Since the start of the pandemic, over 11,000-second homeowners have changed their properties to holiday lets. The majority of British holidaymakers are remaining on UK soil for their holidays, and homeowners are realising the potential their properties have. But just how do you make yours a success?

That is achieved through great planning and hard work. Read on as we discuss our holiday let agency's essential tips: 

1. Be Welcoming

Creating a welcoming atmosphere does not just involve being clean and tidy in your holiday let management strategy. It involves going the extra mile, making people feel like they are staying in a home from home. 

Leave a welcome pack for guests upon arrival. This may include details about the cottage, including the history of the building and surrounding area. It may have maps and ideas on places to visit in the locality. 

Don't forget to include the cottage basics in this as well. Think about instructions such as how to work the heating systems and appliances. 

You may even leave small hampers. They could have local goods, such as tea, biscuits, or even confectionary. 

Finally, make sure the holiday home is well stocked. It may include toiletries, lots of wood, and kindling for open fires or milk and bread in the kitchen. None of these has to add a huge amount to your budget and you can always reflect it in the price if they do. 

Making people feel welcome is also about accommodating their needs, especially if they have children or pets. So the parents get some downtime, consider keeping toys and games on the property for rainy days. You may also include baby changing facilities, nightlights, and dark blinds in rooms. 

2. Keep It Fresh

Even if you have a vintage, retro-style holiday home, it can still be kept fresh. People don't want to be in an old, shabby holiday cottage, even if it does look 'traditional'. All of this can be done in a way that still makes the cottage look modern and appealing. 

Make sure you give the cottage a coat of paint at least once a year. At the end of the season, do an inspection and replace anything that looks like it may be on its last legs.

If furnishings are looking worn and tired, then get them replaced. This is where buying good quality, expensive furniture saves you money in the long term. It lasts much longer than a flat pack and will see out more time in the house. 

Don't forget to look after the outside of the holiday home as well. Keep the garden tidy, making sure you maintain it every season. Add some decorative features to the outside to add character to the cottage. 

3. Know Your Market

The key to a successful holiday let agency is knowing your market. This involves hitting both your target audience and having great knowledge of the local area. This can help increase the maximum occupancy in your property.

For example, if your target audience is young and in their twenties, they may flock to the area once a year for a festival or event. If you don't raise prices in time, they could bag a bargain while other lets in the area are earning three or four times the normal amount.

Conversely, you need to know your seasons. Prices should generally rise in summer and during school holidays, then drop in low times. This means you can keep the occupancy up while reaping the best rewards. 

Knowing the area will also help with this. Anything from a local farmer's market to a bank holiday can impact prices, and you need to respond. If in doubt, hire a holiday let agency to do this for you that has automated pricing software. 

4. Improve Your Support

Getting support right for your Airbnb hosting or a holiday cottage is a balancing act. On one hand, you want to provide enough support so that people feel like you are there for them. On the other, they don't want you watching over them all the time, or feel like the place is not their own. 

Even the most well-managed property will encounter problems at some point. It is at these moments, and how you respond, that will ensure the guests enjoy their stay. Problems must be dealt with fast and efficiently to ensure good reviews and repeat bookings.

If you have other jobs to take care of or a family, this is not always easy. You cant be on hand day and night. In this case, it may be better to hire a holiday let management company that provides 24-hour support for your guests.

5. Add Some Great Touches 

Finally, to leave a great impression you need some memorable touches. These can be expensive, such as pools and hot tubs, or small but thoughtful gifts like flowers and chocolates. 

One of the simplest places to begin is the kitchen. Make sure it is well stocked with all the appliances and knives, glasses, and cutlery people will need. Take it a step further by having luxury coffee machines for use. 

For rainy days, make sure you have a good movie or tv package. This can make the difference between a wasted day and one spent on quality family time. This is especially important if the area is prone to bad weather. 

Finally, don't rule out luxury items. Hot tubs and pools can make a property, but they are expensive to install and maintain. You also don't want it to ruin the look of the property either. 

Holiday Let Agency

Now you know how to make it a success, it is time to give holiday cottage management a go. Set up a regular schedule and routine, then make sure you have great support. Soon you will have an excellent reputation and the bookings will take care of themselves. 

If you need help and assistance, then why not speak to Pass the Keys. We are a holiday cottage agency for UK homeowners. Click here to get a quote and start benefiting from our superb services.