By JOLENE OGLE
IT IS time to unlock the potential of dormant holiday homes in Noosa, with a local property manager reporting earnings of up to $53,000 for the month of December.
Richardson & Wrench Noosa (R&W Noosa) property manager Wendy Cousins said she had already paid the end-of-month income for December to home owners, who commonly received between $38,000 to over $40,000 for the high end apartments on Hastings Street and homes in Sunshine Beach and Noosa Sound.
“Holiday home owners can expect to see even more incredible cheques in January,” she said.
Ms Cousins said the 2014 summer season had been one of the busiest yet, with holiday homes booked out over the G20 weekend and only very limited availability for the holiday season.
R&W Noosa principal Peter Butt said many homes left vacant for long periods during the year had the potential to earn their owners an impressive income.
“Most people will use their holiday home two to three times a year,“ he explained. “It may take a week to put the property back in good order. By the time they get to sit down and relax, it’s almost time to leave.”
Mr Butt said there was also a real concern for people who owned properties with high land content value.
“Some pay up to and over $10,000 per annum in land tax for their prime positions and that is before rates, water charges and normal maintenance. So getting an income from the property makes sense.”
Property management companies such as R&W Noosa can take the hassle out of maintaining a holiday home by doing all the hard work while the owners are away, while leasing out the home to holiday makers throughout the year.
Ms Cousins said there was a variety of properties available for rent throughout the Noosa region.
“We have the largest portfolio of luxury homes in Noosa, but we can cater for anyone,” she said.
“The holiday homes we offer range from a studio apartment in Hastings Street to a seven-bedroom home and the rates can range from $25,000 per week to $750 per week.”
Ms Cousins said the most popular holiday homes were at Noosa Sound, or any on the waterfront.
“Even if I was to get another dozen homes in Noosa Sound, it wouldn’t be enough,” she said.
For anyone nervous about opening their home to visitors, Ms Cousins said R&W Noosa inspect all properties before and after a booking and a well-stablished clientele ensures the home’s safety.
“We have good-quality tenants and a dedicated management team who will notice even the slightest thing,” she said.
“We find many of our owners come to us after having tried on-line booking sites like Stayz, because there was no checking on the tenant, no streamline management and no care of the property that a professional agency offers.”
Mr Butt predicted 2015 would be a good year for domestic travel and Noosa was set to benefit.
“The Australian dollar is going down against the US dollar, which is making overseas travel less attractive and therefore, making domestic tourism more attractive,” Mr Butt said.
Contact Wendy Cousins at propertymanager@rwnoosa.com.au for more information on holiday home availability or how to unlock the potential of your holiday home.
