HOLIDAY HOMES Marketing your holiday home
If you’ve recently bought a new holiday home and want to make the best of your investment by renting it out to holidaymakers, you’ll probably end up marketing via one of the local holiday agencies. Here, Coast & Country Cottages, who market and manage more than 430 local properties from their Dartmouth and Salcombe offices, share a few words of wisdom.
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f you are a holiday homeowner thinking of letting for the first time, finding a professional, efficient and, above all, trustworthy agency to market and manage your
property is vital. When selecting an agency it is important to think
about your own expectations and choose accordingly. For example, if the holiday cottage is first and foremost your own weekend bolthole, ensure you choose an agent who offers flexibility on owner bookings. Secondly, seek the opinions of several different letting companies and look at their local profile, services, marketing and brand reputation. If the property is primarily a business venture or needs to generate a specific level of income, beware of companies who make false promises and predictions of unrealistic levels of bookings! Most importantly, go with the agent you feel most comfortable with – a good relationship between owner and agent really contributes to success. Once you have chosen your agency, it is time to start
preparing the cottage for bookings. As with any home, investment in the property is needed regularly in order to maintain standards and encourage repeat bookings – holiday customers are increasingly discerning so an eye for detail is exceptionally important, and a good agency should help you at every stage of preparing and letting your holiday property. A good agency will be
The Linhay, Higher Ash Farm, near Dartmouth
of wine, fresh flowers or a cream tea – help to make guests feel welcome and lead to repeat bookings – first impressions really do matter! The most commonly searched terms when
A good agency will be able to provide guidance and suggestions to
increase bookings.
able to provide guidance and suggestions to increase bookings. If the property is suitable for a young family, supplying baby friendly equipment (such as a cot and highchair) will add appeal, whilst many owners find that accepting one or two dogs significantly extends their holiday season. Welcoming touches – for example a bottle
prospective guests are looking for facilities in a holiday home are: Outside Space - Somewhere to eat and relax outside is a must for many holidaymakers. Everybody appreciates a garden, especially guests with children and those with dogs. If you’ve got a garden at your property, provide some outdoor furniture and make clear whether the space is enclosed and secure, or not. Pets Allowed - Dog owners often like to travel with their pets, so if your holiday home is in an area with plenty of walking opportunities it’s worth considering allowing pets. Views – The scenery in South Devon is second to none and many guests particularly look for accommodation with stunning sea, river or country views. Parking – In Dartmouth and the surrounding areas, parking is often a rare commodity, meaning properties with a private parking space are all the more attractive. Internet - Your guests may be on holiday, but they still want to be able to get online - Wi-Fi connections are the most popular. If you can offer any of these, then talk to your agency about how best to promote these to good effect or perhaps consider ‘tweaking’ your offer to give your holiday home the widest appeal. Finally, when preparing your property for letting, it is important to put yourself in the shoes of customers. Staying in the property, if you have not already done so, will help you identify the changes and improvements required to make sure a customer’s holiday experience is memorable for all the right reasons!
The Old Library, Dartmouth Pictures courtesy of Coast & Country Cottages
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