What to know when buying a holiday home in Salcombe

With the beautiful Salcombe Estuary, the sandy beaches at East Portlemouth and glistening waters out to sea, it’s no wonder why Salcombe is such a popular holiday destination. From tranquil shores to award-winning eateries and famous shops that began right here in this stunning harbour town, a break to ‘sunny Salcombe’ is rarely just a one-time visit. Over the years we’ve been delighted to greet generations of families as they return to the popular sights of South Devon, and we love to hear how its sandy beaches and rolling countryside provides such a nostalgic and homely escape for them. As some dream of moving to the seaside permanently, others look at buying a holiday home in Salcombe.

So, whether you’re looking for a second home to enjoy family holidays and rent out the property during unoccupied weeks, or to purchase a property purely for business measures, our New Property Consultant, Lana Stephens, based in our Salcombe office, is on hand to help you find the perfect holiday home in this beautiful harbour town.

Use the quick links below for specific details on what to know when buying a holiday home in Salcombe , or continue reading for our complete guide:

• Where to purchase a holiday home in Salcombe
• 5 of the best roads to buy a holiday home in Salcombe
• House features to invest in to increase your booking potential
• Understanding the nature of a seasonal town
• Salcombe’s bustling event calendar

Where to purchase a holiday home in Salcombe

To help you decide where to buy a property, it’s important to understand the most popular places that customers look to book their break. As with many places, properties in the heart of Salcombe always book quicker than those further out of town, due to the ease and convenience that they provide for holiday-makers. However, we understand that every property owner’s budget and preferences are different, and that’s the same for our customers too.

Holiday homes in central Salcombe

Due to Salcombe’s landscape being on a steep gradient, holiday homes in the heart of town are almost always the quickest to book as they provide enviable, quick and easy access to the famous estuary, delicious restaurants, sandy beaches and the South West Coast Path.

Things to consider when buying a holiday home in the heart of Salcombe

Outside space

• In the centre of Salcombe, it can be very difficult to find a property with ample outside space, and when one does come along, they tend to be swept off the market quickly. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled, and show your interest with the relevant estate agent as soon as a potential holiday home comes along. This is particularly important if you’re considering allowing pets at your property, in such a dog-friendly town. Read our blog on  how to optimise your holiday homes outdoor living space for ideas on making the most of what outdoor space there is.

Views

• With visitors travelling from far and wide singing “oh I do like to be beside the seaside”, a view of Salcombe Estuary will add lots of kerb appeal (even if just a glimpse!). With such stunning coastline to marvel at, we can see why great views are one of the most frequently enquired about features in our properties. A survey by Origin also found views to be the most desirable attribute in a holiday home, ahead of a garden or hot tub. Click here to find out more on Origin’s website.

Parking

• With convenience a key component to a customer’s break, and with many leaving their car from the moment they arrive, it’s important to bear this in mind! Properties in the centre of town very rarely come with parking, therefore it’s important to look for parking alternatives, such as providing a parking permit for the nearby town car parks.

Properties set on the outskirts of Salcombe

Not everyone looks to stay in central Salcombe, as some prefer to choose a holiday home in the quieter areas of town, where they can relax in the garden and listen to the birds singing. As more centrally located properties tend to come with a higher asking price attached, it’s important to know the benefits of a property based outside of the centre of town.

Things to consider when buying a holiday home outside of central Salcombe

Outside space

• Unlike properties in the centre of town, holiday homes outside of the heart of Salcombe tend to provide more outside space. The annual Sykes Cottage Staycation Index found a garden to be one of the most desirable holiday home features that guests look for, so this is definitely worth considering when looking to buy.
• If the property you’re interested in boasts a garden, we would highly recommend listing your second home as dog-friendly, as this will encourage customers to book your property over one in the centre of town.

Views

• If you’re looking to purchase a holiday home outside of central Salcombe, we recommend to looking for a property with a view of the estuary. In fact, properties outside of the heart of town tend to boast beautiful views that stretch out as far as Dartmoor, so bare this in mind when looking for your perfect holiday home.

Off-road parking

• With more space surrounding second homes on the borders of Salcombe, desirable features such as off-road parking are available.

Beach access

• Although central Salcombe properties provide quick access via the passenger ferry to beautiful sandy beaches over the water, some customers search for properties where you can walk to the beach. Areas close to the beaches of North Sands and South Sands are very popular for those wishing to be a short stroll away from sandy shores.

