Best size for holiday lets

[Timmy_45]

And/or a good USP. The market is getting to the point it's almost over provided in some areas so having something unique to offer seems to be increasingly key. Then of course keeping it when every other bugger decides to copycat it.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Yep. I'm researching this myself at present, and following a big facebook group has been excellent market research.

In a nutshell.

Groups are trouble. Even if they seem nice e.g. a hen party, once they get booze in them the nightmare begins.

Kids are trouble. If it's not the kids it's their mums causing scenes/chaos.

A damage/disruption deposit is a very good idea. To deter rowdy behaviour, leaving the accommodation in a total state, and/or stealing the bedding and towels.

Some of the more amusing/shocking anecdotes I've read are;

"Group of Hens taking it in turns to pee over the side of the hot tub"

"Group of friends where one decided to drive ( drunken ) across the field, running his mate over who then had to get airlifted to hospital"

"Group of girls who left a pool of p*ss hidden under a bed ( seems to be a theme with their bladders )"

"Person who liked the duvets so much she took them all home with her"

Hahaha I was reading that today too! Very enlightening as I'd considered having a separate camping area hidden away for big groups to do what they want but it doesn't seem so clever now...

 

[Timmy_45]

Hahaha I was reading that today too! Very enlightening as I'd considered having a separate camping area hidden away for big groups to do what they want but it doesn't seem so clever now...

Yes, it's been really helpful getting me to think. I'm a Dad with a young family, so naturally a lot of my focus has been on what a family with young kids on holiday want. But actually having read that facebook thread I reckon there's a lot to be said for a no groups, no kids, no hassle approach. Infact the no kids/no groups will probably be seen as a positive by the kind of campers you really want. I think if I did do Hens parties I'd insist on a minimum £500 deposit spread between them on the basis that if one misbehaves all loose there deposit, and that I'd only allow them if they booked all of the units.

I sympathise with families with young kids, but honestly even though we're strict with ours they've still up making noise/squabbling at about 6am ( or earlier if camping ), and the noise carries. Also there's the whole health and safety aspect, bar-b-ques, fire pits, farm sheds isn't necessarily a good mix with kids.

I think the maxim has to be never underestimate the capacity the Great British Public have for a) being stupid and b) being given an inch and taking a mile!

Edited to add some ideas I've had from this forum though are "upselling" is that the word? By having a shop and bar. I was also thinking of having a pizza oven.

 

[Hampton]

Yes, it's been really helpful getting me to think. I'm a Dad with a young family, so naturally a lot of my focus has been on what a family with young kids on holiday want. But actually having read that facebook thread I reckon there's a lot to be said for a no groups, no kids, no hassle approach. Infact the no kids/no groups will probably be seen as a positive by the kind of campers you really want. I think if I did do Hens parties I'd insist on a minimum £500 deposit spread between them on the basis that if one misbehaves all loose there deposit, and that I'd only allow them if they booked all of the units.

I sympathise with families with young kids, but honestly even though we're strict with ours they've still up making noise/squabbling at about 6am ( or earlier if camping ), and the noise carries. Also there's the whole health and safety aspect, bar-b-ques, fire pits, farm sheds isn't necessarily a good mix with kids.

I think the maxim has to be never underestimate the capacity the Great British Public have for a) being stupid and b) being given an inch and taking a mile!

Edited to add some ideas I've had from this forum though are "upselling" is that the word? By having a shop and bar. I was also thinking of having a pizza oven.

We went to a place called Berridon farm this year in Devon which do what your considering very well.
It's important to consider whether you want it to be low maintenance or high (ie how tied you want to be to it all).

 

[Timmy_45]

We went to a place called Berridon farm this year in Devon which do what your considering very well.
It's important to consider whether you want it to be low maintenance or high (ie how tied you want to be to it all).

Yes, a good point. As the Wife immediately chipped in that if we're hosting holiday makers in August how can we go on a family holiday. So we'll need to have someone lined up as a part time manager. Luckily we have someone local in mind. But that's a really good point because really you need someone around all day just in case.

 

[newbie]

Yes, a good point. As the Wife immediately chipped in that if we're hosting holiday makers in August how can we go on a family holiday. So we'll need to have someone lined up as a part time manager. Luckily we have someone local in mind. But that's a really good point because really you need someone around all day just in case.

This is one of the main things that puts me off getting involved. Your main 'season' is the summer months which means you're tied to the place all summer as well

 

[Timmy_45]

This is one of the main things that puts me off getting involved. Your main 'season' is the summer months which means you're tied to the place all summer as well

Depends how much time you spend away I suppose, I never like going away for more than a week as its alot of hassle getting someone to do the animals etc, so if we want a week in July and a week in August as I said to my good wife there's nothing at all to prevent all our units happening to show as fully booked for the week we're away is there....

 

[robin banks]

Depends how much time you spend away I suppose, I never like going away for more than a week as its alot of hassle getting someone to do the animals etc, so if we want a week in July and a week in August as I said to my good wife there's nothing at all to prevent all our units happening to show as fully booked for the week we're away is there....

I would imagine greed. It would be a bit like asking why not go on holidays during harvest. If you had 3 or 5k a week coming in per month week in summer and 500 a week in October. You would feel like your holiday was a bit dearer than it should of been. There again if you had that much coming in during summer you could afford to give some trust worthy person a nice few quid to take over

 

[Timmy_45]

I would imagine greed. It would be a bit like asking why not go on holidays during harvest. If you had 3 or 5k a week coming in per month week in summer and 500 a week in October. You would feel like your holiday was a bit dearer than it should of been. There again if you had that much coming in during summer you could afford to give some trust worthy person a nice few quid to take over

Well now that's almost a different/wider debate isn't it. The farm/business is important, so is money, but we mustn't forget the bigger picture, unhappy wife.. .. alot of strife.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Surely you could just holiday out of season and go somewhere that has opposite seasons to us so still get lots of sun??

 

[Timmy_45]

Surely you could just holiday out of season and go somewhere that has opposite seasons to us so still get lots of sun??

Good idea, I'll have a word with school about our kids having their summer holiday in October ;-)

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Good idea, I'll have a word with school about our kids having their summer holiday in October ;-)

They have a week long half term... several weeks at Christmas and Easter too...

 

[Timmy_45]

They have a week long half term... several weeks at Christmas and Easter too...

Yes they do, I'll pass your comments on to my wife who has the three of them home for 6 weeks over summer.

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

Yes they do, I'll pass your comments on to my wife who has the three of them home for 6 weeks over summer.

Send them off to boarding school... go on holiday without them!

 

[Timmy_45]

Send them off to boarding school... go on holiday without them!

Haha, oh I'm tempted sometimes! If I won the lottery!

 

[oldoaktree]

I would imagine greed. It would be a bit like asking why not go on holidays during harvest. If you had 3 or 5k a week coming in per month week in summer and 500 a week in October. You would feel like your holiday was a bit dearer than it should of been. There again if you had that much coming in during summer you could afford to give some trust worthy person a nice few quid to take over

October has the most expensive weeks of the year the autumn half term week

 

[oldoaktree]

I was told that it’s two double bedrooms with two bathrooms for two sets of couples from the owner of a large holiday company in the lakes .