"Ellen, can you just manage it for me?"
I originally only ever intended to manage my own properties. I've never believed in taking the best opportunities for myself and passing the leftovers to clients. If someone trusts me with their investment, I believe, firmly, that I should give them the best — not keep it.
One of my clients ended up with the property directly above mine in a block of flats. Their property was actually nicer than mine. But their management company kept telling them: "It's a slow month." "Nobody's doing well in the area." "Bookings are down everywhere." Meanwhile, my property, in the same building, was performing.
So they asked me: "Ellen, can you just manage it for me?" I said yes. That conversation then happened again. And again. And again.
And eventually, Ace of Stays became the management company I wished I'd had at the start.