Owner Report: August / September

 

Accom Property – our new business direction.
After much consideration we have made some changes to the company’s direction. Having originally started out with just 6 properties on our books, we now proudly manage over 150 properties across three offices on the Central Coast and Northern Beaches.
As Accom Holidays has grown so too has the demand for fully furnished permanent rentals and the purchase or sale of lifestyle/investment properties. Director Brent Pilkington has specialised as lifestyle & investment sales/rental agent since 2009 for McGrath Central Coast however due to increasing demand for in-house services, Brent has chosen to leave McGrath and launch Accom Property Sales. We now offer holiday rental, fully furnished rentals and property sales in-house! We also welcome Donna Ford and Ray Moore to our sales team.

Accom Holidays will continue to operate with no major changes and your main point of contact is still Bridget or reception.

Email Address Updates:
Please remove any old Mcgrath email addresses you might have on file. Please update Brent & Tammerly’s email addresses to: brentpilkington@accomholidays.com / tammerly.r@accomholidays.com

Accom Property Sales & Furnished Rentals: If you would like an appraisal or wish to discuss the current property market, please contact Brent on 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@accomsales.com
*Please note Brent is on annual leave, returning 23rd September 2014.

Holiday Rental Market.
Winter 2014 saw an increase on Winter 2013, with increased occupancy in all apartments and houses, except for 4 bedroom apartments which was the same on last year. We saw more properties take up our longer-term executive rental leases, benefiting these properties as they receive a regular income during the quieter months. It also proves to be beneficial to those properties which remain as holiday rental houses during this period.

Spring has sprung and enquiries are starting to flow again. Last minute September school holiday and October Long Weekend enquiries are strong and Christmas holiday bookings are strong.

Hot Property Deals Required!!
If you are interested in featuring here please contact Tammerly and she will be in touch with special offer options specially created with your property in mind. You can see how hot offers look in our e-newsletter. Click here for the latest edition. Tammerly: 4385 9564 / tammerly.r@accomholidays.com

Accom Holidays Magazine – 3rd Edition
We are excited to announce the creation of our 3rd edition will soon begin. Tammerly will be in touch to confirm the Advert size you wish to proceed with.

Property Market Update.
Finder.com.au Resident Money Expert Michelle Hutchinson recently wrote the following update on the market:

“September to November is traditionally when home buyers and the property market are in a spin, and it’s the peak time of year to get onto the property ladder or refinance. The number of home loans for new properties is up 40% and construction loans have increased 15% compared with five years ago, while home loans financed for established properties have dropped 3% during the same period. At its latest meeting, the RBA announced no change to the official cash rate, with the official rate staying at 2.5% p.a. Finder.com has worked with 25 leading experts and economists who predict there will be no change to rates until 2015. Experts also urge people to factor in a buffer of at least 2% when rates start to rise, to ensure they can afford to pay back their loans.”

See you next month!

Accom Holidays Terrigal Team

Owner Report: June / July

A New Direction for ACCOM:

As our business grows and the demand for longer term fully furnished rentals increases, we are excited to announce a slight restructure to the business. Accom Holidays will continue to operate as a holiday rental agency and longer term fully furnished rental options will be advertised on realestate.com.au under our new banner, Accom Furnished Rentals.

PROPERTY EXPOSURE: E-Newsletter Hot Offers Needed - October, November & December.

Special deals can include:

-weekend discount rate

-mid-week discount rate

-50% off weekly deals

-stay for a week at the weekend rate

If you would like to participate please contact: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com.

PROPERTY EXPOSURE: NOW is the Time to Buy Your STAYZ Priority Listing

As peak seasons approach, now is the time to increase your booking and enquiry rate by 100% with a Stayz Priority Listing which places your property at the top of page one.

Did you know we cover 50% of the cost??? Get on board today!
If you would like to participate please contact: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com.

