Short Term Rental Accommodation Industry Regulation Challenges
I’ve been involved in industry advocacy for the past decade since Welcome In was established. First and foremost as an owner and manager of two short term rental accommodation (STRA) properties in WA and then as a business development consultant to the niche sector within the tourism and leisure industry.
Industry regulation has been a process for most of the past decade with digital disruption. I first noticed such disruption when a friend told me about Stayz, now HomeAway. This was back when Stayz was owned by Australian business, Fairfax, who acquired it off founders in 2005, later acquired by Expedia in 2013 - a global corporation.
When it was first introduced to us it would’ve been 2008/9. An owner could list their property and a guest could book it. There were also other basic management administration functionalities such as a cleaners log for example. We paid an annual listing fee of I think $160 per year, per property and the commission used to be a flat rate per day booked fee. I think it was $11.90 from memory or maybe it was $8.90 - I can’t remember.
Fast forward a decade and there are many other booking portals or Online Travel Agents (OTA’s) that allow for online bookings including Airbnb, Booking.com etc. All contributing to an increased supply of home style short term accommodation that I personally grew up with and loved - it was exciting to think we could rent our property in the Perth Hills short term while retaining it for ourselves to utilise when we returned home for visits (while we were working and living interstate in QLD). This increased supply was met with an equal, if not higher demand. Consumers wanted residential style short term accommodation because it was homelier and more affordable for group or family travel.
It’s not the only industry that’s been disrupted though. There are many more examples including Uber, Netflix, Scribe, Isubscribe etc - even Gumtree and RealEstate.com.au were early innovators in this space in Australia. So many more emerging right in this very moment. There are start up incubators actively seeking technological solutions to many of the world’s problems and inventing collaborative consumption businesses left right and centre right now. Peer to peer, cutting out the middle person/ business.
I could go on and on about this. It’s a reality. The world is changing and all we can do is embrace it and keep it fair and safe. Each state and territory in Australia is at different stages of review and regulation. Here’s a summary;
“The McGowan Government is adopting nearly all of the recommendations arising from the recent parliamentary inquiry into short-stay accommodation.
The whole-of-Government response to the 2019 Parliamentary Inquiry Levelling the Playing Field - Managing the impact of the rapid increase of Short-Term Rentals in Western Australia aims to introduce better management of the industry at a community level.
Led by Jessica Shaw MLA, the inquiry presented 10 recommendations to improve outdated and inconsistent policy governing short-term rentals, and create greater certainty for the tourism industry, accommodation providers and guests.
The inquiry found that short-term rentals are a genuine income source for some people and are increasingly widely used by guests; however there was no regulation of the industry and numerous examples of adverse impacts on neighbours and local communities.” (McGowan Government, Western Australia). Read More.
I feel like I'm getting to that stage in my career where I know a bit about the short term and holiday rental accommodation industry in Australia and so if you'd like to read more articles to help you grow and sustain your operation/ business you might like to subscribe (free) to receive my blog articles in your lovely inbox.
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Have a superb day!
Cheers
Natalie :)
Google’s Recorder Now Transcribes
I’m a bit of a Google fan, using G-suite to run my business and making use of many Google apps. I’m rather excited that the Recorder app now transcribes.
Actually I was hunting for an app like this a few years ago when I had to chair and take minutes for a Holiday Rental Industry Association (HRIA) now Australian Short Term Rental Accommodation (ASTRA) industry meeting.
Technology continues to deliver by solving problems but be aware as they can become obsolete as swiftly as they are launched. I tend to keep within the Google suite for integration and compatibility even when there is temptation to trial improved competitor versions.
Make sure you seek permission to record conversations and meetings in advance though.
I feel like I'm getting to that stage in my career where I know a bit about the short term and holiday rental accommodation industry in Australia and so if you'd like to read more articles to help you grow and sustain your operation/ business you might like to subscribe (free) to receive my blog articles in your lovely inbox.
I'm also on Facebook! Instagram & Linked In!
Have a superb day!
Cheers
Natalie :)
Grumpy Australian Holiday Rental Owner or Neighbour?
A grumpy cat to grab your attention - nice! So which side of the fence are you on? We're all a little grumpy about the impending rules and regulations to be thrust upon our niche short term accommodation sector in Australia.Let's face it...most owners managers in the niche short term accommodation rental sector in Australia have known they have largely been flying under the radar. Only recently has Government realised how many exist and what benefit, and impact, they have on the economy and community amenity. And I'm not just talking about the Australian Government. This is high profile global stuff we're talking about here.The challenges differ in each unique tourism region in Australia too. Particularly if you compare high density grouped dwelling stays with regional Australia. There are supply concerns in larger cities which is supposedly driving the price of residential accommodation through the roof and other quieter seaside tourist meccas that demand more tourist accommodation - so short term fills that void. Some cities are in a recession, others are booming!Let's not play the blame game though and point the finger at collaborative consumption trends and savvy digital booking platforms. The reality is that more and more travellers are seeking out an authentic and culturally enriching travel experience and booking portals and OTA's have made that possible as they do generate bookings - we can thank Stayz as the online booking, remote owner management pioneers in Australia. We also know the world has been a little scary since major world events and well the fact is mostly there is little money to indulge in interstate or international travel. This means the traveller is looking for a bargain.We also know the world has been a little scary since major world events and well the fact is mostly there is little money to indulge in interstate or international travel. This means the traveller is looking for a bargain.Holiday homes have always existed. My peers and I have always stayed in holiday rentals over hotels. I've never really understood the appeal of staying in a stuffy hotel room. I prefer space and fresh air and a homely experience plus it means a group of us can bunker down together, share meals and time together and not pay ridiculous prices for buffet breakfasts that many don't front up for, for whatever reason...big night, slept in, preferred to support the local seaside cafe.We haven't needed the fluffy slippers or the dressing gown (most probably manufactured and owned by an international), the newspaper under our door or the revolutionary wake up call or $15 plus movies. Funnily enough we can access most of this fluffy stuff (minus the dressing gown - who actually wears those anyway?) from our smart phones.Times have changed. We are more tech savvy, bargain savvy - because of technology giving us choice and price comparison.Because times are changing though we are sharing our things more, our spaces. More and more savvy people who have a bit of spare space are listing their properties as a whole house or room for rent in the short term accommodation rental market. Yes, it's been happening and a tradition in Australia for many many years. The reality is inventory is now huge and that is because consumers have changed the way they travel and set a demand for such an experience.Right so now you have the background. In the wake of a number of Government enquiries into short term accommodation rental regulations in Australia I have these thoughts;NoiseStart with Noise Abatement legislation. Think about parties. If you are throwing a party in your street you would usually consult your neighbours? If not, you would probably hold your head in shame and knock on their doors the next day and hand them a bottle of Moet - yes I've done this before - actually I sent my husband over! As long as you're not doing this regularly then I am sure you will not be rejected by your neighbourhood.These neighbours have children, or elderly parents or have to get up and work every day. These people need at least 7/8 hours sleep. I know if I don't get enough sleep I will get grumpy and if it happens all the time then I will take action and believe me this is why the