Coastal Property Turnaround: From 40% to 75% Occupancy in 3 Months

The Problem: Empty Beach House Bleeding RM3,000 Monthly

When Mr. Lim first contacted iHousing in August 2025, his Pantai Kundur beachfront condo was sitting empty 60% of the time. He was earning RM4,800/month during peak weekends but barely covering his maintenance fees the rest of the month.

"I listed it on Airbnb myself," he told us. "But bookings were sporadic. I'd get 3-4 nights one week, then nothing for 10 days. The unpredictability was killing me."

He'd tried commission-based management (20% fee) but quit after 6 months. "I was paying RM800-1,000/month in commissions and still had empty weekdays. It didn't make sense."

Here's exactly how iHousing turned his property around—and how you can apply the same strategies.

Starting Point (August 2025)

Metric	Performance
Monthly occupancy	40%
Monthly revenue	RM4,800
Average daily rate	RM380
Guest reviews	12 (4.3 average)
Platform presence	Airbnb only
Listing photos	8 amateur photos

Month 1: Foundation Changes

Week 1: Professional Photography

We hired a professional real estate photographer (RM400 investment). Before/After comparison:

Before: Dark smartphone photos, clutter visible, no people in shots

After: Bright lifestyle photos showing guests enjoying the space, staged with decorative elements, sunset views highlighted

Result: Click-through rate increased 47% in first 2 weeks.

Week 2: Multi-Platform Listing

We expanded from 1 platform to 5:

1. Airbnb: Updated existing listing with new photos
2. Booking.com: Created new listing targeting business travelers
3. Agoda: Created new listing targeting Singaporean weekenders
4. VRBO: Created new listing targeting families
5. Expedia: Created new listing for international tourists

Result: Inquiries increased from 8/week to 23/week.

Week 3: Content Overhaul

We rewrote the listing description to emphasize activities, not just features. Added sections on:

• Fishing spots within walking distance
• Sunset photography locations
• Recommended seafood restaurants (with prices)
• Weekend warrior targeting (KL/Singapore guests)

Result: Booking conversion rate increased from 22% to 34%.

Week 4: Pricing Restructure

Implemented dynamic pricing based on day-of-week:

Day Type	Old Rate (RM)	New Rate (RM)	Strategy
Friday-Sunday	400	450	Premium pricing
Monday-Thursday	350	220	Volume pricing

Result: Weekday occupancy increased from 25% to 52% while weekend revenue grew 12%.

Month 1 Results

Metric	Result	Change
Monthly occupancy	58%	+18%
Monthly revenue	RM7,200	+50%
New bookings	19	+137%

Month 2: Optimization Phase

Guest Communication System

Implemented automated yet personalized communication:

• Instant response: Auto-reply within 5 minutes (Available during business hours)
• Information pack: PDF with activities, restaurants, tide charts sent at booking
• Check-in coordination: Personal welcome with orientation

Result: Guest satisfaction score increased from 4.3 to 4.7.

Activity-Based Marketing

We created 3 listing variations targeting different guest types:

1. Fishing enthusiasts: Emphasized casting from balcony, fish cleaning station
2. Families: Highlighted shallow swimming, kid-friendly restaurants
3. Couples: Featured sunset deck, romantic dining spots

Each variation directed guests to appropriate booking platforms.

Result: Weekday bookings from targeted segments increased 65%.

Month 2 Results

Metric	Result	Change
Monthly occupancy	68%	+10%
Monthly revenue	RM9,600	+33%
Repeat guests	3	First returns

Month 3: Scaling Success

Review Generation System

We actively collected reviews:

• Post-stay message: Personalized thank-you with review request
• Incentive: Future booking discount for detailed reviews
• Response strategy: Responded to every review within 24 hours

Result: 8 new reviews (all 5-star), bringing average to 4.8.

Corporate Booking Outreach

We contacted local businesses:

• Melaka factories (SG/MY staff retreat venues)
• Singapore companies (weekend team building)
• Hospital visitor services (long-term patient families)

Result: Secured 3 corporate contracts for weekday stays.

Month 3 Results (October 2025)

Metric	Result	Change from Start
Monthly occupancy	75%	+35%
Monthly revenue	RM11,400	+138%
Average daily rate	RM392	+3%
Guest reviews	28 (4.8 average)	+133%

Financial Impact (3-Month Summary)

Period	Monthly Revenue (RM)	Management Fee (RM)	Net to Owner (RM)
Before iHousing	4,800	0 (self-managed)	4,800
After iHousing (Month 3)	11,400	300 (flat fee)	11,100
Monthly increase	+6,600	+300	+6,300

Annual impact: Additional RM75,600/year for RM3,600/year in management fees.

What Worked (Key Success Factors)

1. Multi-platform presence: 5 platforms captured demand wherever guests searched
2. Dynamic pricing: Lower weekday rates filled gaps without sacrificing weekend revenue
3. Professional photos: 47% increase in clicks justified the RM400 investment immediately
4. Activity-focused content: Guests could imagine themselves enjoying the space
5. Targeted marketing: Different messages for fishing enthusiasts, families, couples
6. Communication excellence: responsive responsiveness built guest confidence

What Didn't Work (Lessons Learned)

• Initial weekday pricing (RM350): Still too high. Reduced to RM220 to hit 50%+ occupancy.
• Generic activity descriptions: Vague "beach activities" didn't convert. Specific details (fishing spots, restaurant names, prices) worked better.
• Expecting corporate bookings immediately: Took 6 weeks of outreach to secure first corporate contract.

The iHousing Difference

Why did Mr. Lim's property succeed with iHousing when it failed with commission-based management?

Commission model problem: Manager earns 20% regardless of occupancy. Low weekday rates reduce their commission, so they discourage strategies that maximize volume.

iHousing flat-fee advantage: We earn RM300/month whether the property makes RM5,000 or RM15,000. Our incentive is maximizing total occupancy and revenue, not protecting per-night commission.

Can This Work for Your Coastal Property?

Mr. Lim's property isn't unique. We've replicated similar results across 20+ beach properties in Melaka. The principles are the same:

• Professional photos that show lifestyle, not just features
• Multi-platform listing to capture all demand
• Dynamic pricing that fills weekday gaps
• Activity-based content that helps guests imagine experiences
• responsive communication that builds confidence
• Targeted marketing for specific guest segments

The exact tactics vary by location (Pantai Kundur vs. Tanjung Bidara vs. other beaches), but the strategy is consistent.

Ready to Turn Around Your Coastal Property?

iHousing's flat RM200-300/month fee means we only succeed when you do. We don't profit from commission—we profit from performance.

Our team will:

• Take professional photos (or review your existing ones)
• List your property on 5 platforms with optimized content
• Implement dynamic pricing based on market conditions
• Handle all guest communication responsive
• Coordinate cleaning, maintenance, and check-ins

CTA: WhatsApp us for a free coastal property assessment. We'll analyze your current performance and show you exactly what's possible.

Already have management but underperforming? Ask us about our transition guarantee. We'll take over your existing bookings and increase your revenue within 90 days—or you can switch back with no penalty.