Letting Your Property
First Impressions
Offering your guests a warm and friendly welcome will create a lasting impression and get things off to the right start.
Firstly, it’s good to get the basics right. For example, ensuring the sure the key is easily accessible and the door opens without a nudge. A welcome pack is always a nice touch and can be greatly appreciated after a long commute. We’d recommend including tea, coffee, some nibbles and maybe a bottle of wine.
And of course, providing a detailed property folder is a must. This should include lots of local information, and all the details about your home. A guide to operating the television, and where to find the fuse box among other things.
So once you’ve got the basics covered, here are a few more recommendations to consider when staring on your letting journey.
Picture Perfect
It’s no surprise that we shop with our eyes and that includes when it comes to choosing a holiday cottage. Making sure your property is spotless and ready for photos will help it stand out on the search page from outset. Spending some time updating furnishings, curtains, throws and cushions will make the spaces feel welcoming and fresh. Think about adding some decorative touches such as artwork. These can be sourced at relatively low-cost but help to make the property cosy and give it character.
The quality and style of furniture and soft furnishings will influence the potential income of a property too. Regardless of what style you are creating your furniture must meet the ‘Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations’. Always look for the Kite Mark.
After your first few bookings, take a look at the feedback to see what could be improved or added.
Gadegets and Tech
Of course the point of a holiday is to get away from it all, and whilst some may like to be totally disconnected, most guests see high speed WiFi as essential when choosing where to stay. A Smart TV is a good idea too, to allow guests easy access to Netflix, Amazon etc.
Consider where people might charge their phone and adding a USB socket with the plug socket. Think about providing a shaver adaptor for charging electric toothbrushes and putting hair dryers in all the bedrooms. These are all touches that improve your guests’ experience.
Cooking Up a Storm
Being able to cook up a delicious breakfast or prepare a tasty evening meal is part of the attraction of a self-catering holiday. The kitchen needs to be equipped with all the gadgets, appliances and utensils they need to do so. A dishwasher is always appreciated (if you’re tight on space a dishwasher is preferable to a washing machine), and a coffee machine adds that extra touch of luxury.
There must be enough cutlery, crockery and glassware for all guests, plus spares (double the quantity if you have a dishwasher). Two top tips here are to buy robust tableware that’s less likely to break, and choose plain, white items as these are easier to replace if breakages occur.
Something for the Kids
When travelling with young children, there can be a lot to pack so providing some of the essentials such as a travel cot, high chair, toys and books can make things easier for your guests.
Teenagers often get overlooked when thinking about making properties family-friendly. Whilst their preference is probably space of their own, unlimited use of the WiFi and maybe even a games console would go down well. Providing some board games is a great way to get them involved in social time during their stay.
Our experienced team are here to support you every step of the way. Get in touch to start your letting journey with us today.
