A MUM has told how she turned the side hustle started as a way to make extra cash into a thriving business.
Camilla Shipton, 54, used to clean rental sites around Kent alongside her nine-to-five desk job as an estate agent.
She would always go the extra mile for homeowners, and many started welcoming her tips on how to make their properties more appealing.
This sparked a business idea for mum-of-three Camilla, and she set up Keepers Cottages in 2013.
Just over a decade on, the company manages 155 of the most desirable rental homes across Kent.
And, the business has turned into a family affair – with Camilla’s daughter Phoebe, 28, and one of her sons, Arthur, 26, taking over the everyday operations in the last couple years.
Discussing her career trajectory, Camilla said: “It was difficult with a nine-to-five desk job but I really enjoyed housekeeping so cleaning worked for me.
“I used to go that extra mile and then found more and more holiday homeowners wanting me to look after their properties.
“It was then I realised there was a niche in the market for a full management service.”
Keepers Cottages does everything that comes with managing a property itself – from cleaning and laundry to maintenance and an out-of-hours service.
They always add some special touches for people’s visits too – having mince pies on the table at Christmas, providing logs for a fire in the winter, and making sure the heating is on for guests’ arrival.
Phoebe said: “It’s very rare nowadays to get a company which does everything – and I think that’s one of the reasons people choose us.
“It’s also appealing that we’re local to all our homes. We’re on the ground, we know the area, we’re there to come help at 9pm on a Friday if you need us.
“And as well as being a family business, we employ lots of people, such as cleaners, from the nearest towns.
“So it’s a business for the local community too.”
The company has a range of properties on its books, from coastal retreats, to countryside mansions, to small cosy cottages.
The family understand that holiday rental homes are being scrutinised at the moment – but insist their business is positive for the local community.
Phoebe said: “We get why Airbnb is being scrutinised, for example. There’s a balance to be kept with lets and homes.
“But we’re not a huge corporate business just snapping up properties for the sake of it.
“We’re a family-run business. We grew up and live in the area. And we employ lots of local staff.”
Camilla added: “You also have to take into account the huge economic benefits these homes bring to the area.
“They attract so many visitors who spend money in the local shops, bars, and restaurants, which contributes to the local economy.”
Latest accounts show Keepers Cottages’ net assets are currently £270,811, though it is unknown exactly how much Camilla makes a month.
Net assets are the total sum of everything a company owns minus the total cost of any debts.
