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RENTALS


ANY QUESTIONS?: RENTALS


HOW TO SECURE BOOKINGS OUT OF SEASON?


R


ight now – between February half term and Easter – this is a common question most holiday home owners will ask. To achieve higher occupancy and more bookings outside of the peak season, a bit of creative thinking will help


a great deal when it comes to marketing your rental property. For summer destinations, why not target groups other than families with school children who are restricted to travelling during July and August only? Groups such as the retired and couples tend to be more fl exible in when they could travel – and for how long, especially if the destination is reached by budget airlines. Accepting longer stays, i.e. one month or more, will mean


lower rates per week, but it ensures a constant income during the rented period. Also highlight the benefi ts for visiting earlier or later in the


year – cheaper rental rates, less crowded resorts, seasonal scenery, winter sports, to name but a few. Suggest to your potential guests things they could do. It is also worth checking the local calendar for events and


festivities such as Valencia’s March Las Fallas (street parties) and Le Salon des Antiquaires (antiques fair in Toulouse every November), which could draw in an infl ux of visitors - and include attractive photos of such events. Make sure you have a proper pricing strategy in place. Use eye-


catching phrases such as “Late Deals”, “Early Bird Offers” and “extra night free when you stay for more than…” – most rental websites allow the setting up of special offers and late deals for a fee so that visitors can see clearly that you have a deal to offer. Offering cheaper rates to smaller groups who otherwise would


not consider a larger property will also help fi lling up those empty weeks.


While families are likely to book their summer holidays well


in advance, a large proportion of low season rental bookings are made fairly last minute. Despite all being said, don’t over-discount your rates just for


the sake of fi lling up the calendar – excessively low rates may put people off!


GUEST REVIEWS:


This month Alpha Holiday Lettings’ Tom Lei takes a look at two burning issues in the world of vacation rentals


GOOD NEWS OR BAD? Writing and researching internet reviews have become hugely popular in recent years, leading to the success of websites such as TripAdvisor.


These websites publish reviews submitted by guests who stayed at the reviewed establishments, including hotels, B&B’s and self-


catering accommodation. Most people planning their forthcoming trips fi nd reading user-submitted reviews invaluable. It is fair to say that holiday home owners have a love-hate relationship towards such websites and reviews, and it is vital to understand the potential impact of allowing reviews to be posted about your rental property.


Reviews are supposed to present a fair and unbiased point of view from real guests who previously stayed at the property. Positive reviews give potential guests confi dence and are the best kind of word-of-mouth you can get. For owners managing their private holiday lettings, this is a very useful marketing tool and could have a positive impact on rental bookings.


On the other hand, negative reviews could have a lasting and damaging effect. It is certainly useful for holiday makers to learn of any potential issues during the planning of their trips.


However, recently concerns have been raised regarding potential fake and negative reviews posted by unreasonable guests, disgruntled ex-employees or even competitors.


Some holiday home owners are wary of the fact that they do not have control of reviews submitted on their rental adverts. The debate on whether to embrace user-submitted reviews as a holiday home owner is set to continue to divide


THIS MONTH’S MONEY SPINNER


What and Where? Four bedroom villa at Aphrodite Hills, Paphos, Cyprus


Why is it so special? Located at the fi ve star Aphrodite Hills Resort in


Paphos, this luxury villa is generous in size and comes with a private infi nity swimming pool with stunning views of the valley and golf course. On-site facilities are world class too, including an award-winning Greco-Roman retreat spa, tennis academy and a 18-hole championship golf course. The short transfer time of 15 minutes from Paphos airport makes it a very popular resort with families and golfers alike.


This luxury property could fetch up to £2,650 per week during peak season, with occupancy averaging 28 weeks per year.


Property ID 13234 on AlphaHolidayLettings.com aplaceinthesun.com 69


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