Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody McCoy.
Hi Melody, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My fiance, Andrew, and I moved to Jacksonville from St. Louis in 2020 and started Joseph Ellen Properties vacation rental management. Starting that company brought us many investors and partners that wanted to be a part of the short-term rental niche, which was the start of Joseph Ellen Designs. Some clients were out-of-state investors, and others wanted a gorgeous space for their guests to create memories. I had always loved decorating, shopping for decor, and staging, so when clients’ asked for my help with their personal properties, I took it and ran with it. Even as a child, I had a passion for interior design. From watching design shows on HGTV and TLC to rearranging my room whenever I was bored, designing and creating functional and beautiful rooms has always made my soul happy. I took the knowledge I have from furnishing our short-term rentals and the knowledge from managing 120+ properties. I created Joseph Ellen Designs which can handle everything from start to finish regarding furnishing, design, assembly, rehab, and inventory purchasing for your short-term rental. I have been furnishing vacation rentals here in Jacksonville and St. Augustine for over a year. I have completed over 50+ projects, from studio apartments, and luxury beachfront homes, to old victorian Riverside properties. Each day I am proud of how far I have come, and I hope my story inspires others that anything is possible with passion and a plan.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had a few road bumps along the way. I often think back to how I did everything on my own in the beginning, and it makes me grateful for the amazing team that has helped me grow to this site. My first 5 projects were complete trial and error (keep in mind I never attended a fancy design school). When I started, I moved all the furniture and boxes and assembled everything myself. King-size beds are not fun to move up flights of stairs by yourself but doing it all myself was really what I needed to create the current processes I have in place. I now have local vendor relationships, an entire assembly team, handypersons to help with rehabs, and the experience that can only be gained from time and working in multiple properties varying in style, age, layout, etc.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My specialty is short-term rental design/furnishing, so basically furnishing Airbnb and VRBO properties that you rent on vacation. My company is unique because I charge a flat fee for my services, and the furniture and decor cost is purchased directly on my client’s credit card with no markup. Many staging companies have warehouses filled with furniture, and they mark items up when furnishing short-term rentals to help cover overhead and transport costs. Avoiding those markup furniture prices allows me to furnish a home on a budget and also allows you to know exactly where my money is being spent on. Since I don’t have a warehouse to store bulk-purchased furniture items, I buy all the furniture for a project specifically for the home and that design, so it is truly one of a kind. This also allows me to be more creative with the style and decor used. Luxury beach, boho, mid-century modern, eclectic, retro – whatever style you desire for your property, I can create that unique space. Not only do I handle the furnishing and decor, but if rehab is needed, I can help with the interior design and execution for that as well. I also handle the small items commonly not thought about when furnishing a vacation rental, such as mounting televisions, keypad install, owner closet prep and inventory purchasing for cleaners, and internet install help. I have many clients whose realtors hand me the keys after closing, and in 2 weeks or less, the home is furnished, designed, cleaned, and listed on all major rental platforms with professional photos without the client needing to step into the home or store. It is truly a unique and easy experience for my clients.
How do you define success?
Success to me is as simple as loving what I do every day, who I am, and how happy I am when I’m doing it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.josephellenproperties.com/designs/
- Instagram: instagram.com/melodyellenmccoy
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087333353852
Image Credits
Madison Jozsa Dan Allen
