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How We Transformed a 1 Bedroom Apartment in South Perth into a High-Performing Short-Stay Asset

+90%+ Occupancy | +$160 Avg. Nightly Rate | Successful Airbnb in South Perth

The Challenge

  • Underperforming income vs potential: Initially aligned to a ~$550/week long-term rental benchmark, leaving significant short-stay upside untapped.

  • Balancing rate vs occupancy: Strong demand (~90%+ occupancy) at ~$160/night, but required careful optimisation to increase nightly rates without hurting bookings or reviews.

  • No short-term rental approval: The property was not STR-approved initially, requiring navigation of WA and local council planning requirements before going live.

  • Regulatory uncertainty: Evolving WA and local council STR regulations created compliance and approval risk.

  • High guest expectations in a prime location: Premium location meant guests expected hotel-level presentation, cleanliness, and service consistency.

  • Operational pressures at high occupancy: Tight cleaning turnarounds, quality control, and seamless self check-in were critical to avoid review risk.

What We Did

Styled & Staged

  • Redesigned interiors to suit short-stay guests

  • Functional, durable furnishings for high turnover

  • Layout optimised for comfort, usability & photos

  • Styling aligned with guest expectations for the area

Optimised Listing

  • Professionally optimised listing copy & imagery

  • Dynamic pricing based on demand, seasonality & events

  • Continuous performance monitoring & rate adjustments

  • Improved visibility and conversion on booking platforms

Guest Experience

  • 24/7 guest communication & support

  • Clear check-in, house rules & local guidance

  • Proactive issue resolution before it impacts reviews

  • Experience-led approach based on guest feedback

Strict Cleaning

  • Hotel-grade cleaning standards

  • Detailed quality inspections after every stay

  • Consistent linen, towels & consumables

  • Fast turnaround processes to support high occupancy

The Property Story

Luxury Perth Retreat was a high-quality property in a prime location, but like many well-positioned homes, its true earning potential was not being fully realised.


Originally, the property aligned with a traditional long-term rental benchmark of approximately $550 per week. While stable, this approach significantly underutilised the value of the location, land, and overall asset. Our objective was to unlock that upside through a structured transition into short-term accommodation - done properly, compliantly, and sustainably.


The first major milestone was securing short-term rental approval, transforming the property from a standard residential asset into a legally approved income-producing investment. This alone not only expanded earning capacity but also enhanced the property’s long-term value and buyer appeal, as approved STR assets are increasingly scarce in Perth.


Once live, the focus shifted to performance optimisation. Through pricing strategy, listing optimisation, and demand analysis, the property quickly achieved ~90%+ occupancy, averaging around $160 per night, resulting in a material uplift in annual yield compared to the long-term rental model.


High occupancy provided something even more valuable than revenue: data.


With a growing sample size of guests, we refined everything, from layout and amenities to communication, cleaning standards, and maintenance response times. Guest feedback (both positive and critical) allowed us to identify friction points early, fix them permanently, and continuously improve the experience. Over time, this created a property that runs with hotel-level cleanliness, consistency, and reliability, while still feeling like a home.


We also established rigid operating processes around cleaning, inspections, consumables, and maintenance -leveraging trusted local trades and service providers to ensure issues are resolved quickly and professionally. This reduced downtime, protected reviews, and ensured the asset remained in top condition despite high utilisation.


Today, Luxury Perth Retreat operates as a fully optimised short-stay asset:

  • Yield significantly exceeds traditional rental expectations

  • The property’s use, location, and approval status are maximised

  • Guest expectations are clearly understood and consistently met

  • Operational risk is reduced through systems, not guesswork

What began as a well-located property has become a high-performing, resilient investment — delivering stronger cash flow, improved asset value, and a proven framework for long-term success in the short-term rental market.

The Results

Before

  • No approved short-term rental use (limited to long-term leasing only)

  • Income aligned to traditional rental model (≈ $550/week benchmark)

  • Location and asset underutilised from an income perspective

  • No structured short-stay systems, guest data, or performance optimisation

After

  • Full council approval for short-term accommodation, enabling 365-day operation

  • Averaging ~$160 per night with 90%+ occupancy, significantly increasing annual yield

  • Asset repositioned as a high-performing, income-generating short-stay investment

  • Hotel-level cleaning, guest experience, and operational systems implemented

  • Strong guest feedback loop, refined offering, and optimised maintenance channels

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