Holiday Let Advice: 9 Top Tips for a Successful Holiday Let
With over 20 years of experience marketing and managing an exquisite collection of holiday cottages in South Devon, we...
Matching your property with the right holiday home letting agency is crucial to its success and profitability, plus your peace of mind. That’s why we would recommend researching your options, and identifying which parts of running your holiday home you require support with.
Here, we list our top considerations when choosing a holiday let agency in South Devon.
Use the quick links below to find a specific topic or read on to discover how to choose a holiday letting agency in South Devon:
A holiday letting agency acts as a middleman between holiday property owners and holidaymakers looking for a place to stay.
There are a range of holiday letting agencies in South Devon offering differing levels of service, from those that act as a marketing service, to others with a full property management offering.
Depending on the level of service you require, your holiday letting agent can look after:
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a holiday letting agent is the level of support you require with the day-to-day running of your holiday home.
Some agencies act as a marketing service only, and the property owner is responsible for either managing their own changeovers or appointing a caretaker.
If you require more support with managing your property, we’d recommend looking for an agent that can either put you in touch with reliable contacts to conduct your changeovers, or offer a full property management service where changeovers are organised on your behalf.
At Coast & Country Cottages, we offer both owner and agency managed service options.
For those that opt for an owner managed service, we are responsible for marketing your property, administering your bookings and all guest liaison. All owners will have access to our owner portal and app, where we display easy-to-understand breakdowns of bookings and finances, plus industry updates from our in-house legal team.
On top of this, our agency managed service takes care of the hands-on side of letting your property. From changeovers and cleaning to waste removal and key collection, we can support owners with any aspect of running a successful holiday let.
We would recommend thinking about your own time and availability – by using an agent like Coast & Country Cottages, you can remove the pressure on yourself to be readily available. Our 24/7 emergency line means we will always be the first point of contact for your guests.
For more information on the property management services we offer at Coast & Country Cottages, take a look at our blog on choosing the right service for your cottage.
Using your property yourself?
When selecting an agency, it is important to think about your own expectations and choose accordingly. For example, if your holiday cottage is first and foremost your own holiday bolthole, ensure you choose an agent who offers flexibility on owner bookings.
At Coast & Country Cottages, our owners benefit from an in-house Managed Services team who can arrange for your property to be cleaned and fresh linen ordered ahead of your own bookings, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.
Running your property as a business?
If the property is primarily a business venture or needs to generate a specific level of income, beware of companies who make false promises and predictions of unrealistic levels of bookings!
At Coast & Country Cottages, we use data on how our existing portfolio of over 500 holiday homes in South Devon perform, to guide owners on the income they can expect to earn.
If you’re just getting started on your holiday letting journey, read our blog with everything you need to know about how to start and run a holiday let business.
Every holiday home letting agent has its own commission fees. Knowing how much they charge can influence which agency you choose.
At Coast & Country Cottages, our commission rates are tiered based on the amount of personal use the owner requires. Our commission rates are reflective of our national marketing reach and spend, and the fact that we have proven record of delivering high levels of bookings.
If you want to get a better understanding of what commission we would charge for your property, get in touch with our New Property Consultants for a bespoke pricing breakdown and income proposal.
We’ve all heard the saying, ‘first impressions count’, and when considering a holiday letting agency this couldn’t be more true. After meeting or speaking to your potential letting agent, ask yourself a few questions:
As a general rule, you need to be certain that you would book a holiday with the company you are potentially looking at to manage your holiday home.
Coast & Country Cottages has a very strong presence in South Devon, with over 500 properties exclusively in the region. This means we have a vast network of trusted local tradesmen at our disposal. We also have an incredible knowledge of the local area and are experienced in what customers are looking for when they holiday here.
We can therefore offer genuine advice to owners and customers on everything from restaurant recommendations to refurbishments, something national agencies without a locally-based team would not be able to do.
If you’re thinking of investing in a holiday home in South Devon, our locally-based team can offer advice on the best places to buy. We’re well connected with estate agents in the area, and can provide a forecast of the income you might expect to achieve.
Click here to find out more about where to buy a holiday home in South Devon.
As part of Sykes Holiday Cottages, we at Coast & Country Cottages are proud to bring our owners an eight-figure marketing budget and national marketing reach.
By joining us, your property would feature on both the Sykes Cottages website and Coast & Country Cottages website.
The Sykes website has a 30% market share of Google search results amongst the largest competitors in the holiday let industry, while Coast & Country Cottages achieves top Google rankings for more local terms like ‘South Devon holiday homes’ or ‘Salcombe holiday homes’.
Your property will also be listed on trusted, high-traffic partner sites like Booking.com, Home & Away, Snaptrip and Vrbo, to name a few. No other letting agency can match our eight-figure marketing budget and excellent visibility across multiple media channels.
We have an effective marketing and PR strategy, delivering extensive coverage and getting your property the attention it deserves. From social media to intelligent email marketing, printed mailings to local event sponsorship, we have all aspects of marketing covered.
We have a Marketing team based locally in our Salcombe office, who ensure that our brand is visible locally. We’re actively involved in our community, sponsoring local events, advertising in local publications and supporting local tourism boards.
As with any home, investment in the property is needed regularly to maintain standards and encourage repeat bookings. Holiday customers are increasingly discerning so an eye for detail is exceptionally important, and a good agency should help you at every stage of preparing and maintaining your holiday property.
Coast & Country Cottages has its own dedicated Managed Services team who are on hand to help owners with simple maintenance matters or more extensive renovations and projects.
Don’t just take it from us… we’re proud to have won accolades at the prestigious British Travel Awards for 10 years in a row.
Voted for entirely by the consumer, this recognised trust mark is a testament to our hard work and commitment to providing both customers and owners with the best service possible.
So, what are you waiting for? Click here to visit our Let Your Cottage page and request your FREE Owner Guide, or call 01548 843773 to speak to our friendly team. Our New Properties team would be delighted to visit your property for a no-obligation chat about the services we offer and your property’s potential.
We want letting your holiday home to be as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible for you, so we’ve created some helpful guides to answer any queries you may have. Simply click the links below to find out more!
Owning a holiday home: your FAQs answered!
I’ve decided to let my holiday home – what happens next?
Discover how a local brand with national reach can work for you. We're a British Travel Award winning holiday letting agency, priding ourselves on delivering consistent year-round bookings and bespoke property management options.
Find out how we can work together. With over 25 years’ experience, our local expertise will give you peace of mind and bring you the bookings you deserve.
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