sector is under the microscope and why you are a contributor to tighter regulations to control such rogue operations.The fact is there are laws that protect neighbourhood amenity. This means a certain noise level is acceptable. Go over that you will make your neighbours grumpy and they have the right to call the Police. First and foremost you must educate yourself on acceptable noise or just use your common sense and educate your guests to behave.ParkingThe same applies for parking. It would be very helpful and proactive to tell your guests how many car parking spaces there are and that it is not ok to park on the neighbours lawn. Seriously if you are operating and not being mindful of your neighbours then education (for managers and guests) should be considered an important piece of the puzzle.Group Dwelling & Other Zoning RestrictionsWhile I don't think group dwellings are suitable for short term rentals I do think that every owner/ manager should have the opportunity to give it a go. If they disrupt their amenity or rip anyone off then they will naturally have to shut down their operation.Owners Corporations should only have the power to enforce the rules and regulations not set them.Zoning restrictions are irrelevant.House Size & NumbersHouse size is irrelevant.Restricted numbers fair enough but only in terms of health and safety. I realise that overcrowing creates a risk of noisy parties but mostly we are talking about groups of friends or families who just want to crash together to keep the cost low. Noise controls should do just that - control the noise. It's common sense isn't it?!License - Education for Owners & GuestsManagement of a short term rental accommodation is a whole lot of hard work. I know this because I have owner managed with my own investment properties and I've been up close with managers of multiple properties. If we are to give our visitors a fantastic experience then we need to take this seriously and do it properly. There has to be some sort of license that involves education that links to rules and regulations. It is absolutely necessary and has been a long time coming. It forces the rogue operators out of the shadows and weeds them out as they fail to play by the rules.Trust accounting is a pain in the behind -mostly I think it is necessary - but may requires a relook and rejig as many aspects of it generate a lot of extra work for managers. It's something that needs to be tabled for further discussion that is for sure.Tax is tax. Income is income. You earn an income you decide whether you declare it or. You don't, you risk getting in trouble. That is on you. I really cannot see the difference and if the ATO are worried they are missing out on income they maybe they need to introduce a requirement for an ABN of sorts. Maybe an AMBN (Australian Micro Business Number). I don't really know. It's not been a concern for me because I have always claimed the income from my short term accommodation rental ventures in Australia.Grumpy Neighbours - Where is Your Voice?If you are not a stakeholder, other than an irate neighbour of a rogue operation, then I am sorry on behalf of the industry that you are located in such proximity to a lesser human being. One that is spoiling it for the rest of the industry. My advice is write to your local government authority and consider constructive suggestions on how your life may be made easier. Also I urge you to consider the benefits. Firstly you may have a skill to offer the manager that might earn you some income (caretaker, cleaner, guest experience etc), it's also good to have someone in the house rather than it sitting vacant and you can never tell if your residential neighbour is going to behave either. We never knew we'd be renting next to a barking dog for six months when we relocated out of the City. Yep a barking dog. A relentlessly loud barking puppy who missed it parents every time they walked out the door, including through the night, when they went out of town. Yes, that made me grumpy.Think about all those lovely visitors staying in your community and spending money to boost your economy. This is happening. This is really truly happening especially if the managers of the holiday rentals are going out of their way to speak with local tourism operators and offering guests a special deal.Managers Present & On Call 24/7Managers must be on call 24/7. You might have the convenience of key locks and avoid the face to face meet and greet. Fair enough. If you are not available to take a call in the event of an emergency or because the kettle isn't working (which I think is an emergency) then you should not be managing a property. Sure, appoint a caretaker but that person should be registered and available.Insurance & Risk ManagementIf you do not have insurance that is your prerogative but for the safety of guests opting to consume holiday rental accommodation I think it is overall a good practice. It means someone has actually assessed your home, identified areas of concern (ie a balcony that is about to collapse) and decided whether it is safe for guests and if not, what is required to bring it up to an acceptable standard. I do believe consumers will be looking out for accredited style accommodations knowing they are safe when staying in the property. If not, there is an understanding that home style accommodation comes with risk just the same as if you crashed in your friends 50 year old granny flat. I actually cannot understand why any manager would operate without the necessary checks and insurances. Maybe they do not understand how many thousands of dollars they may be out of pocket should someone be injured or possibly die in their property. Yes - it happens!!!Fair Rules & RegulationFair rules and regulations and engagement and education with grass roots stakeholders are on the only way forward in my opinion. Knee jerk reactions will hurt this growing sector which is in demand. It is counter productive.Stakeholders Working TogetherLocal government and local tourism organisations must work with short term accommodation rental stakeholders. Not against them. This includes allowing for booking systems that integrate with the managers own independent calendar. Visitor centres must not consider accommodation and experiences as a source of income. It is working against all tourism operators.Owners/ Managers Come Out Of The Shadows - Out From Under The RadarAll owners must come out from the shadows and have a voice. Fly that flag and say yes I have a short term accommodation rental and I want to continue working closely with my local stakeholders to learn how to best operate. If you think that remaining silent will help your cause you are absolutely incorrect. That is in fact why a number of enquiries are being damaged because there isn't enough input from the actual owners and managers of these properties because they are worried they will be shut down. The reality is you will be shut down unless you can convince your worth to your local people, most importantly your local community.Code of ConductYes there is a Code of Conduct introduced by the Holiday Rental Industry Association. We hope all stakeholders, especially those on the grass roots, have a chance to provide some input on any future reviews. Let's also hope there is an education program attached to it that is endorsed and promoted by local government.My closing message is that it is vitally important to understand that you as the owner/ manager of a holiday rental accommodation business in Australia are the most important stakeholder group. Think of global booking portals and OTA's as a means of finding guests. They can certainly contribute their thoughts and opinions, that will protect their own bottom lines, from their own perspective. It is you at the coal face that really knows what is going on and who is well placed to contribute ideas and better ways of going about business.Always strive for independent management for sustainability and only list your properties with booking portals and OTA's who allow integration with your own management technology and systems. Aim for direct bookings through your own independent systems and remarketing to your own guest database.Ok so let's all wait and see what happens with the individual state and territory Enquiries. It's going to be an interesting year ahead.If you are a niche short term rental accommodation industry stakeholder in Australia you might be interested in connecting with me on Linked In. I have a group discussion in place for Short Term Rental Accommodation Legislation & Local Laws.If you'd like to learn more I am currently drafting a guide/ publication for managers and other short-term or holiday rental accommodation stakeholders. Subscribers will receive a discount when it becomes available later in 2018.Have a superb day!CheersNatalie :)Subsequent news stories since the first publication date of this editorial (30/3/2017);Balcony collapse in Brisbane suburb of St Lucia leaves nine in hospitalTravel giant Expedia joins campaign for crackdown on Airbnb rentalsThe 'booming' NSW economy that 100,000 people have joinedWinners and losers – the five main options for proposed NSW Airbnb laws
Top 5 Benefits Of Short Term Holiday Rentals
Cottesloe Beach House Stays explore the benefits of choosing short term accommodation compared to that of a hotel.
