Holiday cottage

nelly55 · May 25, 2016

Where do you advertise, any advice. sorry didn't explain very well .
We have a cottage that oh decided to let having spoken to several holiday letting agencies the commission charges vary from 20% upwards.
We are told to look at other income away from farming so seemed a good idea ,I just asked if others on this forum had advice on running a holiday let.
Good or bad.

Flossie · May 25, 2016

nelly55 said:
Where do you advertise, any advice.

On your signature here

(the bit that when you post, it's at the bottom underneath your post, or someone clicks on your profile and it shows up then. Mine is 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever'

)

@GTB @SilliamWhale

carbonfibre farmer · May 25, 2016

@7610 super q

SilliamWhale · May 25, 2016

Get on Holiday lettings.co.uk ie trip advisors booking portal, a website and agents can still do a good job.

I dont do enough on facebook and Twitter bur i should do.

7610 super q · May 25, 2016

I get an agent to do mine....24% commission

, but they do the advertising, take the bookings etc.
You really need your own website, we've thought about getting someone in to design one, but have yet to take the plunge.

nelly55 · May 25, 2016

Just done website on a site called promote my p!ace very easy and I think it was £69 a year.They have several templates quite pleased with my effort er sorry wife's .

J B · May 25, 2016

You don't tell us which country you are in, let alone county

Maybe that would be a start?

GTB · May 25, 2016

nelly55 said:
Where do you advertise, any advice.

You needn't spend a fortune on advertising. The best advert is word of mouth IMHO. You need a decent website and a face book page (with a link to your website) also helps. We have our cottages registered with an agency too which helps get bums on seats as it were. Hopefully those customers will book direct next time

spin cycle · May 25, 2016

residential lets better IMO provided you get right tenant

GTB · May 25, 2016

spin cycle said:
provided you get right tenant

That's the tricky bit...

Still Farming · May 25, 2016

Most are sec 109 limiting use per client per month per year so stops residential let long term.
But the rates are still demanded whatever ???

spin cycle · May 25, 2016

Still Farming said:
Most are sec 109 limiting use per client per month per year so stops residential let long term.
But the rates are still demanded whatever ???

yes quite....just sounded like op had a choice....things are changing around here, holiday restrictions being lifted

Still Farming · May 25, 2016

spin cycle said:
yes quite....just sounded like op had a choice....things are changing around here, holiday restrictions being lifted

O -do say how ?

spin cycle · May 25, 2016

Still Farming said:
O -do say how ?

north norfolk dc had a period where they invited applications a while ago....when that ran out ppl started applying via planning permission route....i wouldn't be surprised if perhaps permitted development could be used?
depends on your council i suppose

thing is it is madness to have holiday restrictions when local housing stock is depleted/under pressure...i've always thought it and perhaps thinking is changing....planning viz homes is in a right mess round here just now...they admit they don't know what to do

Still Farming · May 27, 2016

Also the VOA want to chase the goodlife 'ers and lot that rent out an annex or building as a side line as accomadation etc. and work from home without paying rates as farmers who diversify and put their head above the para pit and go above board get clobbered every time !

Penmoel · May 28, 2016

spin cycle said:
north norfolk dc had a period where they invited applications a while ago....when that ran out ppl started applying via planning permission route....i wouldn't be surprised if perhaps permitted development could be used?
depends on your council i suppose

thing is it is madness to have holiday restrictions when local housing stock is depleted/under pressure...i've always thought it and perhaps thinking is changing....planning viz homes is in a right mess round here just now...they admit they don't know what to do

Ceredigion are the same here

Will give planning to convert an old building to anything but a house to live in , holiday cottage 6 years ago and function room did not even go to committee, yet they would not let it be converted to housing.

Heard lately that they don't like holiday cottages now either, despite the rates they provide :scratchhead:

Our cottage is with an agent 20% commission which is quite a lump but they do seem to get a fair amount of bookings in a year. No doubt doing more on your own would be good but it is time consuming and you have to be "active " on social media etc

Agent is I suppose a lazy way of doing it, you are buying someone else's services that's all.

Still Farming · May 28, 2016

20% commission is steep but look out for their customer (holiday maker ) rate and you (client) price as usually varst difference and they not only take their commission out of your rate but vat also so in the end 20% is nearly 50% deductions ????

SilliamWhale · May 28, 2016

Penmoel said:
Ceredigion are the same here Will give planning to convert an old building to anything but a house to live in , holiday cottage 6 years ago and function room did not even go to committee, yet they would not let it be converted to housing.

Heard lately that they don't like holiday cottages now either, despite the rates they provide

Our cottage is with an agent 20% commission which is quite a lump but they do seem to get a fair amount of bookings in a year. No doubt doing more on your own would be good but it is time consuming and you have to be "active " on social media etc

Agent is I suppose a lazy way of doing it, you are buying someone else's services that's all.

Just started the process of trying to get planning to convert a brick built model farm shed about 100 year old to a dwelling. Been told could be difficult, stone apparently traditional but brick not. The alternative is it falls down slowly which is worse

frustratedfarmer · May 28, 2016

Depending on location long term lets can be much better, having done both an AST every time.

No furnishing damage and depreciation, no cleaning, laundry,fixing stupid things. No chasing for damages and arguing over deposit refund. No cancelled bookings last minute, leaving heating on or best yet, ringing late one night asking how to use the AGA!

AST - source good tenant, check them in and hopefully that's it...

Timbo · May 28, 2016

frustratedfarmer said:
Depending on location long term lets can be much better, having done both an AST every time.

No furnishing damage and depreciation, no cleaning, laundry,fixing stupid things. No chasing for damages and arguing over deposit refund. No cancelled bookings last minute, leaving heating on or best yet, ringing late one night asking how to use the AGA!

AST - source good tenant, check them in and hopefully that's it...

+1 No bloody business rates either !!

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