Want to know how to maximise the potential of your holiday let? Good attention to detail or even adding a unique perk can make your property stand out and increase your bookings. There are many aspects to consider before beautifying the bedroom and kitting out the kitchen. To learn about what to provide in a holiday let, keep reading for some useful hints and tips.
Researching what to provide in a holiday let
Before deciding the details of what to provide in a holiday let, time will be well spent on a bit of research. Researching what types of features and décor attract guests and which unique points make listings stand out, can give you a distinct advantage in the market.
Using online travel agents and booking sites, you will be able to find similar properties in your area to compare pricing structures and see the types of features and decor. Paying attention to which listings are popular and which listings are less popular will be valuable information. Understand the commonalities between the popular listings to find trends that appear to work in that area.
Using the same online searches will also reveal guest reviews for each listing. These can be a fantastic resource, allowing you to gain insights into the guest’s experience that may be specific to your investment area. What did they like, what did they not like? Sometimes guests will focus on a small detail that really made a huge difference to their stay. For example, including electrical socket adapters that accept international plug designs.
The Level of Luxury
This is a decision that you will need to make early on and will be dependent on your target guest. Not all holiday lets will be cosy cottages by the sea so take the time to know who you will be catering for. High-end urban apartments should have a very different feel to a quick stop-over near the airport or a quirky shepherds hut up a farm track.
You may decide your target guest will be searching for cheap, no-frills accommodation. Perhaps they want a luxury feel but are on a budget. Or maybe they want a first class service on their honeymoon or anniversary. A rising market for holiday lets does in fact cater for local residents who need a home for visiting family members or for themselves whilst they renovate their own home. Understanding the needs of your guest will be vital when deciding what to include in a holiday let.
It will also be worth considering what your guests will spend their time doing. Should you cater for outdoor activities with easy to clean floors and drying areas? Will your guests be spending most of their time in the property and will appreciate comfort and space? Will they be eating out at local restaurants and not require the full mods-and-cons in the kitchen? Will they have pets (more on that later)?
The Rules of Thumb
Regardless of the type of guests, there are a few necessities that are generally expected in a holiday let property. The big one to start with is connectivity. In a world of information sharing and communications, more and more people rely on a strong internet connections for both work and leisure. Ensuring your property has fast and reliable broadband should be high on your list.
The next detail is one that is easy to overlook – leave clear user instructions for all appliances and devices. This simple step can make a big difference to the quality of stay for your guests and reduce any need for the how-does-this-work message. Clear instructions also go towards the impression of a well-managed, considerate and professionally run property.
Put yourself in the mindset of a guest or consider your own needs when you stay away from home. Other obvious ‘musts’ will likely be a great tv will a variety of channels, a comfy bed, a good shower and an easy to use kitchen with all that may be required – don’t forget the can opener and corkscrew! Of course, the furniture should be comfortable and representative of the amount of guests the property can host.
Pets
It is a fact that during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, the amount of households with pets increased. Pets are a large aspect of people’s lives and placing a pet restriction on your property could be a deal-breaker. It goes without saying that pets may not be practical for certain properties such as small apartments or within built up areas with limited green space.
Where appropriate, being pet-welcoming as opposed to just pet-friendly could make the difference. Having a dedicated area for pets to sleep, adequate outdoor space or even maps of local walks will be a nice touch. The downsides are the additional wear-and-tear, possible damage and cleaning, however these can all be factored into your pricing.
Informed decisions
If nothing else, make sure your decisions on what to provide in a holiday let are based on real-world information. Understand your guests, understand their needs and understand what is working for others. There are no true hard-and-fast rules because each property can be so unique. Some may be very simple, some may be traditional and some may be really quirky.
The Asset Academy community, with nearly 9000 members, is an amazing resource to bounce ideas off. Through local networking events, through the Advanced Training courses (including our Serviced Accommodation course) and through our social media groups, there is no shortage of people to ask for suggestions or feedback. It’s the community that makes us leaders in supporting our members, adding value and maximising the results for all.