1. EXTRA SPACE
Instead of being cramped in a single hotel room guests are able to enjoy the comforts of extra space and individual rooms. After a few days in a hotel, the room tends to look more and more like a junkyard with souvenirs piled next to the bed and electrical devices battling for outlets.
With the wide variety that Cottesloe Beach House Stays offer, guests can choose from one bedroom studios apartments to five bedroom houses. Because of the variety in size we can find a property that is just right for you and your requirements.
2. ABILITY TO COOK
The ability to cook is one of the most beneficial factors of short term accommodation. Guests are able to save money and eat according to their dietary requirements.
This is particularly handy for guests with allergies, gluten free specifications or food needed for cultural practices.
3. COST EFFECTIVE
This is particularly the case when couples or families travel together. Guests can share the cost for a whole house rather than paying for separate rooms in a hotel.
For instance, The Cottesloe Seaview Apartment can accommodate up to 4 guests comfortably from $219 per night through low season. Dividing the cost between 4 adults equals $54.75 per night!
4. UNIQUE IN STYLE
Cottesloe Beach House Stays offer properties that are unique in style and pride ourselves on maintaining excellent cleaning standards. Guests can experience the local flavour of the area, with properties situated throughout Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Claremont and Nedlands.
Every property has distinct features which allow guests to experience that home away from home atmosphere. Forget trying to find the correct door number in long corridors of replicated rooms; short term accommodation is an ideal choice for travellers wanting a stay that is distinctive and memorable.
5. PERSONALISED SERVICE
Booking accommodation needs to be as easy as possible, from the start of the booking process right through to when you check out. Cottesloe Beach House Stays personalised service ensures guests feel at ease with the property whilst respecting the privacy of your stay. Our motto is: “We care, we can do and we want you back again!”
This is why we have after hours contact numbers in case of any urgent matters. We also offer meet and greets at many or our properties to go through all of the ins and outs.
We welcome feedback, so please feel free to be in touch if you have any recommendations for our business! For further information regarding Perth short term accommodation, please browse our wide variety of Properties or contact us today on info@cbhstays.com.au
Provide Your Guests Regional Tourism Information. Game Changer!
Save your guests time and preempt the activities they are seeking. Make the information readily available for them before and during their stay.
Don't limit yourself. Partner with local businesses that can add value. If you're an accommodation provider, find out if there is a day spa close by who will offer an in house or discount service for example. A local restaurant might offer a free bottle of wine for your guests or you could offer restaurant clientele 10% off accommodation. It works both ways.
It might be worth looking for national industry partners to. Triplify, The Traveller's What's On Guide is a national directory of authentic and culturally enriching festivals and other events. We have a few clients who have embedded an event widget within their website which lists events of interest specific to their tourism region and the guests dates of travel. Have a look at an example here on Cottsloe Beach House Stays in Perth, Western Australia. Visit the Triplify website to learn more about how they can enhance the entertainment information you provide your guests to enhance their experience.
Connect with your local community, chamber of commerce, LGA, tourist association/visitor centre. Add them to your database, subscribe to their communications. Keep informed and share information.
Think outside the box with your marketing and build up content on your website to share with your guests.
For more holiday rental management tips subscribe to the Welcome In e-community here (free) or contact us if you would like to find out a little more about how Welcome In can help you successfully manage your short term accommodation in Australia.
Connect Your Holiday Rental Guests with Local Tourism Experiences
Save your holiday rental guests time and preempt the activities they are seeking. Make the information readily available for them before and during their stay.Don't limit yourself. Partner with local businesses that can add value. Find out if there is a day spa close by who will offer an in house or discount service for example. A local restaurant might offer a free bottle of wine for your guests or you could offer restaurant clientele 10% off accommodation. It works both ways.Connect with your local community, chamber of commerce, Local Government Association, Regional Tourism Organisation, Visitor Centre. Add them to your database, subscribe to their communications. Keep informed and share information.Think outside the box with your marketing and build up content on your holiday rental website to share with your guests.For more holiday rental management and marketing tips subscribe to the Welcome In e-community here (free) or contact us if you would like to find out a little more about how Welcome In can help you successfully manage your holiday rental accommodation in Australia.Find out about our new product, the Welcome In holiday rental guest packs, which allow your guest to make a cuppa, have a snack, wash up, relax and feel at home while they're away. They can also link to local tourism offerings.
Feeling At Home While Away
My friends and I escaped the hustle and bustle of the Perth City (minus husbands and children) for some well needed rest and relaxation. We had Bunker Bay (South West of Western Australia) in our sights.We arrived at our destination, the Bunker Bay Beach House, an individually owned holiday property within the Bunker Bay Resort estate. Exclusive short term accommodation – this place was pure luxury. We searched for our accommodation on Welcome In – The Short Term Accommodation Specialists site.At the point of booking the Bunker Bay Beach House it was brought to our attention that we could access all of the Bunker Bay Resort facilities during our stay including eligibility for the Mii Spa ‘Enjoy a Day at Bunker Bay’ special which included a divine massage, facial, scrumptious lunch and a glass of wine at the Resort restaurant. Of course we didn’t hesitate to book this in.The ladies and I had three nights and two days to spend at Bunker Bay. After reading through the information provided, by the owner of the Bunker Bay Beach House in their comprehensive house notes and guest file, we decided to:
Shop locally in Dunsborough for our supplies.
Have a browse through the Dunsborough shops. A favourite was Beach Lifestyle Living gifts and home wares.
Have a bite to eat for lunch on day 1 at the Tealicious House (wow!) and breakfast on our departure day at Bunkers Beach Cafe (absolute beach front ambience in this beauty).
Order some take-away from Thai Papaya in Dunsborough.
