Dee is a native of Georgia and grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Being born and raised in the “South,” Dee was taught at a very young age how to clean for her Grandmother’s home and her many Aunts’ houses—dusting, washing dishes, making beds, and shelling peas on her Grandmother’s front porch in Odum, Georgia. Her Mother was the oldest of seven children and helped Dee’s Grandfather oversee the operations of a five-hundred-acre Farm. After graduating from Business school, Dee’s Mother worked as a Bookkeeper for a major tire company. She also enjoyed “Interior Design” and “Fashion”. Dee’s Father worked on the Railroad as a trainman for 47 years, Atlantic Coastline and Seaboard Coastline, and retired with CSX.
Dee was born to care for someone’s property with attention to every detail!
Dee’s words: “Southern Hospitality” …Yes, Mame! “I am an authentic representative of this. My Mother just loved taking care of people, and so do I! She was passionate about it!”
Dee’s words: ” I never meet a stranger, and I Love doing things for others. My Mother was a very thoughtful person and always wanted to offer her help to our neighbors and strangers. She taught me the art of giving without expecting anything in return. ” “I still keep myself humble and go over and make a bed myself or help the housekeepers with a wash, float around the place, and check most everything!” if I miss something, I am certain that I will notice it next time.” It’s just the right thing to do when you are so blessed to have such amazing properties to take care of. I do not want to grow my company so big that I can not do this… It makes me “Happy”!
In Dee’s words: As a small child…” I will always hold a particularly fond memory of my Granny teaching me how to make a bed…she said the fancy way…tucking the corners and smoothing the sheets out…she said it had to be made ” Just so”! Thank you so much, Miss Alma!”
Dee studied Education and Business Administration while attending Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. After college, Dee moved to the Jacksonville area, where she married her children’s Father, and later moved to Amelia Island to bring her children up in a “Small Town Community.” Dee has lived on Amelia Island for 30 years. She has over 50 years of sales and customer service experience in various areas, including retail management, selling designer clothing and luxury automobiles, and working in the staffing industry as a Recruiter and account manager in Information Technology and as a recruiter in the Oil and Gas sector.
While Dee’s children were in grade school, she worked a second job at the Ritz Carlton Hotel(Before the Marriott merger) for four years; this experience trained her how to provide a higher level of customer service, being able to meet and surpass higher levels of expectations, and provide the guests with a “First Class” guest experience. Dee’s words: Back then, the Ritz Carlton’s training provided the tools for the employees to be “empowered” to provide guests with the “BEST” service!
Dee has also been an entrepreneur on Amelia Island, opening an upscale consignment store called “The Clothes Exchange.” This venture came to fruition, and she created an income source while being her mother’s caregiver in a local nursing home, and her daughter Francesca Ferrara was attending high school. Francesca Ferrara managed this store after school and learned business operations firsthand.
She has worked in the property management field for the last 13 years. She was trained by a successful Realtor/Broker who owned a local Real Estate and Vacation Rental Company here on the South end of the Island. She was promoted to the position of “Property Manager.”
After acquiring her Real Estate license, Dee founded Amelia Island Vacation Rentals and Management Services in 2016, a ” Boutique Style” short-term vacation rental and management company. The company was built on long and lasting relationships that Dee built and has maintained through the years with Property Owners and guests. She respects and values her property owners’ input and how they want her to take care of their property; she also consistently gets feedback from her guests on what they prefer to experience on their trip to make them feel at home and well taken care of.
Dee is the Operations Manager, and her daughter, Francesca Ferrara, assists with marketing and Online reservations. Francesca is a successful Realtor in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania area.
Dee’s diligence and work ethic have earned and maintained her company a “Five-Star” customer rating from the beginning. She has also achieved “Premier Host” status on VRBO, which recognizes her exceptional ability to provide high-end, select property rentals on the south end of Amelia Island. Dee’s Real Estate sales and services( One Sotheby’s International Realty) are focused on second homes and investment properties, specifically short-term rental properties, because she has a lot of firsthand knowledge of this market niche.
A review from Dee’s short-term rental property owner
Turtle Dunes
“I have been using Dee for many years as manager for my property. I highly recommend her services because she pays attention to all details, which makes the guests feel comfortable and makes them want to continue to book the property over and over. She makes sure my property is stocked with items that are needed and important for a pleasant stay for the guests. Her high standard for cleanliness also contributes to the guest’s desirability to request future bookings. Highly important is how well she handles all maintenance issues in a timely manner and with highly professional and competent vendors. She makes sure all systems are maintained. I’m extremely happy with the services provided by Dee and her company.”
Mickey B. Dillard-Broker-Dillard Realty
A review from Dee’s short-term property owner-Windsong
Property Manager Review:
Dee has been our Property Manager for over eight years! In this competitive market, as we often receive solicitations for this position, this longevity illustrates Dee’s superiority in the field. As owners living out of state, we know we can trust Dee to take care of the little and big issues that arise and make the right decisions regarding our property. Her high standards enable us to maintain a high-quality rental guest. Her attention to detail is remarkable. We are thankful to have worked with Dee for so many years.
Realtor Review:
Dee made finding and buying our beautiful property on Amelia Island a breeze! We had limited time to visit listings, so she came prepared. Her efficiency aided our search. Dee listened to what we wanted and helped us secure the villa of our dreams!
~ Elizabeth L.
A review from Dee’s Real Estate Customer and short-rental Property Owner-Beachwalker
Highly likely to recommend|5.0
5/27/2022 – Mike Y.
Bought a Condo home in 2022 in Fernandina Beach, FL.
Local knowledge
Process expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
“Our experience with Dee, as first-time purchasers of Florida real estate, was excellent! Dee has great local knowledge and was very patient as we navigated the Amelia Island market. Most of our interactions were from 700 miles away, which added a degree of difficulty that she easily overcame. Once we zeroed in on a property, she skillfully helped us determine and negotiate a fair price. She facilitated a quick closing and even coordinated some “freshening up” of the property after we took possession. Highly recommended!”
A review from Dee’s Real estate Customer and short-term rental Property owner-Shipwatch Villas-& Palmcoast-Yacht Harbor
As a Realtor
I have had Dee for two transactions. Both went very smoothly. Dee is always available to answer questions when I needed; she is very knowledgeable, and I felt very confident as the seller and the buyer of my properties.
As a Property Manager
Dee, as a property manager, is the best I have ever had. Dee would go over and tidy up what I missed. If something broke, she would go to the store and get it replaced. She always went above and beyond for me. She always emailed, called, or texted me with new rental bookings. I always got my property checks on time.
Joannie W.
Dee has also been involved in 2 major remodeling/design projects and offers Real Estate staging services for upscale properties.
Her Portfolio includes but not limited to:
- The project management and remodel, as well as the interior design of a 3-bedroom home on the “Plantation Resort,” 55 Marsh Creek Road. Before-and-after pictures can be found on Zillow.
- The ” For Sale” staging of a four-bedroom home in the “Ocean Oaks subdivision” on Ocean View Drive.
- The sale and the project management, redesign, and interior of 1105 Beach Walker are also part of our short-term rental program.
- The Sale and project management, updates, and renovations to bathrooms for 2099 Beachwood Road, a property on Dee’s short-term rental program.
When she’s not working, which is very rare… Dee enjoys long walks on the beach, looking for sharks’ teeth, fishing, boating, tennis, cooking meals for family and friends, dining out in local restaurants to sample dishes to make great restaurant suggestions for her guests, Reading, decorating, antiquing and collectibles, and traveling to Pennsylvania to visit her children and grandchildren.
