Patti and her family own a spacious 3 bedroom bungalow in Perth, just five minutes from the South Perth Foreshore. With Perth Zoo on the same road, the 1940’s Californian-style flat is an absolute dream house for guests with kids.

Every summer, Patti and her family head away for two months to visit family abroad. Airbnb seemed a great option for keeping the house occupied while they were away, so Patti started using the platform to rent out her home, initially managing the listing herself.

“Doing this was very satisfying,” says Patti, “but of course we could only set it up once – and we returned from our trip to a dirty house, which was never fun...”. That’s where Houst jumped in – allowing Patti to have multiple guests while she and her family went away. Having Houst managing the property also meant Patti no longer had the hassle that can come with managing a property yourself. “With Houst as the [guest] contact,” she says, “we don’t have to be available 24/7 to answer queries about the property. The house is cleaned and the linen replaced between guests so that the bookings can keep coming. Plus when we get off the plane, we return to a lovely clean tidy house with fresh beds made.’

With Houst’s help, Patti and her family now spend the summer months deep in the wilderness on their beautiful boat, away from their phones and the bustle of city life – but with peace of mind, knowing that their home is in safe hands. “It’s very good to be receiving income from our house and not having to deal with the bookings, cleaning and queries as they come up”, Patti explains.

So what’s next for Patti? She and her family are embarking on a new adventure this year – they’re going to sail around New Zealand’s Southern and Northern Islands for a full six months! And of course, we’ll be here to look after her home and her guests while they’re away.

If you’re not from Perth and considering a visit any time soon, Patti has some good recommendations for visitors: The new Optus Stadium sports ground, the Swan River for a nice stroll, rent and cycle a bike along the South Perth foreshore, take a trip on the Hotham Valley Railway, visit the Aviation Heritage Museum, or head to Crown Casino for a show and a meal.