Indulge in the Mii Spa package
We also decided to stay close to the house, go for walks along the beach (100m from our accommodation), read by the fire and chill out - most importantly. All of the above was easily scheduled into our simply glorious getaway.The highlights of the trip included having everything we needed at the Bunker Bay Beach House including indoor and outdoor spa’s, two living areas with gas (wood) fires, large and ambient open plan kitchen/dining and proximity to the magical Bunker Bay. The outdoor spa was located within a spectacular outdoor wilderness entertainment area on the deck. Completely private and tranquil.We felt like we were holidaying at home. The service from enquiry to checkout was first class. The house notes and guest file allowed us to choose our activities with ease. A completely effortless and thoroughly enjoyable experience.We will return and recommend the Bunker Bay Beach House and all short term accommodation listed on Welcome In to our loved ones.NoteFind the local treasures during your time away include searching the Welcome in supplier directory of local attractions and services.Alternatively contact your local Visitor Centre, in this instance it would be the Geographe Bay/Dunsborough Visitor Centre. They list local attractions and have an online business directory.Tourism WA has a dedicated page on their website for Bunker Bay. And the regional website, Australia’s South West, provides an online and interactive Holiday Planner that can also be downloaded and printed to help plan your journey.The Local Government Authority is also another great source for local information. In this instance it’s the City of Busselton. Search for community based tourism attractions (facilities, events etc). Who else knows their community better than the residents living in and driving the local economy.I know for me I like to seek out the most community culturally enriching tourism experiences when I go away especially when I have my family with me. The added bonus is these attractions are usually free and are well suited to young families. An example is a community market. Where else can you go for free to browse the stalls, enjoy the hand made goods and local produce and get the real vibe of the community you are visiting.
Want to know about Development Applications (DA)?
I thought I’d never have to hear about DA’s again since departing local government and establishing my own consulting business. Sadly that is all I hear about as I support the Australian Short Term Rental Accommodation (ASTRA) industry association fight for fair industry regulation.
DA = Development Application, whereby you seek permission off your Local Government Authority (LGA), guided by a local or state planning law, to change the use of or develop land.
So why I am all of a sudden hearing DA in daily conversations again when I am no longer sitting in on council meetings?
It is because in 2009 WA Planning released guidelines which promoted local regulation of Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia. While they state "In general, holiday homes should be residential dwellings on freehold lots." they also propose "Identification of preferred areas for holiday homes in local planning strategies based on sound planning principles." and recommend "that holiday homes be introduced as a use class in the zoning table of local planning schemes, and be made a D or an SA use (discretionary or discretionary subject to advertising)."
This is where the DA comes into play. If the LGA in which you operate has adopted a local STRA policy or regulation, then you will either need to go on a register and/or formally apply for a change of use from residential to whatever they define the use, in most it is Special Residential and therefore residential properties let short term are grouped with hotels, traditional bnb’s, serviced apartments, lodging and boarding houses.
We are challenging regulators over this requirement to change use as STRA properties are still used as residential dwellings, shorter term. That’s another topic for another blog article.
I have just processed my first DA on behalf of a STRA owner and manager and so I am familiar with the process. I also have a strong local government background working for Mandurah, Ravensthorpe, Western Downs (QLD) and Darwin LGA’s directly, and others as a contract consultant.
If you need assistance in submitting a Development Application (DA) for Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) in Western Australia please do not hesitate to contact me for more details on the service and fee I offer natalie@welcomein.com.au.
If you are also concerned about STRA being redefined as a commercial use, or maybe you want to connect with other industry stakeholders, learn, educate and so forth, then I strongly encourage you to join the Australian Short Term Rental Accommodation (ASTRA) industry association at www.astra.asn.au. I have also formed a closed WA ASTRA members Facebook group and all WA members will be invited to review the draft Position Statement soon to be released by the WA Government as the next stage in the STRA regulation enquiry.
Do you have permission to rent your residence short term?
I’ve been involved in fair Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) industry advocacy for almost a decade. In Western Australia, we’re at the pointy end of a long drawn out fight for the survival of a traditional, highly sought after, accommodation experience for travellers who want to stay in a residential property/ home away from home for a holiday, business, education, health and many other reasons.
As a child we used to mix up our holidays with nature based camping, park stays on the water in Dunsborough and short term holiday rentals. As a young adult my friends travelled in groups and Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) was our preference. When I had on operation in Noosa we found a STRA/holiday home because we had young children. The list goes. We know this residential style of short term accommodation is legitimate and yet here we remain fighting for long term sustainability because this sort of accommodation is very popular now and there are a small number of dodgy operators who don’t care about guest safety or neighbourhood amenity.
We have a patchwork of local regulations because the planning guidelines are outdated. There is no clear definition for STRA as a residential use. Regional and rural locations usually welcome them because they provide needed accommodation and bring visitors to boost their economy, metropolitan LGA’ s are influenced by large corporate lobbyists deeming STRA commercial because they consider STRA competition and want to level the playing field. They hone in on a very small number of neighbour complaints and paint the STRA industry as a nuisance destroying local communities. Unbelievable really.
Reading through the comments provided in the WA inquiry submissions I’m quite frankly - gob smacked! One comment alluded to a resident feeling like she’s living in a ghost town because most of the properties on her street are STRA. Really? Is this actually being considered as a reason to tell owners what they can and can’t do with their properties?
I love that half the properties on our street are vacant. The one across the road a few years ago had permanent residential tenants who had drug and domestic violence issues, with police called out numerous times, screaming down the street through the day and night. The resident actually turned up on my doorstep high as a kite one day. That was scary. Another time when we were renting while searching for a new home we found ourselves severely sleep deprived from a permanent resident next door (owners) dog barking whenever they weren’t home - which was often. I had two young toddlers and I have to say that was not a time I was able to peacefully enjoy my residence without noise disturbance.
We are offering home style accommodation, short term. Some Local Government’s will require you to complete a Development Application (DA) to seek planning permission to rent your residential property short term. Depending on the local planning policy STRA will be either be considered;
“‘P’ means that the use is permitted by the Scheme providing the use complies with the relevant development standards and the requirements of the Scheme;
‘D’ means that the use is not permitted unless the local government has exercised its discretion by granting planning approval as required by clause 4.8;
‘A’ means that the use is not permitted unless the local government has exercised its discretion by granting planning approval as required by clause 4.8 after giving notice in accordance with clause 9.4; and
‘X’ means a use that is not permitted by the Scheme.” (Cottesloe Town Planning Scheme 3).
To find out if you have permission to rent your residential property short term you will need to research your local government authority’s policy on STRA, search for the local planning scheme and the most closely fitting accommodation definition then locate the zoning table. In Cottesloe for example some residential precincts it’s not a permitted use or ‘X’. Other zones it’s ‘D’ or Discretionary meaning the administration will engage with neighbours and consider the Development Application and the local councillors will decide by majority vote if you are granted permission.
If you want to rent your residential property short term in Mandurah then you have permission to go ahead subject to registration. Yay! How great is that. The situation is similar for the Shire of Murray.
