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Real Estate Institute Journal
Nov - Dec 2000 Edition
Feature Article: Rent-A-Home.com.au
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Justin Butterworth and Roger Cull are two
of the Institute’s more recent members joining
just over 12 months ago. Justin is Managing
Director of Rent-A-Home, which he developed
in partnership with Roger. With backgrounds
combining economics and real estate, Justin
and Roger have embraced e-commerce and brought
it to the holiday and executive rentals market. |
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Rent-A-Home is Australia’s
first real estate web site to offer a real
time listing, booking and payment service
for holiday and executive accommodation. At
www.rent-a-home.com.au
holidaymakers and corporate clients can “look
and book” online, searching via any number
of criteria, such as date, a particular event
(eg a sporting event or an arts festival),
the type of accommodation or the location.
And because Rent-A-Home has links with Telstra.com
and Ninemsn.com.au as a holiday and executive
rentals partner, enquiries are generated through
tourism and the corporate worlds, thus driving
business towards real estate agents which
they might not otherwise capture. |
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Rent-A-Home does not compete with managing
agents, who are an essential part of the
service.
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Rent-A-Home works through a network
of ‘traditional’ agents, who are an essential part
of the service. Rent-A-Home does not compete with
managing agents, and Justin and Roger only accept
listings through managing agents—not directly from
property owners.
Rent-A-Home charges a 5.5% commission (inclusive
of GST), which the agent collects from the owner.
So it’s a win-win situation: the managing agent
gets greater exposure for the properties on the
rent roll at no additional cost, and the owner gets
a higher rate of occupancy. It also enables agents
to effectively compete with the online commercial
accommodation offers such as B&B’s, hotels and
motels.
Justin adds “the real benefits for agents, is that
Rent-A-Home offers at very low cost to property
owners, focused travel and executive exposure coupled
with a booking facility that enables managing agents
to have complete management of their stock.”
And it’s not only holiday homes or investment properties
that can reap the benefit of the service. Home owners
and tenants who are travelling for an extended period
can register their properties online for management
by their current or preferred local agent registered
with Rent-A-Home.
Justin and Roger have shown how effective use of
the internet and e-commerce can add value to traditional
methods of real estate agency practice.
If you are interested in finding out more about
this innovative new service or registering your
properties with Rent-A-Home, call Justin or Roger
on 1300 134 004 or email agents@rent-a-home.com.au
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