5 of the best roads to buy a holiday home in Salcombe

• Allenhayes Road
• Cliff Road
• Devon Road
• Fore Street
• Island Street

House features to invest in to increase your booking potential

Holiday lets that achieve a high level of year-round bookings tend to boast a unique, wow-factor feature. That’s why we’ve put together a helping-hand guide to help make your property stand-out and draw in bookings!

1. Invest in a view of Salcombe Estuary

The location of this coastal town is one that people love to marvel at, not just when exploring its quaint streets, but as soon as they wake up. Admirable features such as a picture-framing window, balcony or outside terrace that look out over Salcombe Estuary, provide somewhere for guests to relax and admire the view – even if just a glimpse!

2. Provide parking facilities

Whether a garage, private parking space or car park permit, having parking facilities available is a valuable asset to any property. Being such a small yet famous destination for visitors of all ages, Salcombe is notorious for seeing people queuing to find somewhere to park, so it’s no wonder that a parking space is often a key decision maker in the booking process.

3. Cater for a growing demand in pet-friendly properties

With dog-friendly beaches, restaurants and endless activities to be enjoyed with your pooch, Salcombe is a desirable location for those with four-legged friends. After years of speaking to returning guests, many people that pop into our Salcombe office comment on how wonderfully unique the town is for accepting pets in so many establishments. With expectations getting higher, customers are increasingly looking for accommodation to suit these needs. We have seen an increase in holiday homes offering pet-friendly facilities such as showers, washing stations or dog walkers.

We understand that allowing pets into your holiday home may seem daunting, so if you would like to speak to our team for advice on this or read our blog should I make my holiday let dog-friendly for more information.

4. Include baby-friendly equipment

Salcombe is nostalgic to its returning visitors, so as families grow in generations, baby-friendly facilities can help to boost lettings. Providing a high chair, travel cot and stair gate will mean that we can list your property as a baby-friendly holiday home. For more top tips, read our blog on creating a child friendly holiday home.

5. Is there a hot tub or pool facilities?

Nothing beats that holiday feeling of relaxing in a hot tub on a brisk winter’s evening, or cooling off in a pool under the basking sun. Whether communal or private, properties with a pool, hot tub or spa membership will draw in holidaymakers all year round. Read our complete hot tub guide for holiday lets with information on the benefits of having a hot tub, safety guidelines, hot tub water maintenance and more.

6. Make the most of the coast

To increase repeat bookings, it’s important to provide an experience distinct to Salcombe. Providing crabbing lines and buckets, bodyboards and sandcastle equipment is an easy way to put a smile on anyone’s face, and these things don’t go unnoticed with guests. It’s these little added touches that don’t cost much but make a big difference.

Understanding the nature of a seasonal town

If you’ve found a property, or perhaps you’re considering buying a holiday home to let, we will help guide you to understand what booking levels you should expect. Salcombe is naturally a very seasonal town, but with an increase in demand for short breaks in the winter, plus an increasing number of year-round events taking place, we’re happy to see that the town’s seasonal nature has started to stretch.

We understand that you want to enjoy your holiday home, that’s why we offer a flexible owner booking system. However, it’s important to note that opening up high season weeks to customers, will really add value to your income.

Salcombe’s bustling event calendar

This famous harbour town has always had a much-loved reputation for its ever-increasing calendar of events. In recent years we have seen the additions of Salcombe Crab Festival and Salcombe Live, as well as the traditional Salcombe Town Regatta, that all help to bring in thousands of visitors every year. It’s important to factor in the town’s calendar when looking to purchase a holiday cottage, as the more events and activities taking place, the more potential there is for high season bookings. As well as this, the better position your property is in to access these events, the more advanced bookings you will achieve for these dates. Find out more about all the attractions and activities going on in the best things to do in Salcombe.

Estate agents in Salcombe

• Marchand Petit
• Luscombe Maye

We understand that you may have lots of questions as you consider buying a holiday home in Salcombe, that’s why we’ve created some helping guides to answer any queries that you may have, simply click the links below to find out more!

Luscombe Maye share tips on holiday home investments in Salcombe 

Owning a holiday home: your FAQs answered!

Choosing a holiday home letting agency: 5 key considerations

So, what are you waiting for? Visit our Let Your Cottage page to order your free owner pack, or call 01548 843773 to speak to Lana Stephens, our expert on letting a property in Salcombe. We look forward to hearing from you.

Click here to request an Owners Guide