My Mountain Cabin Rentals: Customer Service the Old-Fashioned Way

My Mountain Cabin Rentals of North Georgia
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Website: 1MyMountain.com
Quick Quote: “I attribute LiveRez to me being able to keep my doors open. And, more than just looking at green shoots of hope, we’re actually seeing success here.”

It’s a place where deer roam through back yards, where contracts are still based on hand shakes and where people are genuinely friendly and nice --  not because they want to sell you something, but because that’s who they are.

It’s a mountain-top community of about 1,500 acres, lined with cabins boasting amazing views and modern conveniences.

It’s only 90 minutes from Atlanta, GA, but resides in a completely different world, tucked away from the daily grind of every-day life.

It’s called My Mountain.

And if you’d like it to be your mountain for a day, a week or month, you should call Chris Middlebrook.

Middlebrook owns and operates My Mountain Cabin Rentals of North Georgia, which carries a growing inventory of more than 30 cabins all located in this beautiful community set amongst the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The atmosphere may sound too good to be true, but ask Middlebrook and he’ll tell you it’s no fable.

“That’s just how it is here,” he said. “It’s a different way of life.”

Just as the community and the nearby town of Blue Ridge are a throw-back, Middlebrook’s business reminds you of the days when customer service really was king.

Unlike much of the other property management companies in the area, which have cabins located across the county and beyond, Middlebrook manages only properties in the My Mountain community. It’s a big benefit to his guests, because all of his properties are within a 1-mile range from his office (only a two-minute drive).

“Basically, we all offer the same type of product and the same bar level of quality, but it’s the service that separates us,” he said.

For Middlebrook, service means answering guests’ phone calls any time of day, even if it’s a question as simple as how the satellite television works. And guests have recognized this high level of service.

My Mountain uses the front page of its website to highlight its many reviews from Trip Advisor. Currently the company has nearly 350 reviews – roughly 10 fold more than anyone in the area, Middlebrook estimates. And, the company boasts the exclusive “Excellent” rating on FlipKey and TripAdvisor.

“It’s not a badge you see too often on websites, because it’s difficult to achieve,” he said.

Offering a wide range of unique properties that are all well maintained probably also helps Middlebrook in the rating department.

My Mountain Cabin Rentals of North Georgia offers a wide variety of cabins for rent, ranging from quaint two-bedroom, one-bath cabins that start at just over $100 a night to larger cabins that range up to 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and sleep up to 10 guests (but that still rent for well less than $200 a night).

All these cabins have beautiful views of either the mountains or the woods. And some of the larger cabins even have game rooms. And, they all come fully equipped with modern conveniences like WiFi, satellite television and hot tubs.

According to Middlebrook, all you need to bring when you stay is your food and your clothes.

“I tell people that these are not Daniel Boone cabins,” he said.

All of the cabins in My Mountain’s inventory, with just one exception, are pet friendly.

“Pet people actually makes great guests because they’re so appreciative to be able to bring their pet, which is not really a pet, but one of the family,” he said.

Once you’re settled in your cabin, you won’t have a long drive to get out and enjoy the area. The town of Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Lake, and Lake Nottely are all just 10 minutes away. And, Lake Chatuge is just is 20 minutes away.

There’s no shortage of activities in the area. Among the many activities in the Blue Ridge area, guests can:

• Take in a number of fall festivals
• Embark on scenic drives and motorcycle tours
• Enjoy whitewater rafting and tubing
• Take advantage of the area’s many fishing/hunting opportunities
• Hit one of the many golf courses
• Set off on foot via one of the many hiking trails
• Enjoy the back country on horseback
• Visit nearby state parks
• Check out local wineries
• And, enjoy numerous shopping and dining opportunities in Blue Ridge

“We are able to offer a full spectrum of attractions for adults and for kids,” he said.

As one can imagine, tourism is a big industry in the area. But, the recession of 2008 and 2009 really hit the rental business in the area hard. Some companies didn’t survive. And, My Mountain Cabin Rentals of North Georgia was certainly not immune to this downturn.

But, in one of the biggest downturns the industry has experienced, when business was down and money was tight, Middlebrook made a big investment – one that he’s still reaping the benefits of today.

He made the choice to become a LiveRez partner.

“I attribute LiveRez to me being able to keep my doors open,” he said. “And, more than just looking at green shoots of hope, we’re actually seeing success here.”

Middlebrook noted that business is up and things are definitely headed in a positive direction. He knew it was good when this past year he had booked out for the holidays way ahead of time and was actually referring travelers to other companies in the area.

But, where the system has really helped Middlebrook is in reducing his overhead. Since switching to LiveRez, Middlebrook has been able to significantly reduce labor hours. In fact, when one of his key employees moved away, his business was able to absorb that position without hiring a replacement.

Since implementing online booking through his LiveRez website, Middlebrook says his call volume is now down 60 to 70 percent.

And there’s been a reduction in his printing and mailing costs because terms and conditions are now verified electronically.

“I consider it a major reduction in my daily overhead costs,” he said. “You could have told me that, and I wouldn’t have believed it until I saw it.”

The system’s cloud-based platform also gives Middlebrook a level of convenience and security.

“A couple times I had my computer crash and the whole world came to a crashing halt,” he said. “(With LiveRez), I don’t have to worry about that.”

Because the system is available 24-7 online, Middlebrook can take the business with him wherever he goes – which helps when you run a business that’s so committed to serving the customer.

“I would definitely recommend LiveRez to anyone who can financially afford it,” he said. “And, if they can’t afford it, they should find a way to finance it if they’re serious about doing this business.”