Reality Check

We left The Ridge today at 2:40 pm to get back to Texas in order to start our regular routine of life working a full time job. Leaving late means we will not arrive back home until around 10:00 pm after gas and rest stops. I cleaned cabin#2 after a check out which was easy and smooth. My last property managers lasted about a week before deciding this was not the job for them. Since they told me they left the property better than they found it I assumed the cabins they had cleaned were ready to go, so over the weekend I had not double checked-until after I had cleaned cabin 2. Reality check! Both cabins lacked the cleaning standard I expect and our guests expect. I found grease on the stove knobs and in between, the refrigerators had not been wiped down and cleaned, and the bag of ice that is complimentary was not in either cabin. Neither cabin appeared to have been mopped, so I had to clean these cabins myself before we left and make sure they were to my standard. Little things like the trash can lid being cleaned, the front door mats being put down-it all matters when you run a hospitality business. I have always stressed that the guest cabins and common areas are priority#1. The reality is you have one chance to make a great first impression to someone who has chosen your property as their getaway. This makes the difference in word of mouth or returns themselves. After much consideration my husband and I decided it was too important to the success of The Ridge to only be there part time. One of us has to stay onsite to ensure the guests get top notch treatment and top-notch cleanliness. We already have spring and summer bookings, and June is almost completely blacked out every day for all three cabins. Since Brian is the bigger bread winner I will stay in Arkansas and manage the property. When we purchased this property, we knew all the potential it had, and knew we would end up here adding all sorts of different activities and love being in the beautiful surroundings. The reality of being in different states has not hit me yet. We will survive and The Ridge will thrive! Now I will have time to grow herbs and vegetables for us and guests and take care of some farm animals like goats and chickens to start! We on the brink of making our dreams a reality. After this week I will start making Arkansas my home!