Articles: Holiday let checklist: Keep your visitors happy
SB May 2007
You have finalised your
holiday let mortgage and secured your
property. So it’s all plain sailing now – isn’t
it?
Starting a holiday let business can be an
exciting and enjoyable experience. But of
course if you are going to be able to keep up
your holiday let mortgage, you have to make the
enterprise pay. So there are things you need to
bear in mind, in order to keep things running
smoothly.
Agent.
If you don’t live within popping distance,
you need to appoint a trustworthy person to
look after the property on your behalf.
Even if you do live reasonably close, you
may find it too much of a hassle to see to
all the cleaning, bed-changing etc. It’s
well worth your while to pay someone to deal
with these tasks, and also to be a keyholder
so that guests always have a back-up.
Inventory.
It’s highly desirable to keep an up-to-date inventory of
all the contents. Either you or your agent
– whoever shows the guests into the property
– should politely point out that breakages
should be paid for or replaced. Ideally,
the inventory should be checked through with
guests at the beginning of the stay, though
obviously this may not always be practical,
especially if they arrive tired late at
night.
Supplies.
Have plenty of spare fuses and light bulbs.
Provide other useful items such as a first
aid box.
Handbook or information folder.
This makes all the difference to visitors
who are new to the area. Include all the
information you would want to know yourself
– nearest shops, doctor’s surgery, petrol
station, telephone numbers for dentist,
plumber, electrician, and of your local
agent if you have one (your own if you
haven’t).
Guides.
Include simple guides and instructions to
any gadgets in the house – washing machine,
dishwasher, TV, CD player etc.
Tourist information.
Provide brochures for local attractions –
you can get them from the tourist office.
Include a map of the area and instructions
for getting to the major attractions.
Equipment.
Put yourself in your visitors’ shoes and
imagine what you would want in their place.
(Stay there yourself for a couple of nights
if you can, so you can identify what’s
missing.) Make sure there’s a corkscrew,
tin-opener, vegetable peeler etc. Visitors
usually appreciate a microwave (WITH
instructions of course).
Welcome pack.
If possible have a few items waiting for
your guests when they arrive – bottle of
wine, tea, coffee, biscuits. It can be very
simple but shows thought. Flowers in the
house are really appreciated.
Attention to these matters will make sure your
visitors come back next year – AND tell their
friends about you! Repeat business is the best
business – and the best way to ensure your
holiday let mortgage can be paid off without
problems.
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