It didn’t take a pandemic to teach Lisa Cobb how to pivot. Changing direction is nothing new for the quintessential renaissance woman. Her impressive CV includes model, photography agent, film producer, spa owner, and most recently, Airbnb Superhost.
Her first offering — the guest house behind her Bluffview home — dates back to 2017. “It was the perfect set up. The space was gated and had a private entrance,” she says. “It rented the first day I put it online.”
Inspired, Lisa bought and renovated a nearby fixer-upper — south of Lovers Lane, between Inwood and Bluebonnet. She continued to add to her portfolio, buying three additional properties on her own and another with a partner.
All are in the Bluffview area. Staying in the same neighborhood makes sense, from both an investment and convenience perspective. Lisa continues to work full-time at her successful 16-year-old med spa, Luxury on Lovers.
“I’m really hands on,” she admits. “Keeping everything close by is the only way to keep it all manageable.”
Business has been brisk — thanks, in part, to last year’s pandemic-related hotel phobia. “Once people got a taste of staying in an Airbnb, they liked having more space, a yard, and a kitchen,” she says.
A large percentage of her guests are out-of-staters relocating to Dallas. Others are local homeowners feeling the brunt of construction delays and shortages.
“Some people I’ve rented to are just starting to get their homes repaired after February’s Snowmagheddon.”
This kitchenette comes fully equipped: Nespresso machine, Magic Bullet blender, induction cooktop — even wine and highball glasses.
As a business owner, Lisa understands the importance of quality and service. All properties feature stocked kitchens, complete with breakfast items and snacks. “You can cook a full meal — not to mention, eat it off of matching dinnerware,” she jokes. Yet another amenity: premium linens and towels.
Rentals are also pet-friendly, which can be a real money-saver for displaced homeowners and people traveling with their dogs. According to Home Guide, rates to board a pet average $40 per night.
It’s all garnered Lisa rave reviews along with Airbnb’s coveted Superhost status. She offers this advice to prospective hosts:
Be prepared. “It’s not an insignificant amount of work.”
Crunch the numbers. You can’t count on any property being 100 percent full. Make sure you can sustain the time it’s not rented.
Not just older homes need maintenance. Budget adequate time and money.
You have to love it. “Renovating homes — envisioning what something can be — is my fun. Even better, I have assets that are appreciating and the income to cover them.”
