We have compiled a list of questions frequently asked by other homeowners. Feel free to have a read over the below, or if you have any other further questions, contact us below.
Traditionally, the Hanmer Holiday Homes group has achieved a yearly occupancy of approximately 50% (that is approximately 182 days per year). Some homes will be higher, and some may be lower than this average, but our objective as a company is to have every home achieving the group average.
There are three key influencing factors that tend to dictate where potential guests will choose to go:
- Location - the closer the house is located to the center of the village, the more popular it tends to be.
- Services - what the home has to offer in the way of facilities and services. These are some of the item’s that guests tend to look for (over and above the expected norm) and what we encourage you to supply in your home:
- Sufficient heating including air conditioning, log fire and extra bedroom heaters
- Number of bathrooms vs number of people the home can sleep. You should try to have at least one bathroom for every five people the home can sleep.
- Lockable garage or carport
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Bath
- Fenced section
- Wi-Fi
- Being equipped for holiday makers needs e.g. a portacot, board games, pet friendly etc
- Price - this is usually set based upon the location and services of the home as well as how many people it sleeps, the age of the home and quality of chattels.
There are several varying factors that need to be taken into consideration when answering this question, including the size of the mortgage and how often the owners are going to use it themselves. It is fair to say that a holiday home will have a similar return to that which would be expected from a long-term rental. The two biggest benefits of having a holiday home are that the owner can continue to use it themselves whenever they choose, and the home is being regularly inspected after each guest, so damage is minimised.
Our servicing team inspect your home after every guests. The cost is dependent on the size of the home. This cost will be in your Homeowners Agreement. There will also be costs associated with any cleaning products, light bulbs etc. that may be needed in the home. Any maintenance work we undertake on your behalf will also be charged for.
Yes, we have an insurance company who has agreed to cover anyone who joins our management group. You need to be very careful to tell your insurance company that your home is being let out for a nightly tariff, as most will either not cover it or will charge commercial rates. Our insurance company fully understands holiday home insurance requirements and provides extensive cover with affordable, domestic based, premiums.
We will do a rental appraisal on any home and will recommend a nightly tariff rate for you. This will be based on things such as location, services, number it will sleep, and how other homes of a similar nature and in a similar area are performing. This will only be a recommendation, as ultimately it is your decision.
The short answer to this question is no. If you get the location, services, and price formula right, then every home should perform equally as good as the other. We have small, simple two-bedroom homes that have very good occupancy, and we also have large luxurious homes that do too. The determining factor is how much can you afford?
We charge a 20% + GST commission for all bookings made via our website. For all bookings made via other popular booking websites, they charge a commission ranging from 12.5% to 18%. We will pay on your behalf any amount in excess of the first 10%. A reduced commission of 5% is charged for private bookings where you allow friends and family to stay at your property and there is no commission charged for when you actually stay in the property.
OTA’s (Online Travel Agencies) are to some guests the preferred method of booking trips and accommodation. They offer broad choice, convenience, speed, value and security to travelers. Currently we list all opted in homes on Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia group. Every guest who stays in a holiday home, but books through an OTA, will receive a full paid clean, linen and bedmaking as part of their rate. Prior to joining the Hanmer Holiday Homes family, you will be asked if you would like to opt out of the OTA’s and just keep your home on the Hanmer Holiday Homes website exclusively.
We inspect the home after every guest (this includes private bookings you may have made for family and friends). The only time we will not inspect the home is when you occupy your property. This is to protect the company in the case of any liability issues and to give us peace of mind and accountability for the next incoming guest. We endeavour to do this inspection as soon as practically possible after the guests’s departure. With the number of homes we have, it may sometimes take some days for this to happen.
If you do not wish to look after the lawns and gardens yourself, our maintenance team will happily take care of these for you, or you may choose to use other contractors within the village. A word of warning - lawns grow incredibly quickly during the spring/ summer season in Hanmer, so be prepared to have them cut weekly during peak growing time.
We have a small maintenance team who will happily take care of any minor issues when they come to our attention. Should the job require a more skilled tradesman or service provider, or if it is likely to be an expensive job (over $100.00), then we will make contact and advise you of the situation and seek your permission to proceed. The maintenance is charged out at a very competitive rate (see Homeowners Agreement).
Our maintenance team will carefully monitor the weather. If the threat of hard frosts is evident, they will turn off and drain the water from your property when unoccupied to minimise any risk of damage. Our maintenance team will also do their best to keep access to your home clear of snow and ice.
Yes, we do. When guests book with us they are required to state why they are staying with us and must be over 20 years of age. If a guest says they are coming for a 21st birthday party, hen or stag do they will not be permitted. If we have further questions when screening guests, we will phone them to clarify exact reasons for their stay.
As part of our terms and conditions, guest insurance is automatically added on to any bookings made with us. This covers guests for any accidental damage to the home or property up to $2,000.00 with no excess. This costs the guest $5.00 per day, up to a maximum of $20.00. This is intended to cover costs such as broken glassware, crockery, or windows, carpet stains, holes in walls, lost keys etc. Any damage caused intentionally is not covered by Guest Insurance and Hanmer Holiday Homes will seek reimbursement of any and all costs relating to repair or replacement.
Yes, they do, and you can view them on our website here: www.hanmerholidayhomes.co.nz/terms.