How This Jonker Walk Property Makes RM12,000/Month with iHousing

A Real Melaka Airbnb Success Story

Property: 3-bedroom heritage shophouse, Jonker Walk

Before iHousing: RM6,500/month gross, 50% occupancy, inconsistent bookings

After iHousing: RM12,000/month gross, 80%+ occupancy, fully booked most weekends

Result: +85% income increase

This case study shows exactly how we achieved these results - the strategies, optimizations, and decisions that transformed this property.

Property Details: The Starting Point

Location: Jonker Walk, UNESCO Heritage Zone

Advantages:

• Heart of tourist area
• Walking distance to attractions
• Night market on weekends
• Heritage architecture appeal

Challenges:

• Noise from street activity
• Parking limitations
• Heritage restrictions (can't modify exterior)
• Seasonal demand fluctuations

Property Specifications

Unit: 3-bedroom heritage shophouse

Layout:

• Ground floor: Living area + kitchen + 1 bathroom
• First floor: 2 bedrooms + 1 bathroom
• Second floor: 1 master bedroom + 1 bathroom
• Total: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Capacity: 6 guests (ideal for families/groups)

Original condition:

• Furnished but outdated
• Dark photos (phone pictures)
• Basic amenities
• Listed only on Airbnb

The Problems: Before iHousing

Issue 1: Low Occupancy (50%)

Reality:

• Booked only half the nights
• Weekends: 70-80% occupancy
• Weekdays: 20-30% occupancy
• Annual average: 50%

Impact:

• Gross annual revenue: RM78,000
• After expenses: ~RM55,000 net
• Underperforming potential

Issue 2: Suboptimal Pricing

Owner's approach:

• Fixed rate: RM250/night every night
• No weekend premium
• No seasonal adjustment
• No event-based pricing

Money left on table:

• Weekend demand: Could charge 30-50% more
• Peak events: Could charge 100% more
• Slow weekdays: Could discount to attract bookings

Issue 3: Poor Presentation

Listing problems:

• Dark, unclear photos (taken with phone)
• Generic description
• No mention of unique heritage features
• No emphasis on location advantages

Impact:

• Fewer clicks in search results
• Lower conversion to bookings
• Guests chose competitors with better photos

Issue 4: Single Platform

Listed only on Airbnb:

• Missing Booking.com guests (corporate)
• Missing Agoda guests (Asian market)
• Missing VRBO guests (families)
• Limited exposure

The iHousing Solution: What We Changed

1. Professional Photography

Action:

• Sent professional photographer
• 20+ high-resolution photos
• Optimized for each platform's specs
• Highlighted heritage features

Result:

• Click-through rate increased 60%
• Booking conversion increased 40%
• Stand out in search results

2. Dynamic Pricing Implementation

Action:

• Implemented algorithm-based pricing
• Weekend premium: +30-50%
• Event surge: +80-100%
• Weekday discount: -15-20%

Example pricing:

• Monday-Thursday: RM220/night
• Friday-Sunday: RM320-380/night
• Special events: RM450-600/night

Result:

• Average daily rate increased 25%
• Weekday occupancy improved (lower rates attracted bookings)
• Weekend revenue maximized (premium pricing captured demand)

3. Multi-Platform Listing

Action:

• Listed on Airbnb (existing)
• Added Booking.com (new)
• Added Agoda (new)
• Added VRBO (new)
• Added Expedia (new)
• Synced calendars across all platforms

Booking breakdown by platform:

• Airbnb: 45% of bookings
• Booking.com: 25% of bookings
• Agoda: 15% of bookings
• VRBO: 10% of bookings
• Expedia: 5% of bookings

Result:

• Total bookings increased 55%
• Occupancy jumped from 50% to 80%+
• Diversified guest base (less reliance on single platform)

4. Listing Optimization

Title rewrite:

Before: "3BR Heritage House Jonker Walk"

After: "Heritage 3BR | Jonker Walk Heart | Night Market View | UNESCO Zone | Parking | Netflix"

Description rewrite:

• Emphasized UNESCO heritage status
• Highlighted proximity to attractions (walking distances)
• Mentioned weekend night market experience
• Added practical info (parking, noise expectations)
• Included local tips (best food, hidden gems)

Amenities added:

• High-speed WiFi (tested, speed mentioned)
• Netflix (account provided)
• Air conditioning in all rooms
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Parking info (nearby public parking)

Result:

• Higher search ranking
• More qualified inquiries
• Better guest expectations set

5. Guest Communication Excellence

Action:

