Top tips for holiday home owners

Holiday home owners always welcome top tips to help them get the best return from their investment – and the phone numbers of the best local plumbers!

If you’re thinking of setting up a holiday home or have recently purchased a property to rent out there are a number of things that you need to think about.

Number 1- Don’t make the assumption that just because you love your property everyone else will. Be prepared for wear, tear and damage.Number 2- Treat it as a business and be prepared to make adjustments to it that you might not think are necessary or are to your taste but will make it more attractive to holiday makers.Number 3- Define who you think your property will appeal to – an old fisherman’s cottage with one or two bedrooms, steep stairs and open fires will appeal to couples while a large open plan, five bedroom house located two minutes walk from the beach will attract families or groups of friends. Decide whether you want to allow people to bring pets to your holiday property.Number 4- Once you know your market, make the facilities fit. Soft lighting, wood for the fire, tea light holders and information on romantic walks, quiet restaurants and secluded bays would be perfect for properties attracting couples. However for a property attracting families and groups of friends, games like Twister, an area to dry lots of swimming costumes and wet suits, a large dining table, furniture that doesn’t have sharp corners, WiFi and details of the local take away restaurants would be more appropriate.Number 5- Make sure the numbers add up. Don’t assume you will have someone staying in your property every week of the year. Even the most popular cottages in Cornwall have weeks when they stand empty.

We asked our very own marketing manager, Becky Tidd to sum up her years of experience in letting holiday cottages in Cornwall in one sentence for holiday home owners. It’s this… “People want to holiday in a property that is as good as or better than their own home – they want to live the dream – and to successfully let your property you need to help them realize that dream.”

If you have any top tips to pass on to holiday home owners please pop your comments onto this post. We’re often asked for advice and we’re sure your ideas would be appreciated by owners.