In 2019, Betty Robey and Sherry Gustafson had a dream to create a business that would cater to property owners by providing interior design services, luxury vacation rental management, long-term rental management, and a full-service realty brokerage. At the time, there were no other vacation rental managers in the area that only partnered with owners of truly luxury rental properties. The idea was to provide interior design and staging services to owners with properties that were underperforming, and by getting them up to their standard of luxury, the return on the owner’s investment would be greater. After sitting around Robey’s kitchen counter and creating their business plan fom scratch, Saltwater Grande was born.
Robey and Gustafson got to work moving into their office space on 38th Avenue in Myrtle Beach, setting up software systems, creating policies and rental agreements, and Robey even went back to school to obtain broker-in-charge licensing for the realty brokerage. Before they knew it, they had contracted with their first property owner to stage and manage a vacation rental. One property grew to four, and within a year, Saltwater Grande had grown to 15 properties under their management. Two-and-a-half years later, they manage 36 vacation rental properties and counting. Their long-term rental management division also grew to 15 properties during this time, and the pair turned their focus to nurturing the interior design company, Saltwater Grande Design.
After the completion of a full condo remodel at Bahama Sands in North Myrtle Beach, Robey and Gustafson watched the rental income soar for the once dated and drab property that had been underperforming under its previous management. Having proven their theory that design plays a major role in maximizing revenue, the design projects kept coming in, with more success stories for property owners.
In late 2021, the two had another idea: What about owners of vacation homes in the area that don’t rent their properties, or even people who live along the Grand Strand year-round, but don’t have time to worry with cleaning or maintaining their properties? What about owners who self-manage their rental properties? Already having maintenance and cleaning staff in place, Robey and Gustafson couldn’t think of a reason not to offer this type of service, so Saltwater Grande launched their Home Services division, which provides all types of maintenance and cleaning services, and owners can opt for a monthly contract or utilize the services à la carte.
Robey and Gustafson are doing big things at Saltwater Grande, and their growing company is one worth keeping your eye on.
3751 Robert M Grissom Pkwy Ste 103
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 312-3444
saltwatergrande.com
