Savvy owners renting out homes to help pay for overseas holidays

HOMEOWNERS who live permanently in holiday hot spots are renting out their properties to help them fund a holiday trip of their own.

FINANCES don’t stretch far enough to book that trip to Hawaii?

If you can’t get any extra shifts at work or the bills are piling up too much to put aside anything for a little time out, you could join a growing group of homeowners making their property pay for their holidays.

Homeowners who live permanently in holiday hot spots are renting their properties out on a short-term basis to help fund a trip of their own.

REAL ESTATE: Buyers returning to the property market

MATHEMATICS: Key to perfect kitchen is your calculator

Holiday letting website HomeAway.com.au, spokeswoman Sally Godfrey said traditionally people used their site to rent out a second home or investment property, but she said some savvy owners were starting to rent out their permanent residence to cover the costs of an overseas trip or extended break.

She said about five per cent of listings handled by the group were for short-term listings.

“We see this happening mainly in capital cities, including suburbs such as Glenelg in Adelaide, Port Melbourne and Bondi Beach and Randwick in Sydney,’’ she said.

Beach towns which attract visitors all year round are also popular including places such as Byron Bay, Kiama and Narooma.

Homes being rented out for short breaks ... With beaches like this Byron Bay is a popular destination.

Ms Godfrey said because their website was promoted through their international network they also found homeowners listing to coincide with major events which attract international visitors, including the Formula One Grand Prix and Australian Open tennis.

“On average, homeowners that list their property with us receive $1140 per week,’’ she said.

According to the latest deals on the Flight Centre website you can book return flights from Sydney to Auckland with three nights accommodation from $699.

If you’d like to travel a little further it has deals from Sydney to Hawaii and four nights accommodation from $1189.

Another hotspot ... Kiama is a popular destination for holiday makers. Picture: Destination NSW.

Ms Godfrey said the price people could charge for their property really depended on the location, condition and amenities.

“We always recommend checking out other properties in the area to see what is a reasonable price to expect,’’ she said.

She said in peak periods, the prices of popular beach destinations could jump by up to 60 per cent.

“So if (as a homeowner) you are going away at these times you could easily cover your (own holiday) costs.’’

The website charges a flat fee of $99 (excluding GST) to list. It doesn’t charge nightly or booking fees.

The bay at Narooma on the south coast of New South Wales.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE RENTING OUT YOUR OWN HOME.

— Remember people you don’t know will be in your house, sleeping in your bed, using your cutlery and sitting on your couch. Are you comfortable with that?

— It’s probably wise to take any valuables with you or leave them in the safe keeping of a friend.

— If you have something you don’t want anyone to use — don’t leave it there.

— Make sure the property is clean and tidy, especially if you expect people to pay top dollar.

— Holiday makers don’t want to be competing for space in the bathroom cabinet with all your creams, lotions and potions — remove them.

— Decide if you wish to allow access to your home telephone or internet connection. If not remove them or put service on hold for while you are away.

— Don’t leave clutter lying around. Imagine what you would expect in a holiday home and deliver that.

— It’s a good idea if you have a lockable cupboard or room to put all your “stuff” in there and take the key with you.

— Check your insurance policy and update it if necessary to cover anything that might happen while you are away.