In housing limbo? Six Tips to help you cope.

With the property market at an all time high, more and more of us are finding ourselves in a temporary state of homelessness. 

And while sharing a friends place is great for a short time, what happens when your friendship is being slightly stretched by your over enthusiastic children not having enough space to play, or your dog who loves napping on you couch at home but isn't welcome on your friends designer furniture?  

The problem has already been identified, Auckland rentals are hard to get, people are lining up for overpriced inner city rentals (the reality of renting in Auckland) buyers are paying high prices in an over-inflated market and demanding immediate move in's and everyone who can't get a rental is left with their stuff in jam-packed storage units looking desperately for somewhere to lay their heads.

So what is the solution when you and your family are left with  nowhere to go?

Social Media

This is where Social Media becomes your best friend.  Post endlessly on Facebook and ask your friends to share the post, tweet, post on LinkedIn (good property managers use it as a top tool.  Post photos on instagram of where you would love to be.  Chances are someone will know someone and you will find something soon.

If you’re still stuck, try AirBnb, Holiday Houses, book-a-bach, they may be expensive short term solutions but they will still be infinitely cheaper than a hotel.   

Where do you put your stuff?

If you’ve always admired the minimalist look, now’s the time to embrace it! It is time to de-clutter.  Sell, give away or bin anything you do not need and rent a clean, dry, secure storage unit for the rest.  

What do you actually need?

Remember that you are now a temporary transient resident and you only have room for what you can carry and the necessities you need to ensure you don't overstep a hosts welcome.  Keep a supply of bedding, towels and toiletries with you.  This will mean you are self-sufficient and you still have a bit of your own home with you.  When it comes to your wardrobe only keep the bare essentials and learn how to layer for effect.  

Do you offer to pay friends when you are staying?

Tackle this subject before moving in with a friend or family.  Offer to pay rent or a portion of the bills, its gives everyone peace of mind that you aren't there just for a free ride, especially if your stay turns out to be longer than you anticipated. 

You may instead be asked to contribute in other ways such as child-care, cooking meals or cleaning to play your part.

How should you cope with the everyday routines?

This is a great opportunity to discover new restaurants and galleries in the city you may not know, save some money and be a tourist in your own city.

But be considerate and respect your hosts routines, fit in with their life, be very self aware and if you are not sure of something be sure to ask, don't assume anything.  

When do we move on?

Hopefully that perfect rental or new house will come around as fast as you are hoping, but if not always keep in mind that although your host will always be telling you to make yourself at home if the stay turns out to be longer than anticipated give them a break and pop away for the weekend or check into a hotel for a couple of nights to give them some space in their home.  

And as for the rest ... the perfect home will come along when you least expect!

Airbnb, bookabach, Holiday Houses, getting your place ready to rent

With thousands of bach owners caught up in a property investor crackdown (Stuff.co.nz), it is a great time to think about how best to make more money out of your bach, crib or holiday home to cover those additional taxes so you don't lose out.  Great places to start advertising if you are new to the game are Airbnb, bookabach and holiday houses.

Staging Your Living Space for Holiday Rentals

To make the most out of your rental, stage it just like your would for an open home and create a space that is attractive to renters, easy to clean and a space that they would be likely to recommend to other holiday goers.  

Photographing the space

• First do a huge spring clean and schedule a big clean on a six monthly basis, be aware that everything shows up on photos, especially when taking shots on a sunny day.
• De-clutter, remove all personal items and anything that that may clutter the shot such as paperwork and excess items in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Then stage your furniture to make the best possible use of the space and to make the rooms look as large and inviting as possible.  If you are unsure, enlist the help of a professional or a friend or family member whose house you admire.
• When taking the shots, be very aware of lighting,the time of day and the position of the shot.  Avoid photos with direct sunlight behind images and play around with camera angles to properly show off the dimensions of the room.
• Take outside shots and just like the inside, clean and tidy first and make the areas look attractive to potential renters.  Include photographs of key amenities such as pools, BBQ areas and outside showers.
• Remember, the more photos the better, renters want to see the space they are going to be paying you top dollar for and the more photos you have the more they will trust you as a landlord.

Your first holiday guest is about to turn up - now what?

• Staging - do your photographs reflect your property.  You staged for your photos, now stage for your guest.
• Make sure the areas are spotlessly clean, the majority of guests will leave online reviews and you want to ensure your rental is as clean as promised.
• Does the space feel like it is theirs for the time they are there, or did you go and put everything back after staging for the photos and they are walking into someones space?  If the latter is the case, hire a STORAGE UNIT or have a locked garage set aside to store all personal and unnecessary items while your property is up for rental. Doing this also minimises damage.
• Remember the basics - clean sheets, properly made beds, fresh towels, kitchen basics and a manual of how things work, recommended eateries and cool things to do in the area.

Follow these basics and the money will flow, leaving you more time to holiday yourself!