AvenueWest Denver
New Owners Grow AvenueWest Denver Corporate Housing Franchise; Growth on New Franchisees’ Minds
Since 2001, Angela Healy worked for AvenueWest Corporate Housing in Denver – helping founders, Kimberly and Eric Smith, manage their financials and run the day-to-day operations. Angela was pivotal in helping AvenueWest grow and find success over the years – including early on in the business when the company took a financial hit in the failing economy. Over the years, Angela helped the Smiths create the AvenueWest Corporate Housing franchise model and even assisted with the onboarding of the franchisee team in Colorado Springs.
Along the way, Angela learned that Kimberly and Eric’s long-term plans were to eventually franchise the Denver market.
“When I told Tim [my husband] that AvenueWest-Denver was available for purchase as a franchise, he said, ‘Have you ever thought of us buying Denver?’ I’d been working in the business for so long that it made sense that I would be the perfect successor,” says Angela. “The best part was that my husband had always wanted to own a business – so it was truly the right fit for us to do together.”
Kimberly says that Angela was a natural fit to take over the business given her experience and deep corporate housing knowledge.
“Between her strong corporate housing background experience and Tim’s impressive business acumen and entrepreneurial desires, Eric and I knew they were the right team to take over the Denver market,” says Kimberly.
AvenueWest Denver Changes Hands
In 2010, the Healys officially purchased the AvenueWest-Denver franchise, thus beginning their journey as corporate housing entrepreneurs.
After taking over AvenueWest-Denver, the Healys became iron-focused on their mission: To match those seeking corporate housing in Denver with those offering furnished, short-term rental properties.
“We are lucky to live in Denver as we get to cater to a variety of people in need of corporate housing, from business professionals and traveling consultants to relocating employees, traveling healthcare professionals, on-assignment military personnel, traveling theater companies and more,” says Tim.
The State of Denver’s Corporate Housing Market
Angela and Tim add that Denver is traditionally a high-demand market for corporate housing, and they don’t see that changing anytime soon.
“While we are currently seeing a lot of clients sell their properties because it’s a hot seller’s market, at the same time we are adding new clients who are looking for a competitive advantage when it comes to managing and marketing their unique furnished properties available for rent,” says Angela.
One of the ways Angela and Tim say they maintain steady inventory throughout market fluctuations is by offering great customer service, competitive pricing, unique properties, and win-win partnerships with those who own properties in desirable locations.
“We manage about 30 properties in the Spire (891 14th St. Denver), an upscale condo community in downtown Denver that offers panoramic views of the city and resort-style amenities. We are able to offer these properties to discerning individuals and groups who want to experience Denver’s culture and vibrant downtown scene while traveling to the Mile High City,” says Tim.
Steep Learning Curve
While Tim had little corporate housing experience when he took over AvenueWest-Denver in 2011, he says he has since undergone a steep learning curve.
“At first corporate housing was like speaking a foreign language,” he says, “But today it feels like a natural progression in my career and offers me the flexibility I desire to balance my family-life with my professional-life.”
Above all, Tim says that having AvenueWest as the backdrop of their franchise gives them the name recognition and instant trust in the industry.
“Partnering with an award-winning, well-respected name in corporate housing not only brings us high quality referrals, but also helps us solidify relationships with new prospects who have come to know and trust the AvenueWest brand for more than a decade,” says Tim.
