WHY HOST MY HOME?
HASSLE-FREE HOSTING
We handle the advertising on the booking channel websites, manage guest inquiries, arrange cleaning, coordinate meet-and-greets and optimize your pricing. We will ensure you are always earning the most you can.
HIGHER RENTAL INCOME
Short-term rentals earn a lot more than traditional letting. Our hands-on approach to pricing as well as our use of technology means more money in your pocket.
PERSONAL CARE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME
We will look after your property like it's our own. We report back on a regular basis and provide you with a monthly report of the maintenance checks completed.
SAFE & SECURE
We screen all guests and check your home after every departure. Guests receive a full rundown of your home and we are always available to assist them.
FLEXIBLE PERSONAL USE
We understand that it's your property and you may want to have friends or family stay, or vacation in your apartment yourself. We provide easy access to your home’s booking calendar so that you can block off dates you want for personal use.
INITIAL PROPERTY SETUP & ONBOARDING
We do an initial property inspection and then provide you with a projection of the rental income you could expect to make. We also provide a complete list of the items required to get your property into a ‘guest ready’ state. Once complete, we will arrange photography, inventory and key handover.
MARKETING ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS
We advertise on major booking platforms including Airbnb, Booking.com, Google My Business and Trip Advisor Rentals. We also list you on our own website and other local channels.
MANAGED & SUPERVISED PRICING
We apply a rate strategy to your property and adjust prices regularly. Our strategy is based on past booking performance and an analysis of other homes in your neighbourhood. Our goal is to achieve excellent occupancy for your home, with good earnings in your pocket.
GUEST SUPPORT
We are available to assist with guest messages or emergencies, and to respond to inquiries as well as to arrange additional services for guests.
MEET & GREET SERVICE
Our team does in-person check-ins to ensure that guests feel welcome, understand the house rules and features of the property, and provide advice on activities, restaurants and tours in the area. We complete pre-checks, supply keys to guests and report any issues. We also facilitate self check-in for guests that prefer this and where our rental homes have a lock box.
DEDICATED PROPERTY MANAGER
You will be assigned a property manager who is responsible for coordinating cleaning, maintenance and maximizing booking performance.
HOUSEKEEPING
Our supervised cleaning teams utilize a checklist that ensures a consistent quality and service. On completion of the clean, our office is notified through our property management system so that we can monitor performance.
LINEN, AMENITIES & CLEANING CHEMICALS
We assist you upfront to stock up your property’s inventory of hotel quality linen, amenities and good quality cleaning chemicals.
TRANSPARENCY FOR OWNERS
We provide access to an Owner Portal via our website which provides you with occupancy and earnings for your home. We also send you a statement of expenses and revenue each month.
WHO WILL HOST MY HOME?
As Hermanus locals for over 19 years, and having spent the past 6 years in holiday home management we have a good understanding of how to care for your valuable asset.
We are a family-run business and our strengths include experience in marketing, real estate, IT and construction management.
PRICING
HOLIDAY RENTAL HOSTING
20%
excluding VAT
- Full management of your property and listing profile, check-in and check-outs as well as resupplying guest essentials.
- Online system that manages every aspect of the business from automatically generating optimal cleaning schedules to synchronizing rates and availability across all major booking channels.
- Monthly owner statement of income and maintenance / replenishment expenses.
PROPERTY MANAGMENT
R850 - R1250 per month (plus callout fees dependent on frequency and distance)
excluding VAT
- Regular property inspections following a checklist. You choose the frequency.
- Regular owner report to keep you informed regarding any concerns at your holiday home.
- Gardening and pool services: Confirmation that work is done to your satisfaction.
- Basic maintenance work: We have a network of suppliers who will provide a quotation for supervised repairs and maintenance.
- Security alarms: Interaction with security company.
- Optional extra: Cleaning service and grocery shopping before your arrival at your holiday home.
TESTIMONIALS
FAQ
Does Host My Home service my area?
We currently operate in Hermanus.
What does the signup process look like?
-Send us an enquiry in the Get Started section below.
-One of our friendly staff will contact you to set up a viewing.
-After the viewing we will provide you with a projection of your rental income and outline the next steps to list your property.
How long until my listing is up and running?
Once your property is ‘guest ready’ we will take professional photographs. We receive the photos 24 hours later and have you up and running within 7 business days.
What happens to my existing bookings if I switch over to your services?
We are used to taking over existing Airbnb listings. We will happily manage any existing guest bookings and incoming guest communications, as long as we can get the right access to your property & listing in the right time frame. We create new booking channel listings linked to our property management system. Once you sign up with us, all of your existing and future bookings will be managed under our Host My Home management terms.
How long will it take for my listing to reach peak performance?
