Owner Report: November / December

The Holiday Rental Market:

Bookings for November were better than average with 53% occupancy. Bookings and enquiries for December / January periods remain strong with Stayz being a dominant enquiry source. We highly recommend all properties are advertised on Stayz.

In order to capitalise on last-minute bookings we have now reduced our nightly minimum stay to 3 nights. Flexibility with minimum stay requirements and the ability to negotiate last-minute rates is paramount to successfully filling gaps in the January school holiday period.

News for Owners:

Landlord's Insurance: we now require all owners to provide us with a current copy of their Landlord Insurance. We ask that you please provide us with a copy by 31st December 2012. Thank you.

Welcome Packs: In response to a number of owner requests, Accom Holidays have been working on a welcome gift packs for customers. We all know the  secret to a successful holiday rental is repeat business and referrals.  A core group of regular clientele can make a huge difference to the occupancy rate of a property and its overall performance. It is our belief that providing a Welcome Pack gift will go a long way to helping create a happy customer, perhaps a repeat customer, and exceed their expectations. 

Please find our two new Welcome Pack options below along with their associated costs. These packs will be distributed to properties prior to the guest’s arrival when Accom Holidays staff conduct their pre-arrival property checks. We strongly believe the additional referrals and repeat business will far outweigh the cost per check-in. 

Indulge Pack ($55)
Hillier’s Chocolate Pearl gift Box Milk & Dark 220g
2011 Clare Valley Chardonnay (branded with Accom Holidays label) 
2008 Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon (branded with Accom Holidays label)
Palm Beach Collection Small Scented Soy Candle Coconut & Lime
White Twin Pack Wine Box
Presented in a gift bag

Relax Pack ($25)
Hillier’s Chocolate Crème Brulee Crème Souffle Purse Pack 168g
2011 Clare Valley Chardonnay (branded with Accom Holidays label)
Presented in a gift bag                           

Please support Accom Holidays continuing effort to create happy loyal customers by responding to this email with the desired welcome pack for your property. If you would like to participate in this fantastic opportunity, please email Tammerly or call her direct (02) 4385 9564.

Marketing / Promotional News:

Priority Placement: In continuing recognition of the dominance of Stayz.com.au as an enquiry generating website, Accom Holidays are happy to subsidise 50% of the cost for any owners interested in Priority Placement. What is Priority Placement? This is an add-on which guarantees your property sits at the top of search results in your suburb. This can be purchased on a monthly basis and cost varies per suburb. If this is of interest to you, please contact Tammerly.

Property Required for Hot Deals January e-Newsletter: We currently require one property to participate in our January edition. Previous participants have seen good results and a hike in enquiry. Hot Deals must be a minimum of 50% off the shoulder rack rate and these deals are not run during peak or school holiday periods. The special offer is only available to the first 5 guests to book. Properties are taken on a first-in, first-served basis. If you are interested please contact Tammerly to arrange.

Accom Holidays Magazine: Approximately 2,000 copies of Accom Holidays Magazine have been distributed over the last 8 weeks and we are beginning to see results with a number of bookings being made from enquiries coming direct from the magazine.

Facebook Pages: We have started to encourage guests to 'check-in' to properties on Facebook - this Facebook feature allows guests to share where they are staying with friends and is a great promotional tool for each property and our brand. We have started creating pages for popular properties. These pages include a direct link to their webpage, property photos and contact information to enquire.

The Sales Market:

Sales continue to tick away slowly with another interest rate drop to help the situation. With mixed opinions at to their direction in 2013, investors are still showing caution.

brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au | 0410 872 541

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays

Owner Report: October / November

The Holiday Rental Market:

Bookings during October continued to be steady with an average occupancy of 50%, with 2 bedroom apartments only slightly out-performing 3 bedroom properties. 

Property Presentation: Stayz.com.au continues as the major source of enquiry with customers making selection based on how the property appears on the web, further emphasising the importance of photography and property presentation. Small changes to presentation can make a huge difference to how a property appears to that potential guest. With a spend of only a couple of hundred dollars, the difference is well worthwhile. If you would like to discuss what can be done to improve your property presentation, please call our office.

Examples:

Yarrara #6 before and after styling/photography:

Before

After

Elia before and after styling/photography:

Before

After

A Note to Owners:

NEW PRODUCT: Pamper Packs In response to some owner's requests and in our continuing effort to exceed customer's expectations, we will be offering owners the opportunity to supply a welcome pack to guests. We believe this will play a large part in facilitating repeat business and offer a positive experience. The exact details will be forwarded to all owners in a separate email.

Owner Bookings: It has come to our attention that many owners have owner bookings across the peak period. Please be aware that reserving dates during this time will effect your summer rental return. If you change your plans at all please notify the office as soon as possible so we are able to fill these spaces for you. Thank you.

Property Marketing News:

Accom Holidays Magazine has arrived! The magazine has been well received in the market place with a number of Sydney distributors requesting additional copies due to popular demand. For a complete list of our distribution network, please click here.

All participating owners should receive a copy in the mail this week. We would love your feedback. 

Property Required for Hot Deals Newsletter: January 2013

We currently require properties to participate in our January edition. Previous participants have seen good results and a hike in enquiry. Hot Deals must be a minimum of 50% off the shoulder rack rate and these deals are not run during peak or school holiday periods. The special offer is only available to the first 5 guests to book. Properties are taken on a first-in, first-served basis. If you are interested please contact Tammerly to arrange.