As a leisure management professional, with a background working in local government, experience as a STRA owner and manager, 3 + years on the Board of the national Australian Short Term Rental Accommodation industry association I am well positioned to provide consulting services to assist you in navigating regulation and seeking permission, assist you in becoming/ help finding a professional property manager. If you’re already an established agent/ contract property manager maybe I can help you grow your business.
Please complete the contact form below (in the footer) if you wish to connect. I’d be happy to jump on a telephone or teleconference call to introduce myself and determine what problems I can help you solve. There’s a bit about me below including a link to my Linked In profile.
If you’re a Short Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) stakeholder (owner, manager, supplier etc) I recommend reaching out to the national industry association Australian Short Term Accommodation (ASTRA). They are continually advocating for fair industry regulation across Australia.
If you’re in Western Australia, I have formed a WA stakeholder group on Facebook and warmly welcome you to send me a join request.
Happy days!
On your doorstep or in close proximity….
Tell your short term rental accommodation prospective guest a story about one experience that is available on their doorstep, or in close proximity, and which will immediately immerse them into the local culture. It’s a good paragraph to including in your listing description when marketing your sort term holiday rental accommodation.
Everyone knows how to use Google Maps but most won’t before they search for their ideal short term rental or holiday accommodation. I want you to visualise yourself as a traveller without a car. I say this because you want your property to be appealing to all travellers. Also because many want to get out among the elements, enjoy a bit of exercise rather than jump back in their car.
I want you to imagine that you’ve spent all day travelling and have just arrived late afternoon. You’re tired yet eager to see the sights. You probably don’t feel like cooking and a short walk will justify a cheeky beverage at your favourite inner city waterhole (pub).
You want to be immediately immersed into the unique culture of this place and enjoy the local buzz.
Now try and recreate that one such experience in a paragraph in your property description. Take the prospective guest on a story telling journey highlighting what is great that is close by for them to easily experience as soon as they arrive.
I’ve even taken a screen shot of Google Maps (above) with the journey mapped out. I used a landmark close by instead of my own address. Note distance, time and scale provided in this screenshot which is helpful information to include.
Now here is how I might draft such a paragraph;
“There is much to experience in close proximity to your holiday rental in Halls Head, Mandurah. After you arrive we know you won’t feel like cooking, and will be keen to immerse yourself in the Mandurah culture, so why not take a short stroll (2.5kms, 30 minute walk) into Mandurah City and enjoy a bite and bevvy on the water at Bar Therapy? Before you arrive at your short term accommodation we’ll give you a list of fabulous experiences right on your doorstep, or very close by”.
Note the key words I’ve used in this paragraph, which will greatly assist in your short term accommodation being found in Google searches. Location (including suburb and city), holiday rental, short term accommodation. All these words will be inserted into Google searches, possibly even searches on the short term rental accommodation managers website if the prospective guest is savvy enough to #bookdirect.
Why not make this a little project and send me a link to your listing to show off your story telling skills to natalie@welcomein.com.au.
Are New Marketing Applications A Liability For Short Term And Holiday Rental Businesses?
I am seriously losing track of which apps (short for applications) I've installed and what technology I am trialing from the start up sphere. Some of you will be scratching your heads wondering what the heck is this article is about. Others will sympathise and probably have a Ripl, Screencastify, IStock (essential I think - to compliment an amazing holiday rental accommodation image gallery) Shopify, SumoMe, Mail Chimp, WeVideo, Netflix, Canva (...) application running either on their desktop or mobile device.
All these new start up's promising the world. New innovations to simplify processes, trendier, hip ways of doing cool stuff for your business. Commerce is so fast paced now with digital technologies. It's really tricky to keep up - or even keep ahead to be competitive.
Remember that all the time you spend downloading and trialing new solutions are a cost to you as a business manager. Some of that investment will pay off. Other times you may find that placing too much focus on new technologies may in fact be a liability to your operation.
You might be a start up yourself. "A startup company (startup or start-up) is an entrepreneurial venture which is typically a newly emerged, fast-growing business that aims to meet a marketplace need by developing a viable business model around an innovative product, service, process or a platform." (Wikipedia - however reliable that is!).
Technically (pardon pun), I am a start up. I'm not a tech start up but a start up nonetheless. Actually Welcome In has been in start up mode for roughly seven years now. I know this because I was pregnant with my second son, Marshall, who is now six. OMG - time, flying!
So getting back on the subject I sometimes stop and realise that I am in fact getting sucked into the vortex within the start up sphere. This is when I actually lose control of exactly what I have signed up for, downloaded, subscribed (sometimes a paid subscription - can you believe how expensive Linked In Premium is these days but OMG I have to have it....).
I often download the app, which is conveniently available for mobile devices, then my space runs out (because I really need to download another app or I've taken too many photos) and so I delete it thinking I will download it again in the future. Before you know it six months have passed and then a monthly subscription fee shows up on my statement - ARGGHHHH! - the shocking part about this is that I have actually paid for a subscription but haven't used it for months and months. Hmm. Naughty! I guess I can at least claim them as businesses expenses for research!
Yes I know some are quite evidently amazing. Like Netflix - how can anyone watch free to air TV now! Yes I know this is an entertainment app. There are others like WeVideo that are fantastic too but oh dear they now charge to receive what you did for free 12 months ago. Be wary of this. The art is to test in the free trial and then be realistic and know that it is very likely that this start up will recognise their worth (because they will be using metrics like adopter growth) and switch into monetisation phase - this essentially means they will start charging you to use their application. At some time they have to make money to be viable. Just like you need to invest in marketing to grow your holiday rental business by attracting more visitors to your site who make more bookings!
I guess the point of this article is to have fun, give new technology a go. I personally really value Canva for marketing communications graphics. My advice is to give it all a go but keep a close eye on what you sign up for particularly if there is a subscription fee involved and you missed the small print that says your subscription will be auto-renewed every month until you opt out!
I feel like I'm getting to that stage in my career where I know a bit about the short term and holiday rental accommodation industry in Australia and so if you'd like to read more articles to help you grow and sustain your operation/ business you might like to subscribe (free) to receive my blog articles in your lovely inbox.
I'm also on Facebook! Instagram & Linked In!
Have a superb day!
Cheers
Natalie :)
Invest In Decent Pegs & Other Holiday Rental Business Start Up Tips
Well hello, welcome to the short term residential accommodation/ holiday rental/ short term accommodation rental industry in Australia - a lovely little, yet rapidly growing and sought after, niche accommodation sector.
Yes! you are a legitimate start up now. You're a new short term holiday rental accommodation venture. You're not technically commercial because this is your investment property (same as long term residential) however you are still operating a very teeny tiny operation and you need to be organised for the best chance of success, and so you're on good terms with your local community, local government and the Australian Taxation Office.
