John Casmon

From No Experience to AirBnB Rock Star with Walter McCormick, Episode 45

They say no one vacations in Cleveland, but don’t tell that to Walter McCormick. Last year, he began renting his Ohio City home on AirBnB and has attracted travelers from all over the world. Guests love staying at his home due to its location and the superb customer service Walt provides. On this episode, he shares his tips and strategies for cultivating a thriving AirBnB business in the Midwest.

Key Market Insights

Spent time as a pre-school teacher, for IRS, and in IT
Grew up in Cleveland Heights on the East Side and moved to Ohio City on the West Side in 2016
One of the first major cities in Ohio, 5 minutes from downtown Cleveland
Ohio City used to be a separate city from Ohio – home of James Garfield
Significant number of bars and restaurants
Has been compared to a smaller version of Austin with diverse resident base
Group homes for veterans, mentally challenged, and various hospitals
Art scene is thriving in Ohio City, Lakewood, Tremont, Gordon Square
Ohio City/Tremont were trendy and found himself gravitating to the area
Wanted to share his space initially and then saw a business opportunity
150 guests since June – people from Australia, India, California
Many book for bachelor and bachelorette events, others are locals or startups
Consults others on how to make their place AirBnB ready
The location is the most important aspect – is this a desirable location? Do people travel here and spend money in this area?
Create a space that adds to their travel experience and represents your personality, interests
Rely heavy on ratings