Can you imagine living in a world with no color? Yeah, neither can I. I came across HippyTonk while in a Facebook Group, a retro inspired Airbnb operated by Abigail Johnson. The bright fun colors caught my eye! As a designer, I really gravitated towards the property....so much so that I wanted to find out more. If you are planning on visiting Nashville, read on as this might just be the spot you want to reside in during your stay!
Tell us about you Abby
My name is Abby Johnson and I'm in Nashville, TN. I'm a newbie in the AirBnB business and just launched my first two listings this year! I've been long term leasing two of my three bedrooms (off AirBnB) from my own home for a year, and studying short-term rentals (STRs) over the course of that time. So I felt ready for the next big step and finally pulled the trigger! I've always loved caring for others, being in the medical field for 14 years. So when I started learning more about creating passive income, this was such a natural fit!
Give us the details on your listings
I’m currently doing 1 - 6 month leases using my master bedroom with the private attached bathroom in my new house in Old Hickory, TN. The location is an absolute secret gem and so close to the lake which I love! It's fully furnished, and nothing too fancy or over the top. Just cute, peaceful, and a great place to call home! HippyTonk is my other listing, which is a short-term rental using rental arbitrage. My lease is with The Burnham, which has a relationship with AirBnB already set up specifically for rental arbitrage, so it's fantastic! The theme is 70s Retro inspired with lots of fun, bright colors and decor. I really get my creative fix hosting here!
What market do you cater to and is there a reason why?
At home, I cater to mostly travel nurses and students. It seems to be a great fit for them because of the quiet neighborhood and the peace of mind living in a home with a host having residence there too! In downtown Nashville, it's party party party! Ha! I get tons of groups, including lots of bachelorette parties, on the weekends. But thankfully, I still see couples booking mostly during the week and families too throughout! I got really lucky with how the design and theme connected with a variety of audiences.
What would you say is your theme throughout your listings?
At my home, it's more dialed down, but still retro inspired, but with gem colors. The bedroom itself doesn't really have too much of a pin pointed style....maybe a touch of bohemian meets eclectic? At HippyTonk, we really went for it.....70s retro all the way! Bright, fun....all the vibes that make your child heart happy! Natalie Rose did the interior design and custom mural and she is a goddess! You can check her out on Insta at @natalieroseart.
Do you provide any amazing amenities and/or thoughtful touches your guests love, which has allowed you to accumulate 5 star reviews?
Oh yeah I do! I don't want to give all my secrets away, but I'll share a few. I've got an incredible Recommendations Book for HippyTonk that I put together by hand with a super rad, 70s era cover. You don't get to see it unless you book though! :) Lots of creamer varieties for your coffee, that's a must. I've got a surprise powder room, with a really creative 'guestbook' area. Honestly, I wanted to do touches that were fun and unpredictable! I've been in Nashville since 2002, so I feel like this gives me a leg up on more authentic and original ways to connect with my guests. My home AirBnB is quite passive, but that's refreshing! STRs can take quite a bit of energy but when done right, are mostly fun and exciting!
What spots would you recommend to guests that are staying in your listing that wouldn’t be listed on any touristy lists and why do you like these spots?
Ah....wouldn't you like to know! :) I'll tell you though, historic Old Hickory is truly adorable. I'm a runner, and when I run next to the lake with all of those historical houses, it takes my breath away! There's a great spot right on the water called Sam's on the Cove too and it's one of my favs! Fun side note: if you like dives, there's a couple biker bars in the area, one of which is never busy and right in my backyard! Quite convenient to walk to!
What have you learned since operating your Airbnb?
Before I ever pulled the trigger, I made sure to analyze ALL the numbers over and over until I was fully confident it would make sense to move forward. I also waited for the rent to drop down to exactly the right rate. I'm super organized and track all of my expenses very closely. And it's paying off better than I projected so far, thank God! I've learned that even though I use things like SmartLabs to help with pricing, that does take the most time and can be a lot to keep up with...that I didn't expect. I'm constantly learning new things, enjoying the new challenge, and LOVE that I went for it!
What are 5 mistakes you made when you first started out in the business?
I'm not sure about calling them mistakes, more like things that I learned that I wasn't quite expecting ha!
The furniture will take about 10 times longer to assemble than you think it will
The staging of your AirBnB is VERY intense and time consuming. It will probably come down to the wire so give yourself a little extra time.
You will need extra hands to help with putting your AirBnB together once you move in, most likely. Don't be scared to ask for help from friends and family.
Prepare your friends/boyfriend/whoever is around you often: you will be talking about your first AirBnB obsessively and thinking about it almost all the time. lol This is probably a sign that you are doing it right though! :)
I had to go a little outside of my furniture and decor budget, but that's ok....AS LONG AS THE NUMBERS STILL MAKE SENSE. That's the most important thing to do in preparation!
TIP: Be sure that your Welcome Book for your Airbnb is on brand with your listing. To match Abby's retro, bright colored style, she chose my Gold Welcome Book, to reflect her brand colors.
Want to know more on this property? Follow Abby on Instagram: @HippyTonk.
Awesome article. Makes me want to put my apartment back on air bnb!