Reaching your letting potential

With Cornwall’s staycation market only set to grow, we ask George at Cornish Traditional Cottages for his top holiday home tips.

Once your property is ‘out there’, George explains: “enquiries should start to come in. Although not all of them will result in a booking, you should treat them all as potential guests. This means responding professionally and promptly. Always aim for a maximum of a few hours, same day if you can. Go that extra mile by offering extra information, or try to accommodate people by suggesting alternative arrangements if your property can’t cater for them on their chosen dates.”

“make sure you’ve provided clear instructions to make the arrival process as simple as possible”

The next key moment is when your guests arrive. “You may like to organise a personal meet-and-greet. This gives you the chance to get to know them, introduce them to your holiday home and answer any questions in person. If this isn’t practical or desirable, make sure you’ve provided clear instructions to make the arrival process as simple as possible.”

Next, it’s time to get their feedback. “This is crucial. You could keep a guestbook in a clearly visible place and add a note to the front cover asking guests to write their comments. Afterwards, type them out and include them in an email to your guest, asking for permission to use it on your website and/or marketing material.”

As much as you’d love to read glowing comments from start to finish, the reality is that reviews rarely rave all the time, so it’s important to know how to respond. “Check regularly for new reviews and respond as soon as you can. Always respond to a review, no matter how glowing (or otherwise) it is, and always start by thanking the reviewer.”

He also recommends keeping the reply concise, while addressing all points. “Negative comments should be taken with a pinch of salt,” stresses George. “Remember, this isn’t about you; it’s about a holiday home. Give yourself a day before replying to negative reviews, to stop feeling angry or hurt, and use the feedback to your advantage. Amend faults and improve on shortcomings so that future guests benefit, then let them know what you’ve done.”

Cornish Traditional Cottages have a deep wealth of knowledge when it comes to making holiday home rentals a success, so if you’re just starting out or are looking for advice to improve, why not give George and the team a call?