How to start a holiday let business

If you are thinking of starting a holiday let business in Dorset, you’re probably wondering where to start.

Read on for Dream Cottages’ top tips to how to start a holiday let business.

Get your free owner pack

There are a lot of other things to consider when starting a holiday let business. We have over 30 years of experience, so you are welcome to chat with our experts.

To find out more, contact us via email dreamownerrelations@dream-cottages.co.uk or call 01305 789000 option 2.

Get your free owner pack here and book your free pricing appraisal today!

Location

One of the most important things to consider is location. Should it be a seaside house or a thatched countryside cottage tucked away in a quaint village?

This decision will have a huge impact on the property’s rental value and the number of weeks its occupied.

If you are planning to maintain your holiday let yourself, look to find a property within a short travelling distance of your home.

Furnishings

To ensure your guests have the most pleasant holiday, think about allocating money to furnishing your property to a high standard.

Choose your furnishings wisely, taking into account the volume of guests, durability and good quality furniture that will save you money in a long run.

Our team of experts are happy to help if you are struggling to find the right items for your home!

Additional Features and Facilities

Certain features and facilities add a huge value to a holiday property. For example, hot tubs, swimming pools, conservatories are the first to book. Think about parking, garden, maybe a fire place or a wood burner in the living room.

Don’t forget to check the mobile reception in the area and install Wi-Fi – this feature is now expected as standard.

Of course you need to consider maintenance of the swimming pool and hot tub, but if you need some guidance in deciding what would best suit for your property, we can help.

Accept pets

A lot of people consider pets as their family members and they don’t want to leave their pups at home.

The demand for pet friendly properties is ever increasing and in our experience welcoming pets to your property can increase bookings, especially if it’s a one or two-bedroom property. We have more than 200 pet friendly properties in our portfolio.

Cleaning

One of the most important things to consider is how to maintain a clean and fresh holiday home. Hiring a reliable cleaner will definitely reduce the amount of work your holiday let requires from you and will make changeovers smoother.

We at Dream Cottages have our own managed services offering cleaning, laundry and maintenance on your behalf. This means you can relax and enjoy the benefits that holiday letting brings without any worry.

Install a key safe

We know that some owners prefer to greet their guests in person, but some live overseas and don’t have that option. Most of our properties have key safes. It saves trouble if guests are arriving late at night or decide to leave very early in the morning.

Welcome pack

Welcome packs are a nice gesture and don’t have to be pricey! They save the trip to the shop for your guests and usually it just might be tea, coffee, sugar, fresh jug of milk, locally made cookies or a loaf of bread.

If your cottage is on a farm, you may want to supply fresh eggs or vegetables. If you are planning to set up a luxury holiday home, a welcome pack is a necessity and will be expected to have some additional goodies in it.

We’ve recently partnered with Dorset Happy Hamper who offer a wonderful selection of local Dorset produce for your holiday home.

Information pack

The information pack is guests go-to source of information with the most important details about your property, appliances, emergency contact and local attractions, best places to eat.

If you wish to go ‘the extra mile’, you could pair up with local businesses, such as your local pub, to see if they could offer guests a discount.