The performance of care.
There is a gap between a holiday house and a high-performance asset.
In a maturing coastal market, simply listing your property on a portal is no longer a strategy; it is a baseline. To outperform the market and protect your capital, your home must move beyond the transactional noise of Airbnb and become a Cultural Anchor.
At Pilot Hill Group, we apply the rigour of an Investment Manager to the soul of a Cultural Curator. We don’t just watch your calendar; we engineer your performance.
Stay well. Own smart. Belong completely.
The diagnosis
Most holiday homes in the Northern Rivers are managed, not engineered. Generic agents treat your investment as a line item in a rental roll. They operate from behind a desk six days a week, forcing guests to navigate the friction of stopping for keys before they even reach your door.
When a brand is passive and disconnected from the physical home, the only lever they can pull to drive occupancy is price. This ‘race to the bottom’ erodes your margins, attracts the wrong demographic, and neglects the physical integrity of your home.
The Oceanstays Truth: A home that is poorly curated and passively managed will always be forced to compete on price. A home that is strategically positioned competes on desire.
2. The core promise
Stay well. Own smart. Belong completely.
We manage the entire coastal property arc: Stay. Own. Invest. Belong. We bridge the gap between Tactile Connection (how it feels) and Commercial Strategy (how it performs).
Our mission is to deploy a Multi-Lever Revenue Strategy that ignores market averages to hunt for Alpha returns. We are for the owner who views their property as a high-performance asset - one that requires disciplined, hands-on care to yield maximum ROI across its entire lifecycle.
3. The three levers of asset engineering
I. Active Guardianship (The Physical Audit)
While other agents stay in their offices, we are in your home.
The Hands-On Standard: We don't just check properties, we audit them. Our team prepares and styles the home for every single arrival. Lights on, music playing and a handwritten note on the table.
Maintenance & Protection: We use a network of trusted local trades to ensure repairs are handled immediately. To protect your margin and guest reviews, we maintain a suite of backup loan appliances (fridges, etc) to deploy if yours fail mid-stay.
The Paper Trail: Every stay is backed by a signed inspection report. This ensures we have immediate recourse in the event of damage. A level of accountability generic agents cannot provide.
The Impeccable Reset: Through Coldstream House in the Yamba region, we provide elite cleaning and laundry at subsidised rates (saving owners 16% to 29%).
II. The 5-Star Engine (Social Proof)
We are obsessed with reviews because reviews are the currency of search algorithms and guest selection.
Proven Performance: Since 2022, over 100 owners have joined us. Our portfolio carries a 9.5-9.6 Superhost rating and a Net Promoter Score of 96/100.
The Necessities Protocol: A 5-star review is built on the details. We provide quality olive oil, pantry staples and locally made gifts. We are for owners who understand that these small investments prevent guest friction and drive the repeat bookings that sustain long-term ROI.
III. Strategic Authority (The Yield Multiplier)
24/7 Guardianship: Our average response time is under 10 minutes, 7 days a week. We capture high-intent travelers that 9-to-5 agencies miss.
The Result: Our occupancy consistently sits 9% to 45% above the local market average.
4. Beyond the booking.
We don’t just fill calendars; we engineer revenue through multiple non-traditional streams:
The Winter Strategy: We eliminate seasonal dead zones by targeting high-quality long-term winter stays (3–9 months), securing consistent cash flow when the market is quietest.
Configural Engineering: We analyse if splitting your property configuration can double your audience. It’s appealing to both luxury couples and large groups.
Amenity Upgrades: We provide bespoke recommendations (from up-styling to specific amenity additions) designed specifically to manufacture a scarcity premium and trigger optimum returns.
Production & Shoot Revenue: We position select homes as a Location House for brands and film crews. A single day shoot can generate up to $3,000.
The Power of the Oceanstays Audience Your property is powered by the Oceanstays.com.au brand engine. With a direct audience of over 10,000+ coastal enthusiasts, Oceanstays is the Cultural Gatekeeper that guests trust. This brand equity is your greatest commercial advantage: we don't just list on platforms; we leverage our own ecosystem to drive direct bookings, bypass the price wars of generic OTA sites and foster the deep guest loyalty that ensures your property remains a top performer in any market cycle.
5. The commercial thesis.
Our Fee: 15.9% + GST | Set-up Fee: $0
In property strategy, the most expensive choice is a ‘cheap’ agent. A discount agent at 13% lacks the engine to hold your price or drive your volume, eventually slashing rates to fill calendar gaps.
Our focus is your Net Bank Balance, not our fee percentage. We put more money in your account because our engine works on every side of the ledger:
The Rate: We hold a premium nightly price through brand authority, editorial storytelling, and "Desire-based" marketing.
The Volume: We drive higher occupancy through 24/7 response times, elite guest retention, and diversified revenue (shoots/winter stays).
The Overheads: We widen your margin by actively managing costs—including subsidized cleaning and laundry via Coldstream House.
The Protection: We protect your capital through hands-on audits and signed inspection reports that ensure recourse in the event of guest damage.
The Reality: A 13% agent who slashes your rate and lacks a retention strategy is far more expensive than a strategic partner who maximises every available dollar.
6. Common considerations
Family and Personal Use: This is your anchor on the coast. Our system is designed for total flexibility. You simply block your calendar whenever you need it.
The Ecosystem Advantage: Through our link with Pilot Hill, we provide Ownership Thinking. We advise on yield optimisation and market timing to maximise your return before you eventually sell.
Forward bookings: If you’re joining us from another agency we will make your transition a smooth one.
7. The qualifier
We are selective because our reputation is your protection.
We are not for owners who aren't committed to maintaining the physical integrity and legal compliance of their home.
We are not for owners who aren’t committed to ongoing property maintenance
We are not for those who wish to cut corners on the guest experience or necessities.
We are for owners who are looking for a proactive and strategic partner who will actively manage, protect and optimise their asset.
8. Activate the strategy.
Strategy Appointment: We meet to discuss your long-term goals. Your yield, capital growth and lifestyle.
Physical Audit & Inspection: We walk the property to identify "Value-Add" opportunities, shoot-location potential, and maintenance requirements.
The Strategic Thesis: We provide a realistic yield projection and a bespoke plan to outperform the market.
9. Activate now.
Book your asset strategy session with your Asset Strategist.
Northern Rivers - Tess Pitcher
Lennox Head to Byron Bay - Naomi Herbert
If you’ve already met with a strategist and wish to proceed, please complete our Asset Intake Form .