Right so you have your short term residential property in the ideal location, close to unique experiences and other major tourism attractions, public transport, parks and playgrounds, major events venues, city/town CBD's etc. Once you have your property and location sorted consider the following as you start to build a framework for your exciting new venture.
PERMISSION
Although I do not think you should need to, in the current regulatory climate in Australia you firstly want to speak with your local government authority for permission to operate. There may be a registration scheme in place in your local area, you might need to have proper parking, you might not be in the right zone for permitted use. It is best to tell your local government what you wish to set up and they can step you through the approval process.
Most will let you erect a small sign out the front of your property too. Just check the signage policy.
If you want to be extra courteous I think it's worth a knock on your neighbours doors. If you are in a high density locality you may be required to seek permission off your neighbours to operate. You never know they might want to get involved and help out too. You can always barter accommodation discounts for their friends and family.
FIT OUT
Remember you are selling a residential homely experience online first and foremost so whatever you place in your property will be captured in images and used for digital marketing. You are looking for the lovely balance of style vs practicality remembering that a whole bunch of strangers are going to be looking at, and using all of, the chosen furnishings.
Remember that while you may be hoping to achieve an appealing and unique style, for your short term holiday rental accommodation, you want it to translate as homely, comfortable, clean, safe and stocked. If you aren't confident fitting out your holiday rental yourself there are many suppliers out there who specialise in such services. We had a company called WOW Factor who fit out our executive apartment a few years ago. It was worth every cent in my opinion.
Comfy lounges. Make sure there are a few of them. I have stayed in some holiday rentals with one small two seater lounge to share for a family or large group. Seriously! where is everyone else going to sit? Choose durable easily cleaned materials with an affordable replacement cost. There will be times when you need to replace large furniture items.
Throw rugs and cushions. Just make sure they aren't your precious international travel collectibles. They need to be durable so you can throw them in the washing machine every now and again. Have fun without the expense.
Dining table chairs. Don't bother with cushions. They will get stained, ripped, ruined in no time. Just opt for comfy chairs with hard woods, metals or plastics. Think hard wearing, easily cleaned surfaces for everything.
Well equipped kitchen. Think about what you would like in your kitchen if you rented short term accommodation and wanted to cook every day. There are many travelers who choose short term residential style accommodation for this very reason. You don't need all the fancy utensils, crockery and other equipment. Just a lot of the basic day to day supplies. If you under-stock you will get unstuck. Things will go missing and get broken. Your guests will let you know and you can decide if you want to deduct from their bond or if you should just price your per night rate to allow for the occasional replacement item.
Durable linen x 3 sets for each bed. Don't take short cuts with this especially if you intend to look after linen yourself - which I highly recommend you do not unless you have an industrial style washing machine and dryer and an absolutely incredible cleaner. High thread count and consider different colours or patterns for different sized beds or label clearly on the inside near the edge so it is hidden when the bed is made. Make sure you have sufficient storage on or off site for linen.
Durable absorbent towels. Think about how you feel when you grab your towel for the first time in the accommodation you book. Do you like fluffy, pleasant smelling absorbent, clean towels? If yes, then make this a priority. Remember they will be cleaned many times so if you try to cut corners you will find yourself high and dry. Quality is very important with towels. Oh and remember if you have an outdoor spa or pool, or live near a river or beach, then you will need to supply beach towels. Again ensure you have sufficient storage. I would put out one bath towel per guest and have a spare stored away for when the guest requests additional. Mostly guests will wash their own linen for short stays. They understand that short term residential accommodation is self catering.
Remember floor mats (light durable for frequent washing), hand towels x 1 for each bathroom plus a washer for each guest.Tea Towels. Any type x 2 per booking is my recommendation. There is nothing worse than a soggy tea towel and they don't take up much space in the washing machine.
Absolutely positively get decent pillows and absolutely positively get pillow covers and actually mattress protectors are essential too. Take those pillow and mattress protectors off every guest changeover. Crappy pillows equals crappy sleep and we all know what we're like when we're sleep deprived. I personally prefer to take my own pillow where possible but if I am to lay my head on a high traffic pillow I want it to not smell like another human so if in doubt, recycle it into a teddy bear and buy a new one or dry clean. Always allow two per person.
Blankets. Don't bother layering your bed. Nice linen with a clean, easily washable coverlet or light doona and cover that can be thrown in the wash every time is best. Have a store of extra thin yet warm blankets (highly durable for frequent washing instead of your grandmas vintage 100% wool blanket) available so guests can layer to their liking.
If you have light plush carpets my recommendation is to replace them with a tight weave darker colour combination that won't reveal every mark. The alternative is hall runners and mats in high traffic areas. Definitely put a mat under your dining table if that room is carpeted or consider relocating the dining table or tiling/ vinyl planking that space. Always think about the ease of cleaning.
Think about all the surfaces in the property. The floors, the walls, bench tops etc. Are they easily cleaned, durable. Can they handle high traffic wear and tear.It's ok to use signs throughout the house. Laminate them and keep them looking tidy. For example you might put the recycle days on the fridge, no smoking signs inside, basic instructions on how to operate the TV or washing machine. Remember you can provide a full list of instructions in a folder in the property and make a digital copy available before guests arrive.
Rubbish. Maybe supply two big internal bins and mark them rubbish and recycle. We always order an extra bin for our rentals. The local government should supply an extra bin no worries at a small extra charge. It's worth it. Educate your guests to put out the rubbish on departure and to put the bins out on bin days. It is a huge help for cleaners.Heating and cooling. Make sure your air conditioner filters are cleaned and service regularly (add it to your maintenance schedule), batteries are in your remotes (and spare batteries stored away in a draw for easy access) and if you have a wood fire have wood chopped and stock piled for guests, with a few small pieces of kindling, a fire lighter and matches wrapped in paper to help them get it lit quickly. Maybe place this in a spot that is out of reach of children and include the storage location in your instruction manual.
Batteries in your TV remotes (and instructions for use in the manual). Consider Netflix or other paid TV, smart TV's etc. Video and DVD players are old fashioned now and need maintenance.Outdoor areas. If you have a yard, provide some shade. If you have a pool, provide some pool toys, chairs and table beside it for example. Supply a BBQ and make sure you tell guests they must clean after use and fill empty gas bottles. Add this to the House Rules and Terms & Conditions. Provide outdoor lounge chairs or hammocks. Anything that you like to see in your yard is always good to include in the yard of your holiday rental.
Study area for business ready guests plus Wifi although most mobile plans have sufficient data allowances these days so it isn't absolutely essential. Just consider that some people want to be online when they travel whether they are working or not. Why not consider a note pad that lives in the house with WIFI access. Attach it to a chain if you're worried it will walk. It's a good place to store house instructions and local tourism experiences, even a greeting video.
