In July of 2019 I took a leap. I moved to out of state to finish a degree, and listed my Chico home for the first time on Airbnb. For years I traveled using Airbnb for work and pleasure. And then I thought… could we do that? Short-term renting made perfect sense for me – I’d always have a place to stay when returning home – and a place to offer friends and family. For the majority of the year I could offer it to Guests and earn passive income. The best of both worlds. With the help of friends and a few housekeeper referrals, I strung together my first year in the Vacation Rental market. I learned a lot of lessons about remote Vacation Rental management. The challenges were many — absent cleaners, weekend maintenance requests — but still the overall experience of hosting new people every day was extremely rewarding!

When the Covid-19 crisis began my employer abruptly closed shop and I found myself with a lot of free time. It was then that I decided to go all in on Airbnb. I figured that building a business would be the best use of the lockdown, and why not begin a home addition and remodel? I turned my duplex into a four-plex. I invested in high-end finishes that made the space feel luxurious. Yes, I was nervous at first. Would anyone book? Would guests like the space? And more importantly, do people really want to stay in Chico?

The answer to all these questions was a resounding “YES!” I received my first booking within 45 minutes — and lots of bookings soon after. Not only did guests love the updated accommodations, but neighbors did as well. They started using our Airbnbs for their visiting family members, and a few asked me to manage short term rentals of their own. I remembered the difficulties I found when remotely managing my own home from out of state. Who was going to clean the unit between reservations while I was busy? Was it being priced correctly? And who’s going to answer guest messages about how to use a thermostat at 1am?!

It was then that I took another leap. I founded Blixa Vacation Rental Management. Since inception we’ve grown tremendously, thanks to happy homeowner referrals. Within just over a year Blixa had grown to 20 units. We specialize in homes with a story – properties that offer unique opportunities for guests to experience the best of the Northstate. We are an on-the-ground team of hospitality experts.

Since our inception, we’ve curated a portfolio of luxury properties that meet the wants and needs of a very specific traveler. We specialize in homes that offer a unique perspective for guests to experience the best of the Sacramento Valley.

Chelsea is a Chico native with a background in the Arts and Real Estate Investing. In her free time, Chelsea hikes the plentiful trailers in Upper Bidwell park with her Pomeranian, Moggie.