Meet Jess Wagner | Realtor and owner of Wander North Rentals

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jess Wagner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jess, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking has been huge in the growth of my business. When my husband and I bought our first rental we had no idea what we were doing but trusted that if we worked hard and positioned ourselves in the top of our market our investment would make money. Once I decided to manage for other people buying rentals I was not only asking them to take the same risk with the purchase, but turn it over to me to bring in their income. Owning a business is a lot about your tolerance for risk and ability to be comfortable with uncertainty. I consider myself to be the kind of person who jumps in with both feet because I work incredibly hard and trust in my ability to be great. Without that high tolerance and calm nature, I don’t think we would have bought rentals, started a business, or gotten into real estate at all. I have had clients ask me how I seem so unbothered all the time and I think it’s because I understand that without risk, you’re just coasting.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Wander North Rentals is a property management company that focuses on comfort, experience, and hospitality. I apply this to every touch point in the business including the property owners, my employees, and our guests. What sets me apart from many property management companies is that I am deep in my business every day. There is a large part of our industry who “set it and forget it” but that leads to homes in disrepair, guest communications that don’t feel personal, and owners who have no idea. My goal is to keep my business small so I can be personally involved, but with a big reputation for excellent rentals.

Starting a business wasn’t easy especially because I didn’t go into it with a well-thought-out plan. My youngest son was diagnosed with a severe cardiac defect and I knew I would lose my job. We already owned 2 rentals so it seemed like a seamless transition into managing for other people. We found out about my son in May, by August I had 6 management clients, and in September he was born. That summer and 6 months that followed were so hard getting processes in place, getting houses up to our Wander North standard, and really solidifying how I wanted to present my business to the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would tell them to stay at a Wander North Property! We provide our guests with lists of the best restaurants, cafes, family activities, pet friendly locations, and hikes! My perfect day in Suttons Bay (where I live) would be coffee from Hive, spending the day at the marina beach with my kids, and dinner at Gilcrest Farms. We also like to make stops at Poppy Things, Wild Lettie, and Bay Books to do some shopping!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to shout out my broker and friend Kara Gelven. She is the one who taught me how to start an airbnb, took me into the brokerage as a realtor when I was newly licensed, and serves as my main sounding board in all things business. She made me confident I could start a company because I saw her success as a mom and business owner. My other shout out is my husband and business partner. Without him pushing to retire early we never would have bought our first rental that sent me down the road of real estate and property management.

Website: https://www.wandernorthrentals.com

Instagram: wander.north.rentals

Facebook: Wander North Rentals

Image Credits
Moody Cabin Girl, Kristina Sobel Photography, Taylor Brown Photography, Dune Life Photography, Kristen Turick