Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Carew.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Carew’s, who are the designers and owners of The Outpost, come from a long line of veterans and first responders – you could say it’s, ‘in their blood.’ They have a long history of service to our country with the military, law enforcement, nursing, firefighting, and emergency services. In fact, the Owners of The Outpost are a combat infantryman (Michael Carew), and a registered nurse (Lori Carew). So, it came very naturally to build and décor the cabin to that end. The Outpost is constructed from various military, historical, and first-responder buildings from all across Texas, and is only 14 miles away from the heart of downtown and only 8 miles from Enchanted Rock State Park. Later in 2024, we formed STRACT HQ Property Management Solutions to better manage The Outpost, and this company is scalable to manage any number of properties.
We continue our service to our fellow citizens by providing respite care to veterans, soldiers, first responders, their family & friends, and to also serve as an outreach to those that want to learn more about these heroes. As we have both been through our fair share of heartbreaking experiences, we understand the gaps left behind with mental health care. We do this by offering affordable vacation rental homes themed for veterans and first responders, but the cabin is available to anyone who wishes to rent it for any period of time. We have helped many families, and we are very proud to be able to serve our local Texas communities and our beloved America.
Lori Carew has a lifelong passion of wanting to help others which led her into the career of being a registered nurse. It is important to her that first responders find a place of refuge and relaxation – to be able to rest, reset, and take care of themselves. For Lori, that is The Outpost. Lori believes in taking time to get away from the hustle and bustle, which ultimately makes her a better nurse, a better leader, and a better person overall. Sharing this with others, so that they may also reset, is part of Lori’s mission to help her fellow nurses and first responders, with respite care.
Michael Carew served his country for a total time of 25 years, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, and the U.S. Postal Service. Michael joined the U.S. Army as an Infantryman and was stationed in Europe in Friedberg, Germany, during the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the German Reunification. After his deployment in Europe, Michael was stationed with the 24th Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia, and soon deployed for the Persian Gulf War from 1990 – 1991, where he served as the Pointman in all combat operations. After witnessing too many terrible outcomes of PTSD with military veterans and fellow soldiers, Michael was motivated to create a sanctuary for all active duty, veterans, military retirees, and their families. The Outpost is also a place for those that did not serve to connect with the lives of those that have given so much. To Michael, The Outpost is a place of peace, tranquility, and reflection, and it is his hope to bring some comfort and rest to all those in need.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The Outpost marked our first major building project, undertaken on completely undeveloped land. One of the greatest challenges during construction came with the sharp rise in building material costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The escalating expenses nearly forced a halt to the project, but through additional financing and some delays, we successfully pushed forward.
In addition to constructing the property, we also formed our own property management company (STRACT HQ Property Management Solutions) — a new and unfamiliar venture that expanded our business into an entirely different field. STRACT now effectively manages The Outpost.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about STRACT HQ Property Management Solutions?
We are STRACT HQ, a Texas-proud Property Management Solutions Company. STRACT is a military acronym that means: STrategically Ready And Combat Tough. We are a newly formed, highly mobile, Texas veteran & Texas first responder owned and operated business. It is our sole mission, using professional military and proven first responder work principles, to provide high-speed, results-driven property management to cabins, guest houses, cottages, homes, and other unique rental properties in the Texas Hill Country area.
Our Top 5 Mission Objectives:
1. Your Satisfaction — We provide top-tier customer service from top-tier individuals.
2. Your Property — What experience are you trying to sell guests, and are you in control of that process?
3. Your Budget — Are you priced correctly? How do you know that?
4. Your Processes — Your workflows and process steps need to be scalable and highly efficient.
5. Your Data — Do you know your demographics? Your benchmarks? Your metrics? Why not?
All Of Our Mission Objectives:
Owner Care:
• Ensuring that our Owners are providing an experience for their Guests, not just a place to sleep
• Setting our Owners up for success by providing them with the tools and resources they need
• Taking the time to go over every single detail during the integration process (we do not charge integration / set-up fees)
• Giving our Owners as much control and access as possible so that they can manage their properties from anywhere in the world
Customer Service:
• We believe that when a Guest calls for service, help, assistance, or maintenance, we stand at the ready and our response must be quick and on-target
• Tracking customer service requests and ensuring our 24/7 call center operates efficiently and as expected
• Hospitality driven with a focus on improving guest satisfaction during their stay
• We are self-motivated to go above-and-beyond for our Owners & Guests
Structure, Technology, & Process:
• We are built from the top down: based on the needs of the Owner, the Guests, & property crews
• Eliminating pain points through established lean management and proven, written processes
• Eliminating non-value-added costs such as brick-and-mortar office buildings, employee labor costs, and overhead infrastructure costs
• Our booking and scheduling platforms are the-best-in-class
Market Exposure:
• Maximizing your market exposure to get you the bookings you need
• Having unlimited channels for you to utilize to broaden your online presence
• Hard literature for mailings and distribution available, upon request
• Advertising through Google, Facebook, & Twitter, upon request
Housekeeping & Property Maintenance:
• Creating 100% accountability for housekeeping and maintenance so that our Owners can be confident that their properties are cared for properly
• Offering full or a-la-carte monthly, quarterly, & annual cost-effective maintenance services
• Our crews stay highly mobile, at the ready, with the ability to work 100% remotely
• Custom & concierge services are available, upon request
What are your plans for the future?
We cannot say much now, but we are working on an expansive project to give property owners and property managers the control they need for their properties. We are scheduled to launch this year — stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stracthq.holidayfuture.com/listings/235589
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/107862704771610/the-outpost-vacation-rental-fredericksburg-texas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOutpostFTX/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-carew-1b64b3306/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelcarew7202
- Other: https://theoutpost-ftx.com/