Guest feedback. Make sure you supply a guest book so they can leave a comment or have a digital option you can send post stay. Also make it known that you would be very grateful if they notice something in the house that you as the manager should know about. Ie, broken glass in cupboard, kettle not working, hot water system on the blink, some of the grass out the back is brown and in desperate need of a water. Encourage and provide a communication mechanism for any feedback positive or negative. It is all really valuable.
If you want to decorate with plants indoors make sure they are either artificial (you can get some amazing artificial plants now through suppliers such as Plant Image) or not thirsty like succulents. Don't be afraid to ask your guests to give them a little water from time to time. Maybe supply a spray bottle and store it under the sink and refer to it in your instruction manual.
Remove all valuables from the house. Anything you don't have an emotional connection with or that is hugely expensive to repair or replace. You can still stylishly furnish a property without having antique and costly furnishings that you will miss when they are gone. Pay particular attention to vibrant, colourful art or photography on walls of unique experiences in the region or local artist prints, colourful lamps, pillows, throw rugs. Anything that adds personality and authenticity.
I think it is best not to have family photos around the house. Its a bit strange. I can understand it if it's your own holiday house as well however it's something that I would advise against. You want guests to feel like it's their home for the brief time they are renting it off you.
Think about little extras that you can provide to enhance the guests experience. Maybe a free bicycle or two, a kayak or surfboard, fishing rod and tackle, free library of awesome books, board games, free access to fruit trees and herb gardens, eggs from the chook pen, maybe a free coffee voucher for your favourite cafe or discount off a big breakfast or a free paper with breakfast. Anything that you think might offer a little bit of spoiling and make your guest feel super duper.
Extra things like a decent vacuum cleaner, dust pan and broom, outdoor and indoor broom, bucket and mop, toilet brushes, little bins for toilets and bathrooms.
Also don't forget washing basket and lots of pegs. It's so annoying to run out of pegs and especially pegs that break. Invest in decent pegs!
PARKING
Provide information on allocated parking bays before the guests arrive so there are no surprises. Especially if you don't want guests to park on lawns or in neighbours spaces. The more information you provide up front the less surprises for you and your guests and the local community in which your property is located.
CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
Cleaning is a huge job. To find a reliable professional cleaner is absolutely like striking gold. We found one local cleaner for our property in the Perth Hills by advertising in the community paper. She was amazing. Mostly you will find you have to employ a professional contract cleaner if you want complete professionalism and reliability however they will not be the cleaners you can trust with meet and greets and all the extra tasks because they are likely to be a different person each time and will probably charge a little more for the service. Make sure you create a cleaning procedure with a room by room run down. It comes in very handy. For those who don't have a property management system with built in cleaning systems consider having a look at Properly.
I always organise a vacate style clean before I start operating and make sure you get your cleaners to give the place a good top to toe scrub every few months paying attention to walls and windows. A clean holiday rental is enjoyed so much more by guests and you want them to keep coming back.
Same with maintenance. Do you have coconut palms that need de-fruiting, palm fronds need pruning, grass mowing, gardens weeding. All this takes time and is important to keep on top of for presentation sake, and so your garden doesn't die on you. You might even need to consider reticulation or hire a professional maintenance and garden contractor to take care of this for you. They'll bring their own equipment most of the time. Headache sorted. Make it easy for the contractors and draft a maintenance plan for each space in the house. Forecast what is required and keep on top of it. This might include checking hand rails, steps, re-coating floor boards, repainting the driveway etc.
CONSUMABLES
This is what I used to include in my Welcome In packs. These are essential supplies based on the understanding that short term holiday rentals are self catering. The supplies are for those guests who forget to bring their shampoo and conditioner or who are tired after a long day travelling and just want to put their feet up and brew a hot cuppa to enjoy with a snack. It's nice to spoil your guests and make them feel welcome even if it's just a token gesture. It's also a good place to promote local experiences. Maybe slip a flyer in there or a link to your website with a tourism experiences page. The idea with the pack is you don't have to keep a stock of basic supplies in cupboards and do stock takes.
Dish cloth/ sponge. My experience is don't get those cheap two in one items. They really are painful and mostly don't get used. One decent sized sponge and a separate scourer is just fine. The guests can find the shop if they have another preference.
Toilet paper. Always have toilet paper available but remember you are not running a hotel so maybe one or two roles per toilet and an absolute emergency back up in the laundry cupboard.
Bin liners, extra plastic bags for rubbish and cleaning. I offer samples of laundry power in my Welcome In packs but you can supply a box in the laundry cupboard if you are feeling extra generous.
Heck even toilet spray or blue loo to make your toilet water look fresh ha ha! All those things are very good to have on the premises.
.STORAGE
Think about storage spaces for linen, cleaning, supplies, maintenance, wood...anything that you will need to service your house and put a lock on them, mark with a sign for private access only or staff use etc.If you have a pool or outdoor spa allow for some storage space of chemicals and other equipment such as cleaning apparatus. You'll need to keep the water clean and healthy for your guests. My recommendation is to hire a pool contractor to look after this for you.
INSURANCE & RISK ASSESSMENT
Make sure you have your insurances in place. It is very important that you find a policy that provides specific cover for holiday rentals landlord insurance. Make sure you are allowed to operate by permission of your local government first and foremost because if you are not then your policy will not cover you. You may also need to consider Public Liability Insurance.Risk management I feel should be considered high priority. It can tie into the maintenance plan I mentioned above. Think about the safety of guests in your home. You have legal responsibilities with spaces like pools. Please look these up and be 100 percent aware and proactive. For example ensure there are no dangerous fall zones for babies and toddlers and if you think there is make sure you make this known to your guests before they book (ie in the listing online), add it to your terms and conditions, reinforce this in your booking confirmation.
Fire blanket, extinguisher, smoke alarms etc. Ask your local government what you are required to supply to protect your guests in the event of a house or bush fire. You’ll typically have to follow the residential building code for compliance.
SECURITY
If you're not intending to meet and greet guests then you might want to invest in a lock box hidden away yet easily found with directions so guests can check themselves in. I think it's good practice to meet and greet but if you must allow for self check in make sure you always change your security codes and never give out this information until the money is in the bank, send it literally last minute like when the guests are in transit. Never put this information on your website or make it public anywhere.
Another option is to ask your neighbour if they are interested in providing the meet and greet and or caretaker service or maybe there is a local beautician or cafe or other retail supplier who is open long hours that you can leave the keys with and direct guests when you are out of town and unable to meet them. This has worked well for me partnering with a local hair dresser. She was happy to provide the service free of charge if I was happy for her to place the key in a gift bag with some flyers of the services she wanted to promote to our guests. There are also key exchanges about these days too. Key cafes I think they're called.
