Table of Contents
Owning a holiday home is a dream for many Australians. It’s your own getaway on weekends, school holidays or long summer breaks. But when you’re not there, your property still requires upkeep, and often sits empty for most of the year.
So, can a holiday home be an investment property? By outsourcing holiday home property management, the answer is yes. It allows you to continue enjoying your second home while generating extra income and knowing it’s well-maintained.
Why holiday homes are often underused
Holiday homes often sound great on paper, but in practice, many sit vacant for the majority of the year. Work, school and distance mean owners can’t visit as often as they’d like.
Even if no one stays in your property, the bills don’t stop. Owners must pay:
- council rates, insurance and utilities year-round,
- regular upkeep like lawn mowing, pool cleaning or pest control, and
- unexpected repairs, which can be costly if left unattended.
This means your second home can quickly feel like a financial burden rather than a retreat.
Making holiday homes investment opportunities
One of the biggest myths about property management for holiday homes is you’ll lose access to your own holiday home. By listing your property as a short-term rental (STR), you can turn those empty weeks into an income stream and still have the flexibility to use your property whenever you like.
You decide when the property is available for guests and when it’s reserved for your own use. Unlike long-term tenants, there’s no risk of being locked out of your own holiday home for months at a time.
With Hometime, you remain in control of your calendar. Want to block out two weeks over Christmas or a weekend for a family getaway? It’s as simple as updating your calendar.
Is Airbnb income passive or active?
You’ve likely seen stories of homeowners earning passive Airbnb or STR income. The idea is appealing: set up a listing, welcome guests and collect the money. But the truth is, running a short-term rental yourself takes time and effort.
Self-managing hosts often struggle with:
- guest messages at all hours of the day,
- coordinating cleaners between every stay,
- handling check-in and check-out issues,
- monitoring reviews and keeping guests happy, and
- adjusting nightly rates to match demand.
As Nic from Hometime’s sales team explains, many hosts who enquire with us do so because keeping up with the workload of self-managing their STR is too much to handle themselves. So while Airbnb can be profitable, it’s rarely a passive source of income when you manage it yourself.
How Hometime helps your holiday home work for you
Choosing the right property manager makes the difference between a holiday home that feels like a burden and one that pays for itself while staying guest-ready all year round. At Hometime, our focus is on giving homeowners confidence, flexibility and hassle-free returns.
Here’s how we make it work:
- Local expertise
Your property is managed by our network of trusted local hosts who live in the same communities as your holiday home. They know the area, understand guest expectations, and can step in quickly to resolve issues or arrange trades. This local touch is backed by Hometime’s national platform, meaning you get both on-the-ground care and the strength of a professional management system.
We handle the entire guest journey, from the first enquiry to check-out and reviews. Guests receive clear, timely communication and seamless support, which leads to stronger ratings and repeat bookings. You never need to worry about late-night phone calls, last-minute changes or negative reviews.
- Professional presentation
We coordinate professional Airbnb photography, create optimised listings, and ensure your property is styled and presented to attract the right guests. Hotel-quality cleaning and linen between each stay guarantee a consistent standard. The result is not just higher occupancy but also premium nightly rates.
- Revenue optimisation
Our dedicated revenue management team uses data-driven pricing to maximise your returns. Rates are adjusted daily based on demand, competitor performance, seasonality, and local events, ensuring your property earns more without you lifting a finger.
- Property maintenance and peace of mind
From scheduled upkeep to unexpected repairs, we coordinate everything with qualified local trades. That means your property stays well-maintained year-round, whether you’re there or not.
- A property manager you can trust
Our role goes beyond managing bookings, helping you make decisions that keep your property profitable and protected. With regular performance reporting, transparent communication and a homeowner-first approach, you’ll always know your investment is in safe hands.
- Confidence through transparency
With access to our easy-to-use homeowner portal, you’ll always know how your property is performing. Track bookings, view earnings projections, and see the steps being taken to keep your property in peak condition.
- A long-term partner, not just a manager
Our role isn’t just to fill bookings. We’re here to help you grow the value of your investment, adapt to market shifts, and make smart decisions that keep your property performing at its best.
Ready to make your holiday home work harder?
Owning a holiday home should be both rewarding and enjoyable. With Hometime, you don’t need to choose between using your property and making it financially sustainable. We’ll take care of the hard work so you can enjoy:
- A holiday home that’s always guest-ready
- Reliable income without the stress of self-management
- Flexibility to enjoy your property whenever you like
- Professional care and maintenance year-round
Ready to see what your holiday home could earn? Sign up with Hometime today and discover how easy it is to turn your second home into a smart investment.
Hometime offers short-term rental management services in the following locations:
Victoria: Anglesea, Ballarat, Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island, and Surf Coast
NSW: Central Coast, Kingscliff, Mudgee, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Shellharbour & Wollongong
Tasmania: Hobart and Launceston
Queensland: Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, and the Sunshine Coast
South Australia: Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula
ACT: Canberra
Western Australia: Perth