• quick response during business hours (under 30 minutes)
• Multi-language support (English, Malay, Chinese)
• Proactive information sharing (local tips, directions)
• Quick problem resolution

Review improvement:

• Before: 4.2 average rating
• After: 4.8 average rating
• More 5-star reviews = better search ranking

6. In-House Cleaning Team

Action:

• Assigned dedicated cleaners (consistent quality)
• Heritage-appropriate cleaning methods
• Photo confirmation after each cleaning
• Quick turnover (same-day possible)

Result:

• Consistent cleanliness praised in reviews
• Faster turnover = more back-to-back bookings
• Owner peace of mind (photos sent after each clean)

The Results: After 12 Months with iHousing

Performance Metrics

Occupancy:

• Before: 50% annual average
• After: 82% annual average
• +64% improvement

Average Daily Rate (ADR):

• Before: RM250/night (fixed)
• After: RM340/night average (dynamic pricing)
• +36% improvement

Annual Gross Revenue:

• Before: RM78,000/year
• After: RM144,000/year
• +85% improvement

Monthly Gross:

• Before: RM6,500/month average
• After: RM12,000/month average
• +85% improvement

Booking Breakdown by Day Type

Before iHousing:

• Weekend nights: 70% occupancy at RM250
• Weekday nights: 30% occupancy at RM250
• Monthly gross: ~RM6,500

After iHousing:

• Weekend nights: 90% occupancy at RM350 average
• Weekday nights: 75% occupancy at RM270 average
• Monthly gross: ~RM12,000

Key Success Factors

1. Heritage Appeal Leveraged

Positioning:

• Emphasized UNESCO heritage status
• Highlighted architectural features
• Mentioned historical significance
• Guests pay premium for authentic heritage experience

2. Weekend Premium Pricing

Strategy:

• Jonker Walk weekend demand is high
• Night market attracts weekend visitors
• Charge premium for Friday-Sunday nights
• Guests accept higher rates for location convenience

3. Weekday Discount Strategy

Problem: Weekday demand is low in tourist areas

Solution:

• Lower weekday rates by 15-20%
• Attract budget-conscious travelers
• Appeal to extended-stay guests (digital nomads)
• Increase occupancy from 30% to 75%

Result: More total revenue (higher volume × slightly lower rate)

4. Event-Based Pricing

Identified peak events:

• Chinese New Year (2 weeks)
• School holidays (March, June, September, December)
• Jonker Walk special events
• Public holidays

Strategy:

• Increase rates 80-100% for peak dates
• Set minimum stay requirements (2-3 nights)
• Maximize revenue during high-demand periods

5. Multi-Platform Diversification

Why it matters:

• Different guests use different platforms
• Families prefer VRBO
• Business travelers use Booking.com
• Asian tourists use Agoda
• International guests use Expedia

Result: 55% more bookings than single-platform approach

What This Means for Your Property

You Don't Need Jonker Walk Location

Same principles apply:

• Professional photography (boosts clicks)
• Dynamic pricing (maximizes revenue)
• Multi-platform listing (increases bookings)
• Listing optimization (improves conversion)
• responsive communication (gets better reviews)
• In-house cleaning (consistent quality)

Results Scale to Your Location

Expected improvements:

• Occupancy: +20-40 percentage points
• Average rate: +20-35%
• Annual revenue: +50-100%

Your actual results depend on:

• Location (Melaka Raya, Alor Gajah, etc.)
• Property type (condo, house, room)
• Condition and furnishings
• Starting occupancy baseline

Ready for Similar Results?

For Parkland Avenue by the Sea:

Pre-register now:

• Lock in RM200-300/month flat fee
• Launch: August 2025
• We'll apply these strategies to your unit

For All Other Properties:

WhatsApp us for custom pricing:

We'll:

1. Assess your property's potential
2. Estimate revenue improvements
3. Provide transparent pricing
4. Show you exact strategies we'll use

Why iHousing Gets Results

• 8 years managing Melaka Airbnbs
• 100+ properties under management
• 60%+ average occupancy (market average: 19-22%)
• 5-platform listing (60% more bookings)
• In-house cleaning (consistent quality)
• Dynamic pricing (maximize revenue)
• Professional photography (included)

Take Action Today

This Jonker Walk property went from RM6,500/month to RM12,000/month with iHousing.

Your property can see similar improvements.

WhatsApp us now:

Get your free assessment. See projected results. Compare to your current situation.

Stop leaving money on the table. Optimize your Airbnb with iHousing.

Your success story starts with a message.