HOME INSPIRATION: Tips for Renovating Your Bathroom

Have you considered renovating or upgrading your bathroom? Here are some tips to help make the most of your bathroom renovation: http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/bathroom-renovations-what-to-consider/

FINANCE: Tax Tips For Property Investors Like Yourself

Whether you are new to property investing or very experienced, we have discovered 9 tax tips to help keep you on track this financial year: http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/9-tax-tips-property-investors/

SALES MARKET REPORT: by Brent Pilkington, Lifestyle & Investment Sales

We are starting to see signs of improvement in the prestige property market with an increase in the $1.50M+ category. This is flowing through from the dramatic improvements in Sydney's prestige property market. According to data, there are now a number of suburbs with median prices above $2.0M.

Some suburbs have recorded excellent growth with Mosman median house prices rising 22.90% over the last 12 months and Palm Beach has recorded a 29% increase. John McGrath has told media, "One of the biggest changes in the market this year is movement in Sydney's prestige sector. We saw a few big sales here and there in 2013 but there is actual momentum in prestige property this year." This Spring is shaping up to be a good time to sell.

To discuss your property please contact Brent: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@accomholidays.com

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays Terrigal

Owner Report: April / May

THE HOLIDAY RENTAL MARKET:
In terms of occupancy and turnover April was on par with last April for most properties. However we are seeing a big increase in demand for short term leases as people are having no problem selling their homes but are in need of a rental for a period until they find something to buy. 

Looking forward, the ABS is forecasting an increase in international tourism by 5.8%, many driven by growth from China and recovery of USA. The ABS are also forecasting domestic visitor nights to increase by 2% and the growth in Australian resident departures to slow.

Photo: by Tammerly.

Socceroos:In the lead up to The World Cup 2014, Australia's Socceroos squad arrived in Terrigal on May 15 for seven days of training at Central Coast Stadium and meeting with fans. Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop said, "the Socceroos fans days have been organised on the weekends to give fans on the Central Coast and Sydney the best chance to get behind their heroes as we all look forward to the World Cup with a sense of pride and unity."

Coach Ange Postecoglou also declared the Socceroo Fan Days were an equally important way for the players, coaches and staff to feel the support of Australian football fans before they leave, "and inspiring the next generation of players and fans are an important part of being a Socceroo." As avid soccer fans, we would like to wish them all the very best!

Winter Season is here – take advantage of short term lease options

Accom Holidays can help fill your property during quieter months, offering flexible short term lease options to couples or families in between houses or moving from abroad/interstate. We also cater to short term leases for corporate guests. If this would be of interest please contact Brent: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@accomholidays.com

MARKETING / PROPERTY EXPOSURE:

It’s better to have bookings than be vacant, right?
Ways to enhance holiday bookings this winter:
Specials: the obvious way to attract additional enquiries is to offer specials/deals. These enticements work well in periods where supply is much greater than demand and could make a difference to the occupancy/vacancy of your property. Special deals can include: weekend discount rate, mid-week discount rate, 50% off hot deal in our monthly e-newsletter.

Book your STAYZ Priority Listing & we will cover half the cost

We cannot stress enough the importance and value-for-money that a STAYZ priority listing bares. Valid for one month, a STAYZ Priority Listing runs from the first day of the month through to the end of the month and guarantees your property in the top 6 properties advertised on page one of your suburb search on stayz.com.au. Please contact Tammerly ASAP: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564 for available Priority dates in your suburb.

Foxtel/Wi-Fi/Pet Friendly: Obviously these options will assist you throughout the year and with high demand for all, especially Wi-Fi internet, we would like to strongly recommend implementing these if possible.

Please contact Tammerly to discuss options: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564.

HOME INSPIRATION:

5 Minimalist Ways to Makeover Your Property

Would you like to give your holiday house a quick and affordable facelift? Here are five ways to help you: http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/5-minimalist-makeovers-for-your-property/

Trending Theme: Man Cave

The ‘man cave’ has often been known as the place where a man retreats for some down time: the garage. Nowadays this term has been flipped on its head with themes including: the sports bar, gym or cinema room. Here are more ideas to transform your holiday home: http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/welcome-to-man-cave/

The Sales Market: 

Strength in the real estate market is pushing into the higher price categories, with up to 20% growth seen in some properties in the $1.0m to $1.3m range. To discuss the value or sale of your property please contact Brent: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays

Owner Report: February / March

The Holiday Rental Market:
Consistent sunny weather has produced some good results for February and the Easter school holidays is filling up slowly. There continues to be a strong trend towards people taking shorter breaks more often, and the propensity for guests to book a full weeks accommodation seems to be diminishing. On the upside this trend means people are choosing destinations close to home, usually within 2-3 hours travel time. This is good news for the Central Coast, which is the perfect short break from Sydney.

