Managing your Dorset Holiday Let

If you’re looking to holiday let your property, you’re probably wondering about the logistics of managing your Dorset holiday let.  

Here at Dream Cottages, we offer holiday let management through our managed services. We also have options for property changeover and cleaning. 

If you’re looking to self-manage your holiday home read on for our advice. 

Holiday let changeovers

There’s nothing more important than making sure you get everything sorted out during the changeover. During peak times it’s crucial you follow through all areas consistently and tick all the boxes as it can get a bit hectic. 

Effective changeovers rely on good planning and timing, and you need a proper routine to ensure nothing is missed. Guests staying for two or more weeks will expect a mid-stay change of linen at least, so liaise with them to find a right time to do so. 

Make sure to check any notes on upcoming booking – maybe there’s a request for the beds to be made up in a certain way? Call the guest if you are not sure. 

Holiday let checklist

Before you start all the hard work, first do the initial check. 

• Check visitor’s book – maybe someone left a comment about any issues. 
• Open the windows. 
• Switch on all the lights and replace light bulbs if necessary. 
• Check oven and hob. 
• Switch on all electrical equipment. 
• Switch on the heating and hot water. 
• Inspect carpets, rugs and soft furnishings. 
• Inspect bathrooms – flush toilets, check heated tower rails, fan and if the shower is working properly if electric. 
• Check beds if there’s no damage or wetness. 
• Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working and are plugged in. 

If there are no urgent issues to report or fix, continue with the rest of the changeover. 

Garden and grounds

Check if outside light is working, if there’s no rubbish left behind or broken glass. Make sure entrances and paths are clear and tidy. Make sure outside furniture is not damaged or broken. 

Remove the rubbish, empty the bins, water flowers, clean the BBQ. Remove cobwebs. Water the plants if necessary. If you have an apple or pear tree in the garden, you might want to pick some apples or pears and leave them for arriving guests. 

If there is a hot tub, you will need to carry out a water change in between guests.

Inside the property

Once you’re inside, first strip the beds and put them into the washing machine if you are not using a laundry service. It will save you time and allow the beds to air.

If there are any open fires or wood burners, we advise to start with them as it can get a bit messy. 

Kitchen

Kitchens have a lot of appliances, make sure they all are working and are clean. Remove any leftovers or breadcrumbs from the previous guests. Check the fridge and freezer and remove any items left behind. The freezer may need defrosting, so you might want to check this first. 

Make sure there’s enough crockery, glasses, plates and other cups/mugs. Check if there’s fire blanket, and fire extinguisher.

It there’s an upcoming booking with a baby, make sure to put out a highchair and consider the placements of stairgates. Your guests will thank you.

Check for obvious hazards and remove anything broken. Clean all working surfaces and disinfect them, vacuum and clean the floor. 

Supply housekeeping and welcome pack items – bin bags, washing machine tablets, tea, coffee and so on. 

Living and dining areas

These areas tend to get the most use, to start with, make sure to remove all dust from windows, skirting boards, mirrors, pictures, blinds.

Check sofas and chair covers for any damage or stains. Tidy up DVDs/CDs/books/toys/games that may have been scattered around.

Empty the bins, hoover and mop the floor. Check the cleanliness of dining sets, crockery, cutlery, glasses. Polish the table to provide some fragrance and cleanliness. 

Bedrooms

Empty the bins, open the windows to bring in some fresh breeze. Remove dust from all surfaces and make sure nