difficult time not being able to work but we decided to take our financial future into our own hands; we started to brainstorm a plan for our company. We put together a business proposal and managed to raise funding through our network – alas, Dijo Homes was born!
We are a construction hospitality company with a keen focus on quality, integrity, and service. Our company owns and manages five full-service Airbnb homes that we have completely gutted and renovated ourselves. Additionally, we are currently facilitating three ongoing projects, including a new build, and we property manage another three client homes. While Joey spearheads the construction side of things, I embarked on obtaining a real estate license to help source properties and negotiate deals. Joey and I ended 2020 on a high with the launch of our brand new company, the beginning of my supplementary career as an agent with Keller Williams, and an engagement to be wed! We are getting married in February 2022.
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?
There have certainly been some challenges. The reason we’re where we are today is because we both lost our jobs. It was extremely sudden and losing jobs we loved due to circumstances was difficult to accept. We are thankful that we had a roof over our heads and each other to lean on, but like millions of other unemployed people during that time, it was both a mental and financial struggle.
Once we received funding, we were able to secure a few properties. As luck would have it, seemingly overnight, the housing market took off. We were faced with quickly learning how to navigate the new market and do whatever it took to try and win the deal in order to stay afloat. The Texas freeze in February was our most recent obstacle endured but we are extremely thankful that damages were minimal. A few bumps in the road but we’ve taken them in stride and keep on pushing forward! Ultimately I feel as though these challenges have truly manifested themselves as opportunities for us, and looking back, I could not be more grateful for all of the positive outcomes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We both come from an extensive background in the hospitality industry. I’ve always found the service industry to be filled with the most eccentric, passionate, and loving people and it’s where I have met most of my lifelong friends. Service is the number one key to a successful business; customers may come for the food, but they will come back for the service. Unparalleled customer service is what we pride our company on and it goes a long way, especially since most of our guests are from out of town. We go above and beyond to provide local recommendations and little touches to make an out-of-town guest feel right at home. Our homes are also 100% pet friendly which is definitely a huge selling point. Having two huskies of our own at home, we understand guests wanting to bring their pups along for any adventure. I think our greatest sense of accomplishment comes from how well the homes turned out – both aesthetically and functionally. We set a significantly high standard for ourselves and wanted to create a product rich in both quality and purpose.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Our families have been a huge support throughout this new venture. I, personally, have my parents to thank – they instilled in me the importance of good work ethic from the day they had me get my first job in a New Jersey pizzeria as a kid. I have them to thank for the motivated, driven individual I am today. Regarding my real estate career, fellow Austin realtor, Michael Coleman, deserves heaps of credit as he has been an incredibly remarkable mentor. Not only did he help us to purchase our first ever investment property, but he has also led the pack as Dijo’s biggest hype man! He is constantly thrilled to see others succeed, which makes him not only a fantastic colleague but a genuinely great friend. Last but certainly not least, we owe much credit to Joey’s strong family ties in Los Angeles. Joey has consulted heavily with his cousin who builds custom homes there; he has been an invaluable resource and supporter of our business.
Contact Info:
- Email: joey@dijohomes.com
- Website: https://dijohomes.com/
- Instagram: @dijohomes
Image Credits
Jeremy Hsu, Mandy Harris
