Description

Most vacation rental owners buy a property, throw in some furniture, and hope for the best. Then they wonder why the bookings are inconsistent and the nightly rate never reaches what the numbers promised.

But what if you could incorporate a design strategy that changed your business for the better?

In this episode, Miguel sits down with Erica Dike, principal designer at Erica O Designs, to walk through her Designing for Dollars formula. After leaving a career at NASA, Erica has gone on to design over 78 vacation rentals while bringing a business-analyst mindset to every property.

Other insights from this episode include:

• Why designing for “everyone” is the fastest way to attract no one and how to identify your ideal guest before you buy a single piece of furniture
• The Designing for Dollars formula: a data-driven approach to knowing exactly where to save and where to splurge in your budget
• The design trap that makes your property blend into every other listing in your market, and how “timeless design” helps create properties that “stop the scroll."
• Why your budget conversation has to happen before you close on the property, not after
• Common design mistakes that quietly kill your occupancy rate - including TV placement, seating capacity, and underestimating the work-from-home traveler
• The one small kitchen appliance that can directly influence your bookings (and it’s not what you’d expect)

About Our Guest

Erica Dike is the principal designer at Erica Ooh Designs, specializing in vacation rental design for investors and busy professionals. With a background in Management Information Systems and experience as a business analyst at NASA, Erica brings a systems-first approach to interior design - one focused on ROI, not just aesthetics. 

Visit ericaooh.com to schedule a consultation, request a pricing estimate, or book a design audit. You can also follow Erica on Instagram at @ericaoohdesigns for design tips, guides, and before/after reels.

Connect with Miguel on LinkedIn or reach out at media@centurionfirm.com