The Sales Market:

It seems quite clear that things are slowly looking up as far as the property market is concerned. Particularly in the lower price brackets such as $400,000 - $500,000, with two sales last month selling within days of being listed for sale. If you would like a sales appraisal or advice, please feel free to contact Brent anytime.

brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au | 0410 872 541

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays

Owner Report: September / October

The Holiday Rental Market:
A reasonable start to what is shaping up to be a good season. Enquiry level continues to be strong. September was reasonably solid with an average occupancy of 44%. Properties which actively participate in marketing initiatives have benefited with good results.

A Note to Owners:
Fundraiser / Charity Events: Many owners are donating their property to fundraiser events. We think this is a fantastic cause and would love to help support you. If you have an upcoming event you wish to submit your property for, please contact our Marketing Coordinator, Tammerly, who can provide you with a gift certificate that they can redeem upon check-in. we can also provide you with high-res images on a disc for slideshow presentations, etc. 

Spring Cleans: As we enter the busy period, we are conscious of making sure properties are well maintained. Over the next month we will be organising spring cleans if necessary, as well as checking on pool fences and smoke alarms. It is also time for servicing air conditioners in order to avoid expensive repairs on public holidays. Owners wishing to organise additional maintenance on their property such as an external washing or a gurney of the driveway/concrete surfaces, then please call the office on 4385 9564 to arrange.

Property Marketing News:

Accom Holidays Magazine is expected to arrive in the office on Monday. We will post a copy out to all participating owners and will start to distribute these to our distribution stockists. This magazine will also be available on our website in digital format within the next week.

Property Required for Hot Deals Newsletter: 

We currently require properties to participate in our next edition. Previous participants have seen good results and a hike in enquiry.

Hot Deals must be a minimum of 50% off the shoulder rack rate and these deals are not run during peak or school holiday periods. Properties are taken on a first-in, first-served basis. If you are interested please contact Tammerly to arrange.

Advertising Package Reminder: Many of our long-standing owners were not signed up to Marketing Packages and therefore many properties are not receiving increased exposure from:
Stayz.com.au ($164pa)
Stayz Priority Placement (POI)
HomeAway.com.au ($199pa + $110pa for property feature)
Shopfront Window Signage (available in silver and gold packages)

If you are not yet signed up to an Advertising Package, please contact Tammerly, she would love to discuss the right package for your property.

Stayz Priority Placement: This is proving to be a very successful source of both exposure, enquiry and is securing a number of additional bookings for the properties who are choosing to advertise with Priority Placement. Only 5 properties are allowed to feature in a suburb each month and in that month, they sit on the front page of the search results. Priority Placement is very competitive and pricing depends on where your property is located. Accom Holidays are happy to subsidise 50% of the cost as a way of helping you gain further exposure. Please speak to Tammerly if you wish to discuss further.

The Sales Market:
A distinct lack of properties on the market seems to be causing some upward pressure on prices. The general market is however a mixture of optimism and uncertainty, resulting from five rate reductions since 2nd November last year. Most analysts predict a further two or three .25% drops over the next six months. there is however still a general consensus that the global financial woes are far from over. If you would like a sales appraisal or advice, please feel free to contact Brent anytime.

brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au | 0410 872 541

See you next month!
- The team at Accom Holidays

Owner Report: August / September

Introducing... Our brand new newsletter format! We know that our previous version was a little big and bulky, so we have created a fantastic blog-style portal where owners can read current and previous newsletter editions. Owners also have the opportunity to comment on the blog and interact.

The Holiday Rental Market:
With an average occupancy of 34%, August was not a great month but it was reasonably consistent with previous years. Enquiry for spring and summer is strong, fuelled by the expectation of a hot summer. It does appear that some of the additional marketing activities undertaken are showing some results.

A Note to Owners:
Fundraisers: A special thanks to owners whom have donated their properties to charity in recent months, The Children's Hospital fundraiser last Friday night raised an impressive $77,000.

Blocking out periods for personal use: Just a quick reminder to owners please make sure you have blocked out periods, where you wish to use your property for the next 12 months. It does not reflect good on the business when we have to back out of reservations, creating very unhappy guests and bad word of mouth.

Owner Statements: as mentioned in a previous newsletter, your statement now shows future bookings. Just a reminder that this is a guide only as things change on a daily basis for an accurate report at future booking please contact the office.

The Sales Market:
Enquiries have definitely increased in the last couple of weeks and we are starting to see interest back in the $1M+ price category. If you are thinking of selling or purchasing a property then please talk to Brent.

brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au | 0410 872 541

Accom Holidays Marketing News:
Accom Holidays Magazine is in the process of printing and distribution and we will let you know as soon as it arrives in the office. We are excited to announce that the magazine will also be available in digital form and clients will have the ability to download it straight from our website. The link will be available on our website, www.accomholidays.com in coming weeks.

Property Required for Hot Deals in October Client Newsletter: Thank you to all of the owners who have participated in this offer to date. We currently require the following to be involved in our next edition:
1 x Terrigal beach office property
1 x Ettalong Beach office property 
Hot Deals must be a minimum of 50% off the shoulder rack rate and these deals are not run during peak or school holiday periods. Properties are taken on a first-in, first-served basis. If you are interested please contact Tammerly to arrange: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com | 02 4385 9564.

Advertising Packages: In 2011 we introduced 3 advertising packages which are now a compulsory addition when new owners choose to list their property with Accom Holidays. If you are not yet signed up to an Advertising Package, please contact Tammerly as she would love to discuss the right package for your property: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com | 02 4385 9564.

See you next month!
- The team at Accom Holidays