Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Williams.
Hi Carol, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Memphis. My family moved to the Walker Homes neighborhood in 1955, and since then more than three generations of my family have come through this neighborhood. I lived in the neighborhood until I graduated college from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). My family has continued
to live in our home house to this day.
With its many households and backgrounds, the neighborhood has always been quite diverse. When I was growing up many of my school friends lived just a few feet away. Two of my school principals and many of my teachers were original residents
of the neighborhood.
The neighborhood has always been a part of my personal history, so when the opportunity came along for me to invest in my community, I was excited to take the plunge. I purchased the bungalow in December 2015 and spent the next five years renovating it room by room. I assembled a small team and we spent the better part of the spring and fall seasons completely reinventing the little investment property inside and out.
I held an open house for the neighborhood in September 2021, and revealed that I wanted the home to become an Airbnb. Bea’s Bungalow was officially listed in December 2021, and I could not be happier with the outreach from friends and family who enthusiastically support the bungalow.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Renovating a home is never easy! Though I had done significant improvements on my own home in the past, I had never attempted a gut renovation up until this point. When I purchased the home, my original goal was to turn it into a place for my youngest brother to live. We were going to renovate it together. He had relocated to California in the 80’s. He had temporarily moved back home in 2008 to help our family care for our ailing Mother. In 2012 he moved back to the west coast. After our dear Mother, Beatrice (Bungalow’s namesake) passed in January 2015, he expressed his interest in permanently relocating back home.
The property that would eventually become Bea’s Bungalow went up for sale only two days after my brother’s unexpected death in December 2015. I decided to buy the property anyway and formulate end use plans after the renovation was complete. Faced with doing it alone, there was no immediate incentive to begin work. Slowly I began in the spring of 2016 doing it as time and budget would allow. I set small goals and started a basic room-by-room renovation.
As a retired retail professional, home design had always been a passion of mine. My formal education and professional background was in management and marketing. I have never been afraid of a challenge or hard work. I did much of the renovation myself. I hired a small crew and was able to barter many of my services so that I could keep my expenses low, and would travel for extended periods from my permanent residence in Alabama.
The home, while structurally sound, had been sorely neglected over the years. Previous poorly implemented remodeling decisions presented quite a challenge. I really wanted the home to have a modern, contemporary feel with classic touches and clean lines. When you entered into each space, I wanted you to feel like you can really take a load off – sit down and be comfortable. When you’re here, you can have a conversation, enjoy a good meal, and have a comfortable rest.
All of the work definitely paid off though. I have a team of professionals that I trust to handle things when I’m not in town, and I spend a lot of time going to the Airbnb myself to take care of whatever needs to be addressed.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In the fall of 2021 I launched my first Airbnb. I called it Bea’s Bungalow, as the home is right next door to the home that I grew up in with my parents, Beatrice and Leon. They raised me along with my three brothers and one sister in that house My mother “Bea” loved sitting on the porch and admiring the activities of the neighborhood. The renovation naturally included a full length front porch that had proven to be a guest favorite.
I loved designing every room, and thinking about what people would need when they come from out of town to visit a new place. I love that so many different types of people have found a home in the Airbnb. We’ve had everyone to visit from families, to businessmen, to friends just in town for a weekend, and as reflected by the reviews, everyone has really enjoyed their time.
We have a full kitchen, washer and dryer, games for kids, television, and wireless Internet. Our amenities include full use of a well stocked linen closet and a complete Keurig Coffee Bar We are less than a 20 minute drive from downtown Memphis, Beale St., and Graceland. Our location allows easy access to Tunica and Southhaven, Mississippi as well as West Memphis, Arkansas. It definitely takes the love and commitment of a “village” to run a successful business I rely on a few key family members and a small team of craftsmen to keep things running.
I would say what sets us apart is that we are really intentional in making sure that customers have what they need. If something is missing or they have a question, I am always very quick to respond to whatever needs they might have. And in rare cases, if there is an issue inside of the house, I work to ensure that it is addressed as quickly as possible. There are always fresh sheets, clean floors, and beautiful land landscaping to look forward to when you visit Bea’s Bungalow. Our goal is always to make your accommodations the most stress free part of your trip. We are happy to have you as our guest, and hope that you think of us again when you are coming back to town.
What does success mean to you?
I defined success by the feedback that I receive from not just customers who have chosen to stay in Bea’s Bungalow, but also for my friends and family and people who are in the community. I love reading in the guestbook that people had a great stay and that they were able to use and find everything that they needed. I love hearing from people with whom I grew up that the home really reflects their original vision of family and community.
I love it when friends and family come to town and choose to stay at the Airbnb, because that means that they had so much of a great experience that they want to relive it again and again Our guests frequently comment on their surprise at the high standards and the attention to the details that Bea’s Bungalow embodies. It is a legacy that my family and community can be proud of.
Pricing:
- $127
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/53371909
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/beasbungalow
