Beach Palms Holiday Apartments: Coasting along while running a holiday complex

Coasting along Coasting along

while running a holiday complex

By Grantlee Kieza,

Industry Reporter

Julie Morris talked to Resort News about her stunning Gold Coast property, the Beach Palms Holiday Apartments, Palm Beach. How long have you been involved in management rights?

It has been fi ve years. Before we bought this business, I was working at Saint Vincent de Paul, but previously I worked in hospitality for a number of years. I was always keen on the idea of management rights, and I liked Palm Beach because I thought the location had great potential, which has proven to be true.

The position of The Beach Palms Holiday Apartments complex is very convenient, it’s close to the M1 highway, close to the airport and the NSW border.

Furthermore, the resort is surrounded by an array of excellent local restaurants and cafes.

Currently we do have development in the area, but even so Palm Beach is still much quieter than Surfers Paradise and it really makes for a relaxing holiday.

You're originally from Tasmania?

Yes. I moved up from Launceston 25 years ago with my family. At fi rst, we sett led at the northern end of the Gold Coast, Sanctuary Cove and Hope Island. And it was only when I bought into this building that we moved to the southern end of the coast. It's exceptionally beautiful down here.

Why did you want to get into management rights?

When I was living in Tasmania, we had a friend who bought management rights in Mooloolaba, and we would oft en stay there for holidays. That triggered an interest and expanded my awareness of the industry and how it worked.

Did you have a background in accommodation?

In Launceston, I had a hotel for 15 years. It had accommodation upstairs, but it was nothing like a management rights complex. We leased that business out when we moved to Queensland, and we bought a restaurant located in Sanctuary Cove where we stayed for six years before moving into the food service industry.

The management rights sector is very diff erent, it off ers many

Property management system stuck in the dark ages? _

meet resly

Julie with sons James & Trent and daughter Bronte who currently works the super yachts in Italy

opportunities. For instance, now I have my full real estate licence and I've sold three properties in this building and another at Palm Beach Apartments.

Tell us about Beach Palms?

There are 17 apartments in the current letting pool with 28 apartments in the building. We have a heated pool, barbecue area, spa, sauna, games room and secure free undercover parking. It’s a big spacious property with a large garden and great views. And we’re just a three-minute walk from a beautiful beach. We get a lot of repeat business and I always encourage guests to call and book direct rather than use the online travel agents. I give guests a 10 percent discount if they call direct and I still finish 5 percent in front of what I would have to give the OTAs in commissions.

How hard is the job of running the building?

I have been working really hard, overseeing a recent $160,000 facelift but the building is looking fantastic now it’s freshly painted. I run the management rights business on my own. My two sons, Trent and James have invested in the business, and they do help out, but they also have their own careers. I employ a gardener and a handyman, and a great cleaner who lives on site which is really convenient. It works well. I just send her a text about what needs doing or a copy of the reservation list, she then does her job, and we are ready for guests. My experience of being a lone operator is a good lesson for anyone wanting to get into management rights. I am the proof that you can run a complex by yourself! You do hear some terrible stories about managers not getting on with owners and body corporates, but that has not been my experience. I have a great relationship with everyone in this building and it’s been very beneficial to the success of this business.

In my opinion, the most important part of running a successful management rights business, is winning the trust of the unit owners, body corporate, and getting on with people. I would advise managers to be transparent and honest because that relationship makes life a lot easier in this business.

With you running the building solo, are you able to get away for a break yourself?

Yes, because I am very organised, and I use technology. I've got a new software system, Resly, and its cloud-based, so as long as I have my iPad in my handbag, I can remotely manage the letting pool and simply slot guests into a unit, wherever I am, or whatever I am doing. I also have a self-check-in system, and a safe, which means that I can send my guests instructions on the morning of the check-in. This system was developed because of COVID, but it really suits me and so I keep using it. It’s handy when people get held up and don't arrive on time. It takes the pressure off them, and off me. However, I do try to ensure that I meet up with guests at some point during their stay to say hello and to find out if there is anything I can do to make their stay more enjoyable.

But sometimes people just come and go and that's the way they like it.

How do you relax when you’re not running the building?

I aim to work every Saturday because it is usually a hectic check-in day, and obviously that means it’s also a busy cleaning day.

However, I have a rule that on a Sunday, unless there is a critical disaster, I have time off and I let calls go to voicemail and if I don't need to call people straight away, I won't. I make sure Sunday is my special family day.

This is the day that I prioritise spending time by the pool with my three grandchildren.

I have found there’s a lot of freedom that comes with this job.

10% discount for Resort News readers when booked direct

1111 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach Qld 4221 0433 855 148 info@beachpalms.com.au