Meet Gretchen Frederick of The Sterling Saguaro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Frederick.

Hi Gretchen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After 32 years of flying around the world with crazy schedules, unconventional hours and lots of missed family holidays, I was ready to retire from my airline career with America West, US Airways & (after 2 mergers) American Airlines. I’m so appreciative of my family for putting up with the chaos and I knew it was time to take control of my life and improve my well-being. My schedule and my happiness are now in my hands, not the company I work for.

Living out of hotels/rentals sure taught me a lot about guest expectations.
Here are some actual difficulties I encountered along the way:
1. Noisy hallways, doors slamming, vacuums banging & kids squealing
2. A key/code that doesn’t work
3. The lack of thought in the kitchen, 1 plate, 6 mismatched mugs and a broken bottle opener
4. Wi-Fi passwords like 5tyLl57PgbnilIj99O0
5. No snacks/water for hungry late arrivals
6. Beds/pillows that should have been retired 5 years ago
7. Remotes missing or not working rendering electronics unusable
8. Floors that make your white socks black
9. Underwear left hanging on the back of the bathroom door
10. No blackout curtains or they don’t close all the way
11. Overwhelming use of scented products
12. Previous guests’ hair, stains & smells
I could go and on… but I digress. The challenges of being away from home can be maddening. I laid many a night in hotel rooms thinking up solutions. How awesome would it be to rectify these problems through great hospitality? Challenge accepted.

I knew I had great customer service skills, a bachelor’s degree in business (Go Sun Devils!), an understanding of how to run a successful small business (thanks dad), pro photographic knowledge (thanks again dad), and a keen eye for interior design. By applying all these skills together, I came up with a game plan to own, run & manage my very own short term rental business.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Looking back at some of the most memorable challenges, lessons have been learned, new rules have been added and memories for dinner conversations declared.

Before we had even closed on the sale of the townhouse, I was already buying furniture. Thinking a sleeper sofa in the living room would be a great idea, I did lots of research on which brand was the most comfortable. What I didn’t research was dimensions. Moving day arrived and we could not get the sofa in the front door because of an interior wall. Because furniture is not returnable, we ended up hiring a handyman to widen another door to accommodate the sofa. The sofa was extremely heavy and was appropriately named ‘The Beast’.

Our 3rd guest in our 1st year, accidentally thought their car was in reverse when it actually was in drive and careened into our brand new washer/dryer set at the front of the garage. Luckily, they had purchased insurance and after much back and forth with the insurance company, they finally paid for a new set.

While a guest was staying, the water heater (with no prior warning signs) decided to just give up on life. Luckily, the water heater was in the garage. Not so lucky, it was a Sunday. Lesson here is, it’s imperative to have a list of local businesses that will be there for you no matter what. While the plumber couldn’t get a water heater from his warehouse, he did install the tank we bought at Home Depot. Time from guest messaging me to being fixed… 2 hours!

The headboards in both bedrooms came from old original entry doors that I personally repurposed and refinished. Lots of sweat, tears and cuss words went into their final glory, but I love how they turned out!

Sterling was the Saguaro that lived in the back patio area. He was about 30 feet tall and gorgeous with many arms. His beautiful display of flowers each spring was breathtaking. He was our inspiration and was one of the main reasons we bought the place. Unfortunately, he succumbed to necrosis in the fall of 2023 and needed to be taken down for safety reasons. The Sterling Saguaro is named after him and there is a dedicated children’s book “Cactus Hotel” on the coffee table in his honor.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Sterling Saguaro is not just another short term rental, it’s a unique boutique with a cactus motif.
The open concept 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse has some distinctive features such as:
All one level, 2 car garage, and minutes from downtown Chandler & Gilbert Arizona. Our winter visitors enjoy the 5 hole putting course before heading to one of 5 golf courses all within 5 miles. Our summer visitors enjoy the community pool just 2 doors down from the townhouse.

We have a curated selection of hand-picked decor items that emphasize the quality and uniqueness of the southwest home. Some of our displayed cacti art is created by local artisans.
A motorized TV lift cabinet at the foot of the king bed, takes cozy movie night with your bestie to a whole new level. Included with your stay, is a never ending list of amenities.

Providing a more personalized experience with a high level of hospitality, definitely sets me apart. Being available 24/7 is ingrained in me from my airline years, so being there for my guests is a no-brainer. Living close by has its perks too, I am ready to assist at a moments notice.
You know that saying, ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated?’ Well that pretty much sums it up. Listen to your guest, apologize if necessary. If they have a question, answer it, nobody wants to wait.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
5 years in the making and each year has surpassed the last. I have many returning guests that love the location because of its close proximity to family and friends. Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your daughter who just gave birth? These are the scenarios I love to be a part of and am honored to offer, ‘your home away from home’.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sterlingsaguaro.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sterlingsaguaro
• Other: https://airbnb.com/h/the-sterling-saguaro

Image Credits
Gretchen Frederick