2021, week 29
Claudine Grandjean, Australia 🇦🇺

This week let’s meet Claudine. 😊 Claudine is an experienced host who rents 2 cottages and a lodge, 200m from the picturesque village of Yungaburra, a rural town in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia.

She was willing to share her experience with us, so we got hold of her and asked the following questions.

Let’s hear her out! 🔊

So, Claudine, tell us, how long have you been hosting for? How and why did you start? How many properties do you manage?

My son and I started 10 years ago by buying the property as an investment, it is a bush block walking distance to the village of  Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands, the previous owners lived in the house but as we already had our own houses we turned the house for holiday accommodation, the 2 cottages were already set up for holiday accommodation.

Are you an owner or a manager? Is this a part-time or full-time occupation for you?

I am a retired owner and it is a part-time occupation.

What is the best thing about hosting, and what are the biggest problems you face?

It keeps me occupied! The biggest problem is to be available on the internet every day even when it is not busy as guests book months ahead so confirmations emails have to be sent and also replying to guests questions about the venues and surroundings.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you started hosting?

What is the most important advice/tip you would give someone interested in becoming a short-term rental host?

Before setting prices make sure you make a list of the costs involved such as commissions to websites, cleaning, laundry, electricity, insurance, etc.

Besides Hosthub, are there any tools, devices, or software (eg. Remote keylocks, cameras, local guide apps, power meters, etc) you use? What is your experience with them?

I have a book online form and a calendar showing availability on my website.

Which channels do you list on? How much has your revenue increased since listing on multiple channels?

Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo, Τripadvisor.

Besides listing on multiple channels, what other things can a host do to increase his/her bookings and revenue?

Facebook, Google

You can find out more about Claudine’s properties here:

Booking.com

• Bushland Cottages and Lodge

Expedia

• Bushland Cottages and Lodge

Direct booking website

• www.bushcottages.com.au

Here are some photos to give you a better vision of  Claudine’s rentals (click for larger versions) 🧐