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Farm Building and Infrastructure
Rural Diversification
Holiday lets tips and advise
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<blockquote data-quote="Puff" data-source="post: 4761904" data-attributes="member: 70980"><p>I acquired an existing holiday let business when I purchased my place in Wales. Rated 5* with Welsh Tourist Authority and with an established business, seemed silly to shut it down. The previous couple had done it to a high standard so in my first year of ownership I did virtually no advertising, bar one publication that was already paid for and just generally felt my feet as it were. I'm in the fortunate position of not needing the rental income to make ends meet, so anything I do get is a bonus. </p><p></p><p>I purchased November and had 3 bookings for the next year. It was all pretty quiet up until March when a few more started to trickle in and whilst its fair to say I wasn't booked up well in advance, I did end up having a successful season. The only changes I really made were to upgrade a few items (new TV, better WiFi, LED lighting etc) and replace the manual key lock with a code lock. I also advertised for a cleaner/maintenance person and ended up with a lovely couple who come and look after everything on changeover days.</p><p></p><p>I have now been able to set it up to manage everything remotely. Each guest gets a code, valid for their stay, to let them in. I can manage heating, lighting, appliances etc so that if they do leave something on, I can turn it off again or have the house warm for when they first arrive. Bookings via the web or on the phone - I use square.com for web and credit card or BACs if possible to save fees.</p><p></p><p>Over the year I added Google Analytics to my website to track where all the visitors came from and more importantly I can use it to check any referral sites are doing their job. I'm on Trip Advisor and I encourage my guests to leave a review, plus I ensure that I respond to any booking queries on TA with alacrity. I've also plotted my place on Google Business, read up on it and followed all the recommendations. From starting about 47th for a search, I'm currently 5th result and that's without google ad-words.</p><p></p><p>This coming year I have expanded my advertising slightly but focused it on some key areas where I see demand coming from and playing to my USPs, I will shortly be replacing some of the furniture/fittings with new and giving the whole place a lick of paint ready for the new season - based on feedback from Visit Wales inspector. My summer is already looking strong.</p><p></p><p>I have seen two of the larger Holiday Lettings companies. To me, they came in, enthused, then when they left provided proposals/projections that would see income over a year similar to current/modest increase but with my paying fees from 18-25% of booking +VAT. There wasn't enough benefit for me to take either of them up. However, what they both did say is "Hot Tub" and how that would provide an increase in both letting fee and amount of bookings, so will look into that.</p><p></p><p>Currently applying for PP to convert part of my other barn into a new let.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Puff, post: 4761904, member: 70980"] I acquired an existing holiday let business when I purchased my place in Wales. Rated 5* with Welsh Tourist Authority and with an established business, seemed silly to shut it down. The previous couple had done it to a high standard so in my first year of ownership I did virtually no advertising, bar one publication that was already paid for and just generally felt my feet as it were. I'm in the fortunate position of not needing the rental income to make ends meet, so anything I do get is a bonus. I purchased November and had 3 bookings for the next year. It was all pretty quiet up until March when a few more started to trickle in and whilst its fair to say I wasn't booked up well in advance, I did end up having a successful season. The only changes I really made were to upgrade a few items (new TV, better WiFi, LED lighting etc) and replace the manual key lock with a code lock. I also advertised for a cleaner/maintenance person and ended up with a lovely couple who come and look after everything on changeover days. I have now been able to set it up to manage everything remotely. Each guest gets a code, valid for their stay, to let them in. I can manage heating, lighting, appliances etc so that if they do leave something on, I can turn it off again or have the house warm for when they first arrive. Bookings via the web or on the phone - I use square.com for web and credit card or BACs if possible to save fees. Over the year I added Google Analytics to my website to track where all the visitors came from and more importantly I can use it to check any referral sites are doing their job. I'm on Trip Advisor and I encourage my guests to leave a review, plus I ensure that I respond to any booking queries on TA with alacrity. I've also plotted my place on Google Business, read up on it and followed all the recommendations. From starting about 47th for a search, I'm currently 5th result and that's without google ad-words. This coming year I have expanded my advertising slightly but focused it on some key areas where I see demand coming from and playing to my USPs, I will shortly be replacing some of the furniture/fittings with new and giving the whole place a lick of paint ready for the new season - based on feedback from Visit Wales inspector. My summer is already looking strong. I have seen two of the larger Holiday Lettings companies. To me, they came in, enthused, then when they left provided proposals/projections that would see income over a year similar to current/modest increase but with my paying fees from 18-25% of booking +VAT. There wasn't enough benefit for me to take either of them up. However, what they both did say is "Hot Tub" and how that would provide an increase in both letting fee and amount of bookings, so will look into that. Currently applying for PP to convert part of my other barn into a new let. [/QUOTE]
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