Maximising Self-catering Letting Potential
Many owners run their holiday property as a business and want to
maximise occupancy and rental income. Some owners will have a cherished
family holiday home they want to use themselves on a regular basis –
even a few bookings will help cover the costs of maintaining the
property. Whatever your aims, Mackay’s Agency can help you.
How to
attract customers
First impressions are very important –
even before customers arrive. Your property should have a clean,
uncluttered look and be well-maintained.
Prepare your property for our representative’s
visit so that the
photographs taken outside and in show your cottage at its best – make up
the beds and put on the lamps. If there is an open fire, light it. Some
plants or flowers will further enhance the images. Make sure that any
garden or outside area is tidy and well-kept. Customers are very
discerning and will always prefer to book a property that looks inviting
in the photographs.
Keep rents reasonable for the first season to encourage plenty of
interest from first-time visitors – it’s easy to put prices up if you
have had a good first season of bookings but much harder to reduce them
half way through a poor season.
Customers don’t like to pay for “extras” – include fuel in your prices
and provide bed linen for all guests.
Limit restrictions - the fewer restrictions you place on your
property, the more chance you have of good booking levels. Properties
that don’t accept children or pets may struggle to attract customers,
although we understand that your personal preferences are important.
How to encourage repeat business
The only way to build up to optimum occupancy levels is to ensure that
customers have an enjoyable holiday and want to return to your property
or at least to recommend it to friends and family. This does not mean
that you need to be on hand throughout their stay – just follow these
simple guidelines:
Prepare the cottage fully for each new
arrival – it must be spotlessly clean throughout, aired and heated as
necessary and with beds
 made up.
Make your new guests welcome – a tea tray, bottle of wine and/or some
flowers with a note from you will be much appreciated. If you cannot
meet your guests personally, contact them within 24 hours to make sure
they are settling in.
Leave information in the property with your contact details in case of
any problems. Provide useful telephone numbers, tourist information and
instructions for the use of appliances. Keep a Visitors’ Book.
If you do not live locally, make sure that you organise a very
reliable caretaker to attend to all of these matters for you
Remember that if customers arrive to a clean, welcoming property,
they are more likely to leave it that way and to return.
Full details of our letting service are available in our Owner
Information Pack – click here to receive a copy
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