Being just over 21 years old, Noah Laker and his business partner Shawn are on their way to being serious industry players. With over 50 short term rentals total, they do not plan on slowing down anytime soon. Noah recently filled out our member spotlight form, telling us how he got started in the industry and created WISH Short Term Rental, a crazy story from hosting and a pro-tip for the community that may surprise some hosts! Using HostGPO’s Standard Textile Discount Program, Noah and Shawn provide quality to their guests and save money that they reinvest in their business.
How many years have you been in the short term rental industry and how did you get started?
I’ve been in the industry for two years now, and in real estate & property management for three. I got a job as a leasing agent when I was 19. By 20, I incorporated WISH STR with my partner Shawn. By 21, we had more than 50 listings and we’re just getting started!
What do you find most rewarding about your career?
I love seeing all of the 5 star reviews coming in daily. We are always working hard to improve the Guest Experience, and it can make a huge difference in someone’s memory of their trip.
What is your favorite rental property you have and why do you love it?
My favorite listing is probably our first ever unit, a luxurious studio+den in downtown Sacramento.
What’s the craziest story you have from hosting?
Early on when we started the business, one of our first groups of guests came in extremely drunk and decided to cover the camera. When we called, they cussed at us, threatened to trash the place, and hung up (needless to say this was very troubling for us as brand new operators). Long story short, they actually felt bad about the incident when they sobered up and left an expensive watch as a gift. We decided not to review each other!
What’s one “pro-tip” you’d be willing to pass on to the community?
Don’t hire experienced cleaners to clean your Airbnb’s… if you’re a real pro you’ll understand what I mean. (I said what I said).
What’s the most recent item that you can remember that you’ve ordered from HostGPO?
We order pallets of linens to our Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sacramento branches, and we save a lot of money thanks to the discounts afforded to the HostGPO network.
What would you tell others about whether to join HostGPO?
There’s no downside and lots of upside. Don’t think about it too hard.