Our listings usually take 3-5 guest bookings to ramp up. Due to the seasonal nature of the vacation rental market, this can vary depending on the time of year.
How long must I make my home available for?
Your home should be available for vacation rentals for a minimum of 6 months of each calendar year. This makes it worth our while to devote time to marketing and establishing your online profile so that you can reap better revenue.
What do I need to provide as a host to get started?
Your property needs basic items that guests expect in a modern vacation rental. We’ve summarised these below for you. If you don’t have all of these, let us know and we can purchase them and charge you during the on-boarding stage.
– Uncapped WiFi
– Pillows (2 per person), duvet, mattress protector, 2 sets of 200 thread count white percale cotton linen, and curtains, lamps, clothes storage, hangers
– Toaster, kettle, microwave, bin, cutlery, plates, bowls, cups, glasses, pans, pots, coffee plunger or machine.
– Kitchen utensils (we can provide you with a full list)
– Hair dryer
– Clothes rack
– Toilet brush
– Iron & ironing board, mop & bucket and vacuum cleaner
– Smart TV or TV with DSTV
– Aircon or fan & heaters
– Comfortable seating for all guests
– A safe (we can help with this)
Which of my personal belongings can I leave in my home?
It’s best practice that items of high monetary or sentimental value be removed from your home for safe keeping and peace of mind. You may leave other personal belongings in the home provided they are stored & locked away and leave sufficient space for guests to unpack their belongings. We suggest that you leave décor and some personal touches in the home as these help create a welcoming environment, however, please remove all personal photos.
Do you list across multiple channels?
Yes we do. We list across all major booking platforms including Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, Trip Advisor. We also have our own dedicated booking platform which guests can use to book with us directly. Over the winter months we also advertise on social media and other local websites.
What is your standard management fee?
Host My Home charge a fee of 20% +VAT on your net rental income. This includes maintaining your listing, guest communication before and during stays, cleaning and preventative maintenance checks.
Are there any extra charges?
-We have a maintenance team whose time we do sometimes charge out but only if the job takes longer than 30 minutes. In other words if they are changing a light bulb or dropping something off this will be free of charge.
-There are no other costs
Do you charge me for the use of my own property?
Your home is yours to use whenever you like. We would only charge you for cleaning the property and laundering the linen.
When will I get paid?
We pay all of our clients on the 20th of every month for all bookings for the previous calendar month. For example, on 20 June we pay our clients for all bookings between 1 May – 30 May.
How can I see my earnings?
We will provide you with access to our Owner Portal where you will see your booking calendar, occupancy, average nightly rate and your revenue for the period.
What is included in your housekeeping service?
Our housekeeping service includes a change of linen and the replenishment of the amenities stocked in your home like tea, coffee, sugar & milk, as well as shower gel, soap and hand lotion. Our team do washing of linen on your property using your equipment and cleaning chemicals. We purchase and stock both the chemicals and amenities on your behalf and charge to your account as needed.
Do you do in-person check-ins?
Yes, we offer check-ins in person unless your home offers self check-in and this is possible at the property. I.E. The property has a lock box. (We can supply this)
Can you help with maintenance at my property?
Yes, we can. We have a network of external suppliers who will provide a quotation for supervised repairs and maintenance.
How do you deal with guest damages to my property?
Our housekeeping and meet & greet team are trained to identify any signs of obvious and substantial damage to your home, and then alert this issue to your property manager. We then proceed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity of the damage. We would always advise however, that hosts should expect some light wear and tear and encourage you to look into short letting insurance options (we can help you with this). In addition, we also recommend locking away items of value that you want to protect.
Can I rent out my room or a portion of my property?
Currently we only accept entire properties.
Is my revenue safe with Host My Home?
As members of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, we adhere to a strict Code of Conduct. We are required to submit documentation pertaining to our business annually so that the association can verify we are indeed running a healthy business that can be recommended to international tour operators. We are bonded with third-party indemnity, ensuring financially sound relationships with our owners and guests. For more information on bonding, please click here.
Do you work with body corporates or entire buildings?
We consider this on a case by case basis to ensure we can meet the needs of the property effectively
Can I edit my Airbnb profile settings?
No, hosts may not change any settings on the Airbnb account as this will be under Host My Home’s profile. This includes: minimum length of stay, price per night, security deposit, booking request settings, check-in / check-out times. These are controlled internally by our teams so talk to us about your requirements and we will find the best way to address them.
How much will my property earn?
This is a common question and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. There are many variables that go into pricing a home including size of the home, number of beds, maximum number of guests, neighbourhood, competition in the area, monthly costs, furnishings etc. We are happy to provide you with revenue projections for your home. Please email [email protected] and we will gladly assist you.
GET STARTED
