Offering a youthful touch of class [Sponsored Content]
Launching her new Queenstown business at just 22 during the first pandemic lockdown, QRC graduate Rebecca Freeman has proved hard work, perseverance and personalised service pay off.
In just three years Hawkes Bay-raised Freeman, now 25, has built a reputation for impeccable service at Tāhuna Hideaway (tahunahideaway.com), her holiday home and residential property management company.
It all started with a massive leap of faith after Freeman had been working for a local property management company for 18 months when the March 2020 lockdown hit and staff had to be let go.
She’d planned to work her way up in the profession she loved for at least five years, but when some of her clients found out she was going, they stuck by her, fast-forwarding her career plan.
“A lot of my clients said we’re listed with you for you, not the company, so little by little I started Tāhuna Hideaway,” says Freeman.
She started with four properties and now has more than forty: 29 holiday homes and 13 residential rentals.
“Initially I was on call 24/7 so now I really appreciate my staff – a property manager, admin marketer and contracted bookkeeper.”
For the first 18 months, Freeman supported herself from a small wage and her savings and kept overheads low, working from home for at least two years.
With repeated lockdowns forcing Tāhuna Hideaway to expand from just holiday rentals into longer-term rental properties in its second year, Freeman studied for her Level 4 NZ Certificate of Property Management.
“I learned a lot, and that helped with managing short-term rentals too.”
Not only does Tāhuna Hideaway carry out extensive checks throughout the year to keep the properties well maintained, but long-term rentals are also checked every three months and short-term ones every stay.
“We go the extra mile for our property owners. We’re extremely personable and they can flick us a text, or call, so we can keep them up to speed if they would like this kind of relationship.”
The company’s affiliation with a top channel management system is a big attraction for clients and ensures that any properties listed for short-term rental get maximum online exposure.
“Our channel management system holds property information in a synchronised booking calendar for each of our homes,” says Freeman.
“That system then pushes our properties out onto the likes of Airbnb, Booking.com, NZ.com and Marriott International.”
This system also itemises all accounts and expenses for each property so that owners can monitor which bookings provide the best returns.
Tāhuna Hideaway’s short-term properties range from simple, well-appointed studio units to luxury, four and five-bedroom homes with hot tubs everywhere from Arrowtown and central Queenstown to Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point and in between. Most long-term rentals are near-new homes in Hanley’s Farm subdivision, often snapped up within a day.
While holiday home rentals are back in huge demand, Freeman says she’s been glad to have those long-term options with such a shortage of rental housing for locals.
“These provided a source of cash flow during the lockdowns.”
Offering the personal touch is paramount for Tāhuna Hideaway, and Freeman takes pride in making that extra effort to ensure her holiday guests feel welcome. Expect a complimentary bottle of local Mt Rosa wine for a booking of seven nights or more, matched with a card for a special occasion like a birthday celebration or honeymoon.
There’s a big emphasis on local products and sustainability too.
“We put personalised local products into the homes, like breakfast boxes and platters, if requested,” says Freeman.
“All products we provide in the homes, such as shampoo and conditioner, are eco-friendly and we use NZ-made Real World reusable containers from Hawkes Bay.”
Children are well catered for with Portacots, complete with woolskin, wool blanket and a lamb stuffed toy.
Māori culture and heritage are important to Freeman. Her latest initiative ensures each home is graced with a framed story about Tāhuna, the meaning and significance behind Queenstown’s Te Reo name.
“We’re looking at implementing more Te Reo initiatives in our homes to inform guests of the correct meanings behind the places they visit and names to help them feel more of a connection to our land.”
Find out more:
tahunahideaway.com or 03 442 5185
