Sandpoint’s luxury vacation rental company By Jillian Chandler A graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in communications, Kellee Daugherty’s professional career began in advertising and marketing. In 1987, she started working for Microsoft; the company “small” then and the opportunities incredible. While there, Kellee worked in U.S. sales and marketing helping to build the consumer channel for software products, product launches, OEM marketing and events. After Microsoft, she began her next chapter as a stay-at-home mom while her children were younger and partnered with her entrepreneurial husband, Rob, on various real estate investments, an underground large-scale water storage company, and time helping 2nd Harvest Food Bank. Today, Kellee and Rob are the owners of Daugherty Management, a luxury vacation rental company based here in Sandpoint.
Q. When did you open Daugherty Management?
A. In 2009, we started Daugherty Management as a boutique, service-oriented vacation rental company for luxury homes. Higher end vacation rentals were not very prevalent in our area, and there were/are no higher end “resorts” in Sandpoint. We found that there were second-home owners in our area who weren’t using their homes more than three to five weeks a year. Financially speaking, there was an opportunity to manage these homes (assets) to produce revenue to pay for property taxes, maintenance and carrying costs — while also allowing families to make incredible new memories in this town that we all love so much.
Q. What inspired you to get into the business of luxury vacation rentals? A. Rob and I had built a waterfront home in Ponder Point that we loved and considered an incredible blessing. As our kids grew up, two of them had passions for AAU basketball and another in music that kept us “on the road” and more in Spokane. We offered our home to friends and family, but even then, they weren’t using it very often and it was just sitting there. The Point at Sandpoint, as we called it, was originally a gathering place for the Pend Oreille Indians to meet, trade and share together. This home should be shared with others who wanted to enjoy Sandpoint and take care of a place, just like they would their home. We made our best memories as a family here, and we wanted to share this opportunity with others, with a fiscal and business responsibility as well.
Q. What are some of the premier properties available through Daugherty Management?
A. We manage a wide variety of homes now, but here’s a few of the showcase ones: Villa Z Estate on Murphy Bay is a large, contemporary family reunion home on 3 acres. It has a 3,000-square-foot patio, beach, hot tub, fire pit, 156 feet of waterfront, private dock and an 8,500-square-foot seven-bedroom home. The Point at Sandpoint (which we sold in 2014) sits at the end of Ponder Point and has 365 feet of flat waterfront, providing 270-degree sweeping views of the lake. 57 Blue Heron in Hope is a custom, professional furnished embodiment of North Idaho style with a main house and fantastic guest house, and beach on Ellisport Bay. Lastly, 42 Headwall is a four-bedroom ski in/out elegant Schweitzer home in the Mountainside neighborhood with incredible views of the mountain and lake.
Q. What do you believe sets Daugherty Management apart from other vacation rental companies in the area?
A. We’re a local company with professionals who live and work here in Sandpoint, not some remote “cloud” based company. To be the premier and largest vacation rental company in town, you have to have the people, service, attention to detail, concierge services and commitment to a resort town. Our employees are the key to our success, and we believe in paying people well, paying 100 percent of medical insurance, 401k program and taking care of one another.
Q. What is most rewarding to you being able to provide your clients an unforgettable experience while staying in Sandpoint?
A. We have clients who come back year after year to stay in Sandpoint, and they become friends, who like our family, have made their “best” memories here. The joy and appreciation they have for our town and community is incredible. I love that these clients contribute generously to our local economy of shops and restaurants, boat rentals, and Schweitzer as well. I have one family where the husband was injured in an industrial accident and is quadriplegic. Every year he would rent the Point at Sandpoint, as it allowed him to move around the home and grounds in his wheelchair and access his modified boat and be with his family in the summer. Our homes have hosted 50th wedding anniversaries, family reunions and “milestone” memories. It brings us all a lot of joy to host them.
Q. How long have you lived in the community and what brought you to the area?
A. I’m from Seattle originally and moved to Spokane in 1995 after marrying Rob. We have had a home and lived in Sandpoint since 2000, and while I’ve traveled a lot, Sandpoint is still my favorite place in the world.
Q. What do you enjoy most about being a part of the local community?
A. I enjoy the people and families that represent and unite core values of faith, family, nature and opportunity. I love a smaller town where we know each other and can support each other personally and professionally.
Q. When not serving your clients, how do you enjoy spending your time? Are you involved in any local organizations?
A. Rob and I love skiing and boating. I love to wake surf! We spend a lot of time with our three adult kids and extended family. I am passionate about functional fitness and an avid reader. We’re members of the Sandpoint Chamber and support our local food banks, Music Conservatory, Festival at Sandpoint and Pend Oreille Bay Trail.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
A. Absolutely. Vacation rentals can be a polarizing topic. Managed poorly, noise, nuisance and disrespect to property/neighbors/community negate the experience for all involved. Even before the Great Recession and even now, our community doesn’t have the resort(s) to house and support our summer lake season, which is a vital element of our tourism industry and our local economy. Schweitzer is also short on vacation housing as well. Vacation rentals will always be in demand, so it’s important those properties be managed professionally with respect to the homes and neighborhoods. Also as a community, we must invest more in affordable housing and unite together to find solutions inherent to resort town problems and issues. We CAN do it. Sandpoint is worth it.
Daugherty Management | 101 North First Avenue, Suite 2 | Sandpoint Idaho | 208.263.1212 | StaySandpoint.com
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