Accom Holidays is Growing! Introducing Accom Holidays Northern Beaches...

We are thrilled to announce the growth of our company with a new office opening on the Northern Beaches, Sydney. Welcome to Margaret Howarth who joins us with extensive real estate and holiday rental experience. Accom Holidays Northern Beaches is already receiving guest enquiries and is on the look-out for properties. If you (or somebody you know) has a holiday property in this region and would like to discuss holiday rental options please contact Margaret direct: 0408 811 025 / margarethowarth@accomholidays.com

Emphasise the Appeal of Your Property Through Winter:
As we approach our off season (winter season), it is worth examining strategies to keep the bookings coming in.
1) Specials: the obvious way to attract additional enquiries is to offer specials/deals. These enticements work well in periods where supply is much greater than demand and could make a difference to the occupancy/vacancy of your property.
2) Emphasise Appealing Features: this could include changing the lead photo to a cosy fireplace, sauna room, outdoor fire pit, movie/cinema room, hot tub. It is also a great time to change headings to state these inclusions and sell other demands such as FOXTEL and Wi-Fi.
3) Target a Different Market: considering a longer term tenant through the quiet period can fill your property during the quieter months. We constantly come across clients in between houses, Sydneysiders looking to try the Coast and corporate bookings.
Please contact Tammerly to discuss options: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564.

LETTERBOX KEYS REQUIRED:
We are in the process of adding properties to Google Maps so that they can be more easily identified when searching via maps and even using GPS systems, etc. See how it works by clicking here to view La Joya on Google Maps.

Could you please post a copy of your letter box key (NOT the original) to:
Tammerly Robinson
Accom Holidays
PO Box 1119
Terrigal NSW 2260

Block out Owner Dates for 2014:
Do you have 5 minutes to spare? Now is a the perfect time to consider specific dates you may wish to block out for owner stays and property upgrades during 2014. Planning on doing work to your property? Obtaining quotes sooner than later will help you to pre-determine block-out dates. Tip: Block out upgrades for quieter months so we can continue booking your property in busy/peak times.

Still a High Demand for Wi-Fi Internet:
All properties who do offer the service will now be listed under the Wi-Fi tick box on our website's quick search. Wi-Fi will need to be added at the owner’s discretion. If you do decide to add Internet to your property features please contact Tammerly tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564 to pass on Wi-Fi details.

Marketing News:

ACCOM Holidays to Pay 50% of Priority Listings - Book Yours Today!

We cannot stress enough the importance and value-for-money that a STAYZ priority listing bares. Valid for one month, a STAYZ Priority Listing runs from the first day of the month through to the end of the month and guarantees your property in the top 6 properties advertised on page one of your suburb search on stayz.com.au. Please contact Tammerly ASAP: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564 for available Priority dates in your suburb.

Updating STAYZ & HomeAway Calendars and Bookings:

Effective from April 8 2014, STAYZ's partnership with TripAdvisor will cease which means that properties will no longer feature on TripAdvisor. We are currently looking into this avenue.

The Sales Market: 

The Coast is following Sydney with continued strength and price growth in property prices.

If you would like a market appraisal or to discuss the current market please contact Brent: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays

Owner Report: December/January

Welcome and Happy New Year!

The Holiday Rental Market:
December yielded good results across all categories. As always the middle part of January continues to be the hardest period to fill in the school holidays, and despite a concerted effort, all year. Minimum stay periods were dropped and last minute deals were carried out to secure bookings on properties that would have otherwise been left vacant.

