Sokoloski Adds to Property Management Empire

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Swan Vacation Rentals is under new ownership.

Carrie Sokoloski bought the company from the previous owner, Shelley Alsup, at the end of April. Sokoloski takes on the new company in addition to her property management business Circle S Property Management, which she has run since 2014.

"It's funny because I never thought it would get as big as it did," said Sokoloski, who also works full time at Great Bear Properties.

Property managers like Sokoloski provide a key service as the go-between among property owners and rentals. Sokoloski says that many of her clients are not locals, and rely on her to periodically check up on the property and manage any problems that might arise when renters are around.

Circle S focuses on long-term rentals and storage but the acquisition of Seeley Swan Vacations allows Sokoloski another outlet to focus on short-term vacation rentals.

Currently, she has seven vacation rentals, about 25 long-term rentals and also oversees around 30 homes during the winter months. Her properties extend from Clearwater Junction up to Condon and includes management of storage units in Condon and as of Aug. 1, Lone Larch Storage in Seeley Lake.

"All of them are different," said Sokoloski about her different rental properties. "The most popular ones are the ones that are affordable and sleep more people."

Even though Sokoloski will be opening up an office for her vacation rentals in the Lazy Pine Mall in August, she will be conducting most of her business online. Sokoloski uses third party sites such as VRBO and Home Away to promote the properties freeing up some of her time-she doesn't have to be tied to a phone or a desk.

Another change she made when she first acquired the company was to outfit all the vacation rentals with either keyless entries or combination lock boxes to eliminate the need for renters to stop in town before they reach their destination.

Her first summer owning the company was a busy one. Between balancing her multiple jobs, Sokoloski has been working nearly 60 hours a week to keep on top of everything. In July she was booked almost solid.

"Some of my properties didn't have more than a day or two gap for the entire month between reservations," she said.

Looking forward, Sokoloski hopes to be able to expand her businesses.

"I just hope that I'll be able to bring on more staff and take on even more clients," she said while admitting that she will be glad that her first busy season is almost over. "It was crazy, I'm ready to wind down."