Solnamara
Managers Kerry and Lyn Coulton were greeted with beautiful views, a new and exciting challenge and a huge bunch of keys on their first morning as resident managers at Solnamara Beachfront Apartments.
Kerry and Lyn took over at Solnamara in April this year after falling in love with Burleigh Heads. “Burleigh Heads has the feel of a small town even though it’s within Gold Coast city,” Lyn says. “We were looking for properties between Noosa and Coolangatta and fell in love with Burleigh Heads; the beach is beautiful with walkways to the headland and National Park.”
There is certainly a sense of community in the town, with other businesses on the esplanade lending support and advice. Kerry and Lyn have also found support through ARAMA meetings. “Other resident managers have been very helpful and supportive, sharing ideas and swapping business cards,” Kerry says. “ARAMA meetings are great for networking and we are also keen to get actively involved with Burleigh Heads tourism.”
The couple has been quick to make improvements, starting with introducing EzyRez reservations and trust accounting software. Levart Distribution Systems is upgrading the website, adding a booking engine and other features such as sending an e-card and scrolling special offers. “We have initiated the new website and we have also started contacting past guests as part of our marketing strategy,” Lyn says.
Kerry and Lyn are working closely with the body corporate committee to redevelop the reception and foyer area. “The body corporate is looking at the flow of traffic in the foyer so the area can function more effectively,” Lyn says. “We are moving the office so it adjoins the manager’s apartment, which will be much more convenient. Glass doors are being installed and security improved. The area will be repainted and retiled, and we will put in comfortable seating.”
The 30 year-old building has undergone other refurbishments recently, with the balconies upgraded and modernised with glass panels to give seamless ocean views, and new lifts were installed one year ago. The body corporate committee has also paid a contractor to have all the gardens tidied up, which was a great starting point for Kerry and Lyn as new managers.
Some unit owners have refurbished since Kerry and Lyn took over. “Guests want value for money and owners have been investing money upgrading their apartments,” Lyn says.
“Some apartments have new patio doors, others have new furnishings, two have new kitchens and one has a new bathroom. Some apartments have updated their curtains; renewed by the wonderful team at A Curtains and Blinds. It has made a real difference to the first impressions by guests staying in these apartments.”
For New Zealanders Kerry and Lyn management rights ownership is a new challenge in a new country. Kerry’s background is in dairy farming, selling the farm five years ago to work for the multi-national dairy company Fonterra, in customer relations. Lyn’s background is in early childhood education. She owned five child care centres in the New Plymouth area of New Zealand and then went on to work as an early childhood education professional development facilitator at Massey University in NZ.
“We decided to do something different and we needed a new and interesting challenge,” Kerry says. “The lifestyle and weather in South-East Queensland appealed to us and we started looking for management rights opportunities online.”
“The RAAS website was very helpful. We booked a trip to Queensland last November to look at different resorts on the market. Solnamara and Burleigh Heads stood out and here we are.”
Kerry recalls being faced with a massive bunch of keys on the first morning and not knowing what they were for, as none were marked. “We ended up changing many locks and were left holding about 5kg of obsolete keys!” he laughs. “Now we are down to a small key ring each!”
Solnamara is located right opposite the beach. All 44 apartments have ocean views to the east, with the apartments at the northern end also having hinterland views. There are four apartments on each floor and the three bedroom apartments also have westerly and southern views of the Gold Coast. All apartments have Foxtel and 22 are in the holiday letting pool. “The apartments are either two or three bedroom,” Lyn says. “They are very spacious and popular with families in the school holidays, and couples during the year, particularly in the winter to soak up the warmer climate.
All apartments have an en suite and a bathroom and the spacious living areas and balconies all have fabulous views of the ocean. The saltwater pool is heated and situated in a sunny sheltered spot.”
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