A Changing Rental Market:
There has been a recent trend of Sydneysiders having sold their luxury homes and moving to the Central Coast - with a twist. These people usually rent for a period of time on the Central Coast, giving them the ability to try the area before they decide on where to purchase. This emerging market has resulted in an increase in demand for high-end long term leases and we are working with these opportunities as they come to us. A blog called Central Coast Seachange has been created by a Sydneysider-come-Coastie in response to this demographic shift and is attracting the attention of other Sydneysiders looking to make the move. Those owners wishing to take advantage of this emerging market please call Brent to discuss: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au

NEWS: NSW Child Window Safety Devices Act 2013
New window safety requirements for owners corporations were introduced by amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act and Regulations and came into force on 11 December 2013. The requirements apply to all strata schemes that have residential lots.

The new legal requirements: There is now an obligation on owners corporations to ensure that all openable windows above the ground level that are accessible to children from inside the building must have safety devices fitted. If an openable window is less than 1.7m above the floor and the floor is more than 2m above the outside ground, a safety device must be installed. However, an openable window higher than 1.7m above the floor does not require a safety device to be fitted.

The safety devices must be able to limit the maximum window opening to 12.5cm, must be robust and must be childproof. Suitable window safety devices include window locks or safety screens (but not ordinary insect screens). Owners corporations have until 13 March 2018 to install window safety devices, failing which they can be fined and concerned residents will be able to apply to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal for orders that the owners corporation take action.

In the meantime, unit owners have the right to install window safety devices within their own unit. The devices must be installed competently and must be in keeping with the building's appearance. Unit owners will be liable for any damage that occurs to common property due to the installation. The right by owners to install complying window safety devices themselves will override any strata laws and any of the scheme's by-laws that would otherwise prevent them from doing so.

Also, from 1 March 2014, changes will be made to the prescribed Condition Report for permanent rental premises to show whether window safety devices exist or not. However, these changes will not impose any new responsibilities on real estate agents or property managers and landlords will not be obliged to install window safety devices.

Window safety devices are readily available from hardware stores and depending on the type, are inexpensive and easy to install. 
(Source: www.accomnews.com.au)

IMPORTANT REMINDER - Blocking out Owner Dates for 2014

Do you have 5 minutes to spare? Now is a the perfect time to consider specific dates you may wish to block out for owner stays and property upgrades during 2014. Planning on doing work to your property? Obtaining quotes sooner than later will help you to pre-determine block-out dates. Tip: Block out upgrades for quieter months so we can continue booking your property in busy/peak times.

Still a High Demand for Wi-Fi Internet
Since we launched this call-out a number of new properties have opted to include Wi-Fi for guests and this is proving to be a big plus when it comes to bookings and happy guests. All properties who do offer the service will now be listed under the Wi-Fi tick box on our website's quick search.

Wi-Fi will need to be added at the owner’s discretion (just as many of you have done with FOXTEL) however we can recommend one with a large download limit such as:
Telstra $93/mth for 200GB download on 24mth contract  OR Telstra $99/mth for 200GB download on uncontracted 
(Please note that there may be cheaper options out there but this one offers a fast, reliable service). 

If you do decide to add Internet to your property features please contact Tammerly tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564 to pass on Wi-Fi connection details.

Marketing News:

STAYZ Priority Placements WILL Guarantee enquiry and bookings + special offer:

We cannot stress enough the importance and value-for-money that a STAYZ priority listing bares. Valid for one month, a STAYZ Priority Listing runs from the first day of the month through to the end of the month and guarantees your property in the top 6 properties advertised on page one of your suburb search on stayz.com.au.
SPECIAL OFFER: Accom Holidays strongly believes in the importance and value of STAYZ Priority Listing therefore we are happy to subsidise 50% of the cost of a Priority Listing for every single property, every single time you choose to run it. 

Interested?? Please contact Tammerly ASAP: tammerly.r@accomholidays.com / 4385 9564 for available Priority slots.

Updating STAYZ & HomeAway Calendars and Bookings

We aim to update STAYZ and HomeAway calendars on a fortnightly basis, however with over 85 calendars to check and update one-by-one, these calendars are only a guide for enquirers. Last minute bookings and cancellations cannot be amended on the calendars instantly. For owners who wish to track upcoming bookings, we encourage to you call or email us anytime for an update. Your monthly statements also display a list of upcoming bookings.

The Sales Market: 

If you would like a market appraisal or to discuss the current market please contact Brent: 0410 872 541 / brentpilkington@mcgrath.com.au

See you next month!

- The team at Accom Holidays