How to start a holiday let business
Whilst owning a holiday cottage can be a financially rewarding and exciting venture, it can be incredibly daunting knowing...
If you are thinking about letting your holiday home, there has never been a better time. With booking enquiries at a record high, correctly presented self-catering properties in this beautiful region are almost guaranteed bookings.
We understand that starting your letting journey can be a little daunting, which is why our experienced New Property Team are on hand to help you with every step of buying and letting your property, making the process both stress-free and exciting.
Use the quick links to navigate to a particular section or read our full meet the team guide.
We pride ourselves on offering our owners peace of mind. At Coast & Country Cottages we get to know a property intimately and offer each owner a bespoke tailored service to meet their personal requirements.
For us, successful letting begins with a great owner/agent relationship. Working together can lead to great things. With this in mind, we would like to introduce you to our locally-based New Property Team, who can help you begin your letting journey.
Whether you are a prospective buyer looking for some advice on choosing the perfect self-catering property, a new owner looking to let their property for the first time, or an experienced owner wishing to try a new agent, our skilled team would be delighted to meet you and share their knowledge.
Lana has over 20 years of experience working in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry. Having grown up in Kingsbridge, Lana has a true passion for the area.
She left for a few short years to work abroad, before returning to her South Devon roots in 1999. Since then her career has gone from strength to strength in the local self-catering scene.
Lana’s previous experience includes working in PR in the Sultanate of Oman for the Sheraton Hotel Group, coordinating events and promotions for Nestle Middle East, and working in one of Devon’s premiere Golf and Leisure resorts.
Here, we find out a little more about Lana’s love of the region, and her thoughts on holiday letting with Coast & Country Cottages.
We have unrivalled coastline and countryside which I have loved since I was a child. As a family we explored many of the local beauty spots and as a parent I took my two girls to the same places, all of which they still enjoy today.
Our beaches are so family friendly, the moors are rugged and exciting, and the local attractions offer something for everyone. I love to see new visitors totally bowled over by the beauty of our area.
Look for a property you would imagine you and your family enjoying holidaying in, whilst remembering amenities and the standard of accommodation are very important!
We are proud to be a local, dedicated team who work tirelessly to make the holiday letting experience enjoyable for both owners and guests.
Local knowledge coupled with proactive and competitive marketing ensures owners feel they are in the best hands.
I love the range and diversity of properties I visit. From a one bedroomed annexe or cosy cottage to a manor house that sleeps 20 people, there is something for everyone.
I enjoy guiding and advising owners from the purchasing stage through to their new property going live on our website, and most importantly I love the fact that we provide an excellent service to our owners, which drives great results.
Rachel has been employed at Coast & Country Cottages for six years, but has worked in the local self-catering industry for over 10 years.
Born and bred in the area, she initially worked as a Visit England assessor grading holiday homes. But, latterly she has moved to a New Property Consultant, specialising on bringing on new properties and liaising with holiday home owners both in the Dartmouth area and beyond.
Below is a little more information about Rachel and her passion for holiday letting.
I love getting to see so many wonderful properties in this amazing area. From the quirky to the breathtaking I get to see it all!
I also enjoy making a difference to people, providing owners with the very best advice and guidance I possibly can. Probably the most rewarding part of my job is helping owners choose their perfect property – one that meets all of their needs.
I adore Dartmouth and the surrounding villages, having always lived here. At the moment I live over in Brixham, and when I catch the ferry across to Dartmouth for work, it always feels like I’m coming home.
My mother is a ‘Dartmouthian’, as were my grandparents – I have a deep rooted connection with the area… it is just one of the reasons I am so passionate and pride myself on offering only the best advice I can.
Carefully consider the reason you are buying your holiday home and letting it. Is it strictly an investment property? If the answer is yes, try not to make your decisions about it too ‘personal’ – instead, make business-based decisions.
On a practical level, a good example of this would be installing hard wearing carpets, rather than more ornate ones that you might personally prefer, but that could be more easily damaged by customers.
If it is your bolthole as well as a letting holiday home, recognise this and understand that some of your choices (that make it the property you want!) may detract from its desirability to others.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give to those looking to buy their holiday home is to seek advice before doing the deal. Research, research, research! Ensure you understand the market, know the interest rates, and get a realistic picture from a holiday rental company on projected rental prices and occupancy.
Having the full picture before making the decision on which property to choose can make the difference between choosing a good investment and an excellent one!
As a whole team, we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our owners.
For instance, I will help in any way I can… I have even been known to help new owners to source unusual furniture for tricky spaces, sending links to a perfect sofa or an ideal sideboard! Nothing is too much trouble.
The Coast & Country Cottages team are experiencing high levels of holiday enquiries presently. And with indications showing that the popularity of UK holidays may be set to continue for years rather than months, for those looking to get off to a flying start and ensure a good return on investment, now is a wonderful time to begin letting.
If you are interested in finding out more about whether a holiday let is a good business decision, read our blog Are Holiday Lets a Good Investment?
The team are currently looking to add more self-catering holiday homes to their portfolio in order to meet this unprecedented customer demand. If you are interested in letting your property, please call Lana or Rachel on 01803 227990 (option 3).
If you’re looking to start a holiday letting business, the following owner guides may be useful to you:
To find out more about the holiday letting services we offer, visit our Let Your Cottage page to order a copy of our free Owners Guide.
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.
I have been part of the Coast & Country Cottages marketing team since 2010, working in the fabulous Salcombe office. I love m...
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