Speaking of locks think about keyless entries, locks that can isolate rooms when you have smaller groups or you want to lock guests out of your own private spaces. This can be very handy and also doubles as good security for insurance purposes.
Alarm and CCTV are are also worth considering for extra security. CCTV can be handy for surveillance for those who need to keep an eye on overcrowding and party behavior. Don't be like one manager I just heard about who set his CCTV to overlook the outdoor spa. Not a good move to be spying on your guests. There are some privacy rules that you need to be aware of for recording devices in Australia. Look them up in your state and territory.
FAMILY & PET FRIENDLY
You have to be really careful with young families. When you say you are family friendly make sure you are. If you have an open front yard onto a busy road - you are not family friendly. If you have a balcony with a huge fall zone - you are not really family friendly unless the doors to the balcony can be locked. If you have a double story home and don't supply gates for the stairs - you are not family friendly. If you have a large pond in your backyard with no fence or mesh cover - you are not family friendly.
I encourage you to not supply children's equipment. Instead consider partnering with a local supplier or children's and baby equipment hire. Ask the guest to make contact and hire direct and you will find they will deliver and pick up most of the time. This means you don't have to worry about equipment failure for insurance purposes. It can also be painful to clean some items including high chairs and cots. Most guests will BYO but it's nice to give them an option to hire if they choose.
Pet friendly is sort of the same situation as with young children. Make sure the house is actually friendly for pets and think about whether you are happy for dogs to come inside or not. And do you allow other pets or just dogs, how tall are your fences? Provide as much detail as possible up front. Also I have learnt that dog lovers will allow their dogs to go everywhere in the house if you keep it open and you have to ask yourself how will the house smell if a non pet loving guest stays after. Will there be a lingering smell and hairs left in/on lounge chairs, mats etc. Consider charging a higher bond for pets who might dig, rip, tear, soil etc. It happens.
Make sure you tell your guests how you expect them to behave. Go right into detail including no smoking inside, no glass in the pool, no noise outside after 10pm, no high heels on the wooden floor boards. Make sure you are very descriptive and refer to the Holiday Rental Industry Association's Code of Conduct. Try and build this into your systems. It will help you and your neighbourhood. Send these house rules when the guest is booking and tell them that when they pay this means they have read and understood and signed off on them. Have a copy in a file on site as well.
MANAGEMENT
So you've set up your holiday rental property. Now who is going to look after inquiries, take bookings, look after all the administration, meet and greet, inspect, respond to call outs and so forth?
While there are great booking portals that will allow you to self manage your properties be very mindful that it is a huge job. For one standard property you are looking at a part time job for administration and another part time job for everything else so cleaning, maintenance, linen etc. It's not a set hour position either and you don't really get holidays unless you block out your calendar which equals no income.My advice is if in doubt do not try and manage a holiday rental yourself. If you are not a people person or particularly good with communication then definitely don't try it yourself. If you are working full time or are away a lot - I so no way! If you don't like cleaning or paying a cleaner, or don't consider maintenance a high priority, then definitely do not bother. I'd rather be up front about this. It will become your worst nightmare if you expect things to run smoothly and for the management of a holiday rental to not impose upon your personal time.
If in doubt call a professional holiday rental manager. There are many about these days. They will charge anywhere from 20 - 30 % commission for the service. Sometimes more but with more inclusions. Hunt around and try and look for those who are members of industry associations like www.hria.com.au or who have tourism or other business accreditations who can ensure a quality service. Ask me (Natalie Drake-Brockman, Welcome In Founder) to connect you if you like.
BONDS
Charge one. I find $500 reasonable for a standard property bond, more for those with luxury fittings and fixtures that might need repair or replacement. Make sure you only hold back bonds with good communication and receipts and reporting and most importantly evidence. Ie you can't just keep a bond because your neighbour complained about a bit of noise.
TECHNOLOGY & MARKETING
These days you will find there are many suppliers of technology that will assist with managing your holiday rental. This will include CCTV apps, security locks that link with your smart phone, many other innovations that will save you time.The single best investment is a Property Management System (PMS). This is the program that will create a database of all your guests, their contact details, payment details for invoicing and payments, a communication tool, a cleaning and maintenance program, calendar linked with fees and charges. It is basically an automation of all your bookings and administration processes all bundled up together as a sophisticated management tool.Traditionally these PMS's have been expensive and out of reach for single property managers but if you contact me I will tell you about one that is new to the market and amazing, but not quite released. If you want to be an early adopter get in quick.
You'll also need a domain and hosting, website or Content Management System (CMS) which is pretty much all the information that sits online on your website. Your PMS should provide a booking engine which also allows for online bookings and links with that program.
And don't forget social media. Start with a Facebook page for your holiday rental. They are a really great marketing tool and you can build your audience with good content, boosting it (Facebook advertising) and running competitions, promoting in our guest communications and so forth. Social media is very effective if you learn how to use it. If you don't have time find a professional. I offer packages so make contact if you want me to help establish a page for you and a lean strategy to get you started. Have a look through my blog articles. I write often with tips for social media marketing.
BRAND & PERSONALITY
I talked about this a little earlier on, and again you will find separate articles in my blog on this very topic. This really is going to make your holiday rental stand out from your competitors, generate you more bookings than the daggy operation down the end of the street.
Think about your unique value proposition. What does your property, locality offer that others don't. What is your properties best features, best spaces. Maybe it's the hammock in the back yard under a shady tree. Maybe it's the pool overlooking the mountains or the cozy reading nook by the wood fire. Or maybe you are 100 metre walk from the best beach in your City or near a hiking track through the hills or the best restaurant in town is conveniently located across the road. Create ambiance with your spaces and images that you use to market your short term residential accommodation.
Think about what builds personality and build a name, a brand for your place. Help your guests build a bond with the property and it's personality then get yourself a nice little logo and design for your website. It does not have to cost you a mint to brand your holiday rental. Again ask me. I can help you out with this.Happy holiday, short term residential accommodation supplying and remember there is a national industry association that can help you if you want to learn more or connect with other stakeholders. I am actually a director on the Board of the Holiday Rental Industry Association and I encourage you to become a member. You will learn so much and be supporting a national peak body who is there to support and represent you and other industry stakeholders. Membership starts from $99 for up to 25 managed holiday rental properties.If you'd like to learn more I am currently drafting a guide/ publication for managers and other short-term or holiday rental accommodation stakeholders. Subscribers will receive a discount when it becomes available later in 2018.
I feel like I'm getting to that stage in my career where I know a bit about the short term and holiday rental accommodation industry in Australia and so if you'd like to read more articles to help you grow and sustain your operation/ business you might like to subscribe (free) to receive my blog articles in your lovely inbox.
I'm also on Facebook! Instagram & Linked In!
Have a superb day!
Cheers
Natalie :)