Slice of paradise made easy

Julie Ferne (left) and Leslie Preston intend Bachcare to do the things that 'rob' owners of precious holiday time. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Leslie Preston's Bachcare business gives Kiwi bach owners the very thing she wanted herself - someone to take care of the household tasks at the very place she went to get away from it all.

Modern bach owners have become so busy they don't want to take days out of their holidays to get their baches up to scratch, she said.

With its network of "bach managers" throughout the country, Bachcare helps to do the things that "rob" owners of their precious holiday time.

This can include preparing the house for their arrival by airing it out, filling up gas bottles, mowing the lawn, making the beds, stocking the cupboards and having a pizza waiting in the oven when they arrive.

As well as cleaning up when they leave, Bachcare also offers maintenance and security checks during the year, and a rental service for the properties.

"We're like little mice, scrabbling behind the scenes,"she said.

It's local bach managers who carry out the work, each responsible for a cluster of homes in their area which they get to know inside out.

They are supported by a small team who work with Preston in an Auckland office.

Bachcare's strongest presence is in the Coromandel, where the business began.

Preston and her husband Stefan (chief executive of Pacific Retail's Bendon lingerie subsidiary) found that so much time at their Hahei beach house was devoted to general maintenance and cleaning they weren't getting the chance to relax and enjoy the benefits.

They discovered friends and neighbours were in a similar situation and Preston started thinking of services a bach management business could provide.
Her mother-in-law, Julie Ferne - a Hahei resident - provided the local touch she needed to carry it out.

Together, they've built up the number of baches in the network in the past year to 50, stretching as far north as Tokerau and as far south as Queenstown.

Preston describes it as a one-stop-shop for holiday home owners.

Its point of difference to other cleaning and rental services is the relationships between the bach owners and managers.

As well as preparing the house at either end of the holiday, bach managers can also help prepare for special events such as weddings or parties, and their local knowledge helps source things such as a spare ironing board or a babysitter.

For owners who rent their homes out, bach managers can meet the tenants on arrival to let them into the house, and inspect it when they leave.

The services are all pay-as-you-use, and range in price from $25-$100.

The fact that bach managers show a natural interest in the property throughout the year provides extra piece of mind for the owner.

"It's like having a trusted neighbour," Preston said. "They're your eyes and ears on the ground when you can't be there."

Although Preston has staff to help in the Auckland office, she's on call around the clock. For the former Vodafone marketing executive, running her own business is a different lifestyle from the corporate world.

Although it's been a "rollercoaster ride", Preston is enjoyed building it up from scratch, adding layers to the business.

To date, this has been personally funded, and Preston said it's still in the investment phase.

An American, she thinks it is somewhat ironic she's started a company centred on managing a piece of Kiwiana - the bach. She hasn't been able to find a concept like Bachcare here or in the United States. "People have been waiting for something like this," she said.

Many of the basic services Bachcare provides have long been carried out informally by friends and neighbours, but owners often feel guilty for the imposition, or uncomfortable stipulating how they'd like things done because it's a favour.

"It's become obvious it's a necessary service," she said.

Although Bachcare is targeting busy professionals, Preston's aim has been to keep the services affordable so all bach owners can benefit.

She thinks her corporate background has helped her set her sights high for the business.

"I want it to be the pre-eminent household management business, known in every major holiday community."

Baches without the chores

Bachcare

* Holiday home management company Bachcare provides a range of services to help owners escape maintenance chores on their holidays.

* Co-founders Leslie Preston and Julie Ferne say they help with the things that rob bach owners of precious holiday time.

* The 15-month-old company has 50 baches in its network and 11 bach managers throughout the country.

Homes away from home

* One in 11 Kiwi families own a bach.

* Most spend an average of 36 days there a year.

* Their favourite activity when they arrive is to kick back on the deck with a glass of wine and a barbecued sausage.

Source: Bachcare