RM15,000/month Melaka Raya Property: How iHousing Did It

A Real Success Story: From Empty Condo to RM180,000/Year Airbnb Business

In August 2024, a Melaka Raya condo owner approached iHousing with a problem:

"My 2-bedroom condo has been empty for 6 months. I'm losing RM1,500/month in maintenance fees. Can you help?"

We analyzed the property, developed a strategy, and implemented it.

12 months later, that same condo generates RM15,000/month (RM180,000/year) in gross revenue.

After management fees and expenses, the owner nets RM12,500/month.

This article breaks down exactly how we did it - the strategies, optimizations, and decisions that transformed an empty condo into a top-performing Melaka Raya Airbnb property.

The Property: Starting Conditions

Location Details

• Building: Melaka Raya condominium
• Unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 900 sqft
• Floor: Mid-level (8th floor)
• Condition: Vacant for 6 months, basic furnishings

Location Advantages

• Near Mahkota Medical Centre (5-min drive)
• Close to Melaka Sentral (3-min drive)
• Walking distance to eateries and shops
• Easy highway access (Ayer Keroh)

Challenges

• Building had no existing Airbnb presence
• Owner had no photos or listing setup
• Basic furnishings (not Airbnb-ready)
• No previous rental history

The Strategy: What We Did Differently

Phase 1: Property Assessment (Week 1)

We conducted a full assessment:

• Target market analysis: Business travelers + medical tourists + weekend visitors
• Competitor analysis: 25 nearby properties studied
• Revenue projection: RM12,000-18,000/month potential identified
• Investment needed: RM15,000 for furnishing and setup

Phase 2: Furnishing & Setup (Weeks 2-4)

We didn't just "furnish" the condo. We optimized it for the target market:

Investment: RM15,000

Bedrooms (RM7,000):

• Queen bed in master (quality mattress - RM2,200)
• Single beds in second room (bunk style - RM2,800)
• Premium linens, pillows, duvet (RM1,200)
• Blackout curtains, bedside tables, lamps (RM800)

Living Area (RM3,500):

• Comfortable sofa (sleeper - RM1,800)
• Smart TV with Netflix (RM1,200)
• Dining table, work desk (RM500)

Kitchen (RM2,000):

• Full refrigerator (RM900)
• Rice cooker, microwave, kettle (RM600)
• Cookware, utensils for 4 (RM500)

Other (RM2,500):

• High-speed WiFi (RM500)
• Washing machine (RM800)
• Air conditioning servicing (RM600)
• Decor, lighting, amenities (RM600)

Phase 3: Photography & Listing Creation (Week 5)

Professional Photography (RM800):

• 25 professional photos (shot during golden hour)
• Highlighted space, light, and location benefits
• Showed both lifestyle and functional features

Listing Copy:

• SEO-optimized title (targeted business travelers)
• Compelling description (600 words)
• Amenities list (25+ items)
• House rules (clear but welcoming)

Phase 4: Multi-Platform Launch (Week 6)

We didn't just list on Airbnb. We launched on 5 platforms simultaneously:

• Airbnb: Full optimization, Superhost goals
• Booking.com: Business traveler targeting
• Agoda: Malaysian and Singaporean market
• VRBO: Family and group bookings
• Expedia: International reach

All platforms with synchronized calendar (no double bookings).

Phase 5: Dynamic Pricing Implementation (Ongoing)

We implemented algorithm-based dynamic pricing:

• Base rate: RM180/night
• Peak season: +40-60% (weekends, holidays)
• Low season: -20% (weekdays, off-peak months)
• Last-minute discounts: -15% (within 3 days)
• Early-bird discounts: -10% (30+ days ahead)

The Results: Month-by-Month Performance

Month	Bookings	Occupancy	Avg. Rate	Gross Revenue
September 2024	12	40%	RM165	RM6,000
October 2024	16	52%	RM172	RM8,700
November 2024	18	60%	RM178	RMB10,000
December 2024	22	71%	RM185	RM12,400
January 2025	20	65%	RM182	RM11,000
February 2025	18	64%	RM188	RM10,700
March 2025	21	68%	RM192	RM13,000
April 2025	19	63%	RM195	RM11,700
May 2025	23	74%	RM198	RM14,200
June 2025	24	80%	RM205	RM15,600
July 2025	22	71%	RM200	RM14,000
August 2025	25	81%	RM210	RM16,800
Average	20	66%	RM188	RM11,700

Best Month (August): RM16,800/month

Year 1 Total: RM144,500 gross revenue

After reaching stability (Months 7-12 average): RM15,100/month

What Drove This Success?

1. Multi-Platform Strategy (60% More Bookings)

Booking breakdown by platform (Year 1):

Platform	Bookings	Percentage	Avg. Rate
Airbnb	98	42%	RM185
Booking.com	57	24%	RM198
Agoda	35	15%	RM175
VRBO	28	12%	RM210
Expedia	17	7%	RM190

Key insight: Booking.com and VRBO brought higher-paying guests (business travelers, families). Single-platform managers miss these.

2. Target Market Optimization

We identified three key guest segments:

A. Business Travelers (40% of bookings)

• Why: Melaka Raya business district, medical tourism
• Stay duration: 3-5 nights (weekday focus)
• Average rate: RM195/night
• Attractions: Work desk, fast WiFi, Netflix, kitchen

B. Medical Tourists (25% of bookings)

• Why: Near Mahkota Medical Centre
• Stay duration: 7-14 nights
• Average rate: RM170/night (with weekly discount)
• Attractions: Comfort, kitchen, quiet environment

C. Weekend Visitors (35% of bookings)

• Why: KL/Singapore weekend escapes
• Stay duration: 2-3 nights
• Average rate: RM200/night (peak pricing)
• Attractions: Location, amenities, value

3. Professional Photography Impact

Before vs. After professional photos:

• Booking conversion: 18% → 34% (+89%)
• Profile views: 250/month → 680/month (+172%)
• Inquiry rate: 12% → 27% (+125%)

Investment: RM800 for professional photos

Return: Additional RM45,000 in Year 1 revenue (estimated vs. similar properties without pro photos)

4. Dynamic Pricing Optimization

Dynamic pricing added 22% to revenue vs. fixed pricing:

Scenario	Fixed Rate Result	Dynamic Rate Result
Weekend peak	RM180 (booked)	RM220 (booked) = +RM40
Weekday low	RM180 (empty)	RM145 (booked) = +RM145
Holiday surge	RM180 (booked)	RM280 (booked) = +RM100

Result: RM25,000+ additional revenue in Year 1 from dynamic pricing alone.

5. responsive guest communication

Response time impact:

• Average response time: 18 minutes
• Booking conversion from inquiries: 68%
• Guest satisfaction: 4.9/5.0
• Superhost status: Achieved in 8 months

Key: Fast responses prevent guests from booking elsewhere.

6. Review Management Strategy

We actively managed reviews:

• Personal thank-you message after each stay
• Addressed concerns immediately
• Encouraged detailed feedback

Result (12 months):

• Total reviews: 89
• Average rating: 4.9/5.0
• 5-star reviews: 87 (98%)
• Superhost badge: Achieved

Income Breakdown: What the Owner Actually Earns

Metric	Monthly	Annual
Gross Revenue	RM15,000	RM180,000
Platform Fees	-RM2,100 (14%)	-RM25,200
Management Fee	-RM250 (flat)	-RM3,000
Cleaning	-RM2,000 (no markup)	-RM24,000
Supplies	-RM300	-RM3,600
Maintenance	-RM350 (actual cost)	-RM4,200
Net to Owner	RM10,000	RM120,000

Owner Keep Rate: 67% of gross revenue

ROI: RM120,000 annual net income on RM80,000 property investment = 150% annual return

What Made This Property Special?

Advantages We Leveraged

1. Location flexibility: Works for business, medical, and leisure guests
2. Size: 2BR accommodates couples, families, and small groups
3. Building quality: Newer condo with good amenities
4. Parking: Included (valuable in Melaka Raya)

Challenges We Overcame

1. No existing reviews: Started from scratch, built reputation over 6 months
2. New building to Airbnb: First property in building, set standard
3. Competition: 25+ nearby listings, differentiated through quality and marketing

Could This Be Replicated?

Yes, with these conditions:

• Right location: Near business districts, hospitals, or tourist areas
• Right size: 2BR is sweet spot for Melaka market
• Right investment: RM15,000 furnishing budget for quality setup
• Right management: Multi-platform strategy, dynamic pricing, professional service

What the Owner Says

"I was skeptical when iHousing projected RM15,000/month. I thought RM10,000 would be realistic. After 12 months, we're averaging RM15,000 and hit RM16,800 in peak season. The multi-platform strategy made the difference - Booking.com brings business travelers I'd never reach on Airbnb alone. And the flat fee means I keep most of the income."

"The key was trusting their process: Professional photos, 5-platform launch, dynamic pricing. It all added up to exceptional performance."

What This Means for Your Property

If you own a condo in Melaka Raya (or similar areas), this case study shows what's possible:

• Potential income: RM10,000-15,000/month (depending on size, location, setup)
• Key success factors: Multi-platform listing, professional photography, dynamic pricing, responsive management
• Investment needed: RM15,000 for furnishing (if starting from empty)
• Time to profitability: Month 1 (immediate booking after launch)

How iHousing Can Help You Achieve Similar Results

We replicate this success for our clients:

1. Property assessment: We analyze your property's potential
2. Strategy development: We create a customized plan
3. Professional setup: We handle photography, listings, platform setup
4. Dynamic pricing: We optimize rates automatically
5. responsive management: We handle guests, cleaning, maintenance

For Parkland Avenue by the Sea:

Pre-register now for:

• 1 Room: RM200/month flat fee management
• 2 Rooms: RM250/month flat fee management
• 3 Rooms: RM300/month flat fee management

For All Other Condos:

WhatsApp us for:

• Free property assessment
• Income potential projection
• Custom pricing (transparent, no hidden fees)
• Success roadmap for your specific property

Take Action Today

Your condo could be the next success story.

Whether you're starting from scratch (like this owner) or already hosting but not seeing results, iHousing can help you reach your property's full potential.

WhatsApp us now to discuss:

• Your property's income potential
• What's needed to optimize performance
• Transparent pricing for management
• Timeline to results

Join Melaka property owners earning RM10,000-15,000/month with iHousing's professional management.

Your condo shouldn't sit empty. Let's turn it into a RM180,000/year business.

WhatsApp us today. Let's get started.