SkyRun Vacation Rentals Arrives in the Twin Cities

Twin Cities couple lean on their marriage and Fortune 500 backgrounds as they pursue the entrepreneurial dream and a commitment to paying it forward for Minnesota Residents

Craig and Theresa Schaefer left their respective jobs in Corporate America with an entrepreneurial dream and a detailed roadmap to “create financial independence for our family by providing vacation opportunities for other Minnesota residents.” The couple bet on themselves and joined the team as the latest franchise owners with SkyRun Vacation Rentals, where they will offer full-service, short-term rental management to second homes throughout the MSP territory. In recent months, they have been developing a carefully curated portfolio of vacation rental properties to accommodate a wide range of travelers, while also providing local, high-quality management services for homeowners.

Burn the Boats

When Craig and Theresa made the decision to leave senior positions at their respective companies, they didn’t do so on a whim. “Each of us always had the entrepreneurial itch,” Craig Schaefer said. “We needed to ‘burn the boats’ and go all-in. So, we combined three of our long-standing passions: Minnesota, vacation travel, and business management.”

The Schaefers became part of the SkyRun Vacation Rental team and will manage homes located throughout the seven counties, which comprise the Twin Cities, and beyond.

“When we looked at the MSP region, we felt there was a gap in the quality of management services—both for the homeowners and the guests,” Craig added. “We wanted to provide our neighbors with trusted, high-quality care for their homes, along with a guest experience that travelers will tell their friends about.”

SkyRun was created in 2004 and now manages nearly 1500 vacation rental properties across the country. The Schaefers will draw on their shared corporate experience—along with SkyRun’s vast network of resources and best in class capabilities—to develop and manage the Minnesota territory. 

“Homeowners deserve a property manager who listens to their concerns and provides tailored solutions to meet their needs,” Craig added. “It’s incredibly frustrating to deal with large-scale, national management firms; you never speak to the same person twice. We’re here to change that broken paradigm. As a locally owned and operated business, we work directly with the homeowner and the vacation traveler. For the homeowner, we personally create a customized plan to maximize their rental income and minimize their workload; there are no expensive third-party tools and frivolous fees. For the traveler, we are intensely committed to the guest experience. By being located in the same region—as opposed to a call center, three states away—we’re able to provide a level of responsive, customer service that is really needed across the Twin Cities.”

Pay It Forward

For Theresa Schaefer, the appeal of financial independence didn’t just center around flexibility for their family to travel and vacation more frequently; it was also about creating similar experiences for fellow Minnesotans.
 
“This is a dream come true for us,” she said. “We’ve been vacationing in Minnesota for a long time and we always noticed two things: not only do people come here from all across the country to vacation; Minnesotans stay here for their vacations as well. This is truly a special place.” 

As the Schaefers continue to curate and expand their vacation rental portfolio, they are utilizing SkyRun’s top-tier systems and technology to manage the properties. This will ensure up-to-date pricing, excellent guest experiences, and smooth stays.

“The Twin Cities region draws business and recreational visitors year-round,” said Cord Thomas, President of SkyRun. “Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 16th largest metropolitan area in the United States—and the third largest in the Midwest. We’re excited to welcome Craig and Theresa Schaefer to the SkyRun family. We feel they’re the perfect fit in every sense of the word: they love Minnesota, they understand the vital importance of the guest experience, and they have a profound commitment to providing high quality management services for their fellow Minnesotans.”

“At this point in our lives, we realized something really important,” added Theresa. “You can’t always pay it back, but you can always pay it forward, and that’s what we’re excited to do, here in the Twin Cities.”

To learn more about Craig & Theresa Schaefer, as well as the SkyRun offerings in and around Minneapolis-St. Paul, please visit: skyrun.com/minneapolis