Running holiday apartments (or, rather, tree houses)

  • by Sam Lewis 

Interview with...

Danielle Schaumberg 
Age:
44
Business name:
Tree Houses of Montville
Goods/services:
Unusual holiday accommodation: luxury tree houses 
Location:
Montville, Sunshine Coast
Owned business for:
Five years
Reasons for selling:
Originally bought as an investment, moving on to other business ventures
Asking price:
$3m to $15m
 
B&B for sale

Danielle Schaumberg on the daily running of the business...

“With a resort of our size, being 24 cabins on 20 acres, there always has to be someone in the office answering the phones, emailing and updating Facebook and things like that.

“Then you have people on the ground doing the maintenance, mowing and fixing things in cabins and making the resort generally look pretty. Then we have housekeeping staff who clean the cabins.”

On the importance of surrounding yourself with competent, helpful people - and listen to their advice...

“First of all we had a three-week handover from the previous owner. I can’t put my hand on my heart and say that it was absolutely helpful.

“You just have to surround yourself with really good people. We have a good accountant and a good solicitor.

I formed alliances with other local accommodation businesses and I was like a sponge trying to pick up new lessons from them

“I formed alliances with other local accommodation businesses and I was like a sponge trying to pick up new lessons from them. Some of it has been trial and error, but most of the time we’ve got it right.”

“You have to set up a network, especially when you get into a business where you don’t have that past experience. You really need to surround yourself with people.

“But also just be informed. Be a sponge and absorb as much information as you can about the area you're in.”

Browse for a B&B for sale on BusinessesForSale.com

Find out the seven ways to boost your B&B