::Le Mag Group:: HAPPY HOLIDAY LETTINGS

HAPPY HOLIDAY LETTINGS, Nov 07

With the “Credit Crunch” affecting us all, many more people are turning towards renting their Maison Secondaire. So if you are now considering renting your holiday home for the first time, whether it is a 2-bed property on a development or a 5 bed detached in its own grounds with a swimming pool, the rules are the same. It may seem obvious to some but it is surprising how many owners forget the basics. In this, the first of a two-part article, experts Holiday Villa Services give us their hints and tips for successful holiday lettings.

Personal items should be locked away – your guests want to feel your property is their home during their stay.
You will need at least 2 sets of bedding, towels, tea towels and bath mats for maximum occupancy; otherwise same day changeovers will not be possible. All spare linen should also be locked away; some owners like to keep a third set locked away for their own personal use. Try to keep all the linen coordinated and of a reasonable quality. Many owners think its fine to buy new for their home and bring over their old linen and towels for their rental property, but nothing looks worse than uncoordinated and worn bed linen and towels. Guests have worked hard for and have been looking forward to their holiday and deserve better. Washable mattress & pillow protectors are a must and should be washed at minimum at the start of each season. A washing machine is vital to enable guests to do a mid stay wash if they are staying for two weeks or more and do not want to pay for a mid stay change of laundry. White sheets are very practical as they allow bleaching and washing at high temperatures in case of stubborn stains. Plain duvet covers can always be made more attractive by accessorising with a few coloured cushions or throws.
Sofa beds are a good way of increasing the potential occupancy of your holiday home; however, for smaller properties it’s not really advisable.
Two sets of keys should be available – a full set for your agents, including locked laundry cupboards and just the necessary keys for the guests.
A wall mounted Combination Key box such as a Masterlock is a good idea and on payment of the balance the combination number can be given to your guests. This prevents expensive Meet & Greet charges, especially if a late arrival is anticipated.
Eating al fresco is the norm so a BBQ is a good selling point and will give Dad a chance to practice his skills. A table and sufficient chairs for dining outside are must.
Satellite TV is a good selling point as guests can keep up to date with their favourite soaps and Dad can check the sports. It is surprising how many guests will have a night in with the TV.
Make sure the property is low maintenance and not too cluttered; large gardens and lawns look very nice but are expensive to maintain and soon look a mess if left unattended for even a short time.
Take an accurate inventory of everything from the TV & DVD player down to the knives and forks and provide a copy for the guests to check. It goes without saying; do not leave out your best china and crystal for guests to use – accidents do happen. It is advisable to purchase crockery, cutlery and glasses locally so your guests or Management Company can easily replace breakages. It’s surprising how the numbers of glasses increases as guests break one and then replace it with a box of three or four.
A loose-leaf folder is a good idea and as well as instructions on the use of appliances etc. can also include brochures from local attractions and restaurants. You will find that this increases year on year as guests will add to it. A guest book for comments is a great idea.
Practically all existing owners insist on the renters leaving the property as they found it and therefore it is important that there is a supply of suitable cleaning materials and equipment – a vacuum cleaner and a mop and bucket are essential and it surprising that some owners forget these most important items.
Holiday Villa Services is a professional, family run company based in Herault in the Languedoc and specialising in the management and maintenance of Villas and holiday homes. They provide a full service, whether you rent your property for commercial use, or just enjoy as a holiday home for yourselves and friends and family.
You can contact Holiday Villa Services at Résidénce Le Moulin de la Mer, 70 rue Salvador DALI, 34420 Portiragnes. Tel: +33 (0)4 67 01 42 41, e-mail:- enquiries@holiday-villa-services.com or visit www.holiday-villa-services.com