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About Us

HomeAbout Us

Dune Vacation Rentals was established in 2013, as a boutique luxury vacation rental company. Bob Dickhaus, the founder and managing partner, has over 35 years of property management experience; including serving as President of Johnson Controls global facility management business, and for the last 25 years being a proven real estate services entrepreneur. Dune is one of 30A’s most successful vacation rental companies, measured by owner and guest satisfaction; providing services to approximately 150 high-end luxury homes on 30A in the WaterColor®, Seaside®, WaterSound®, Rosemary Beach® communities and select gulf front properties.

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MEET THE OWNERS

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Bob Dickhaus

Founder

Bob started Dune Vacation Rentals in 2013 after 35 years of property management experience which included serving as a corporate officer and President of Johnson Controls global property and facility management business. Highlights from this period in time include managing launch operations at the Cape Canaveral space center and providing outsourced real estate management services to dozens of major corporations including IBM, Bank of America, and AT&T.
During the past twenty years Bob has been a successful entrepreneur and started and managed three real estate software and technology companies prior to relocating fulltime to 30A in 2011. Currently he serves as Dune’s leader and “service quality champion”. Bob has been married to his wife Maggie for 40 years, has two children and five grandchildren, and enjoys the beach and golf in his spare time.

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Nada Chastain

General Manager of Vacation Rental Properties

Nada joined Dune in 2014 shortly after its formation. She has served as a property manager, maintenance manager and director of operations prior to being promoted into her current role. Nada has over 35 years experience in the hospitality business spanning both the restaurant and vacation rental industries. At Dune, she is responsible as General Manager, for the day-to-day operations of our vacation rental business including our property management and maintenance teams. Nada is one of our prayer warriors; and enjoys her children, trips to the mountains and serving in her local church.

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Perry Birger

General Manager of Private Home Management

Perry joined Dune in 2018, as Maintenance Manager during a period of rapid growth, where he oversaw our entire maintenance team prior to separating our vacation rental and private home customers into two business segments. Perry’s background includes 10 plus years of residential construction experience where he was a general contractor in Tennessee prior to relocating to 30A. Today, Perry is responsible as General Manager for our Private Home Management customers and our rapidly growing projects and renovations business. Among his other accomplishments Perry is a licensed realtor (not currently active) and accomplished yoga instructor. He and his wife Corey live on the bay in Freeport.

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Alicia Hilyard

Director of Property Management

Alicia joined Dune in early 2018, bringing twenty plus years of vacation rental management experience with her, that included a senior management role with St Joe Club and Resorts and a stint with The Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company. A true industry veteran, she possesses a deep understanding of all facets of the vacation rental business. Her responsibilities include overseeing our property management team, currently consisting of six professional managers, with responsibility for approximately 100 vacation rental homes along 30A. Alicia and her husband Dan, who is a retired Navy diver and continues to serve the Navy as a civil servant, reside in Lynn Haven.

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Katie Witt

Director of Marketing and Revenue Management

Katie joined Dune in early 2020. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Katie started her career in the independent living industry, prior to moving with her husband to 30A. Her aptitude for all things technology and strong math and analytic skills earned her two rapid promotions at Dune and her current role as Director of Marketing and Revenue Management. Katie is responsible for our website, rental projections, 3D and drone property photography, social media and most importantly pricing and revenue management for our vacation rental customers. Katie has a heart for service and has volunteered in a variety of roles for the Make a Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Wounded Warrior; she and her husband Hayden who is a commercial pilot reside in Freeport.

PHILOSOPHY:

Our philosophy can be summed up in a single word “partnership”. We view owners as partners who, together with Dune, manage properties in a way that generates the highest financial returns by ensuring the property is competitively priced and broadly advertised to maximize revenue, while maintaining and enhancing property values.

Our goal is to make “raving fans” of our guests and be the best vacation rental provider; that unlike larger companies has the ability to deliver customized services. We recognize the importance of understanding the unique differences and needs of each client and can custom tailor a program that meets your specific investment property objectives.

We train our associates to manage and treat your home like it is their own with the goal of maintaining your property condition like it is a non-rental.

 

PORTFOLIO:

Our operating area is limited to 30A and focused specifically on the WaterColor®, Seaside®, WaterSound®, Rosemary Beach® communities and select gulf front properties. We are highly selective in adding properties that only meet the highest quality levels; and limit the number of luxury properties served in any one community to avoid overlap and competition between similar properties. An operating strategy that results in higher revenue for our owners who on average generate in excess of $250,000 in rental revenue each year.

 

MARKETING:

We believe, and are leaders, in multi-channel marketing. The majority of guests book directly with us through our website and “Dune Direct” guest loyalty program driven by significant investments in SEO, email, pay for click, social media and print advertising. In addition, we utilize 10 plus web-based advertising channels including VRBO/HomeAway® where we have earned premier partner status which is only awarded to the top 10% of management company providers.

 

OPERATIONS:

The core of our service delivery team are our property managers, who average 12 years of property management experience each, and who serve as your single point of accountability. Our maintenance team uses branded vehicles and fulltime, uniformed and trained personnel. Our maintenance philosophy is to self-perform as many services as possible and lower operating costs for owners; we maintain a staffing ratio of one tech per 15 homes ensuring responsiveness. Housekeeping is provided by small companies exclusively under contract with Dune. We assign the same cleaners to your home each week that are closely supervised and their work inspected by our property managers to deliver to an industry leading Dune standard of cleanliness. Linens and towels are of a luxury quality level and laundered off-site but managed and labeled specific to each home, eliminating linen pool expenses and quality problems.

 

TECHNOLOGY:

Dune Vacation Rentals is an industry leader in the use and application of technology in all facets of our business. Our cloud-based property management software platform enables us to easily manage and integrate multiple 3rd party marketing channels resulting in higher revenue for owners. Mobile applications for maintenance, housekeeping and guest management provide consistent and efficient management of core services. Dune Vacation Rentals use of 3D imaging and drone photography of properties under management, enhances property marketing including 360 views, virtual tours, floor schematics and use of virtual reality property viewing.

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

As a Company, Dune Vacation Rentals is committed to environmental sustainability, community service and the active support of programs and associations sponsored through volunteerism of our team members. Specific areas of service include the Easy on 30A benefit which supports The Sonder Project, Muscogee Nation of Florida, Lighthouse Family Retreats and the Alaqua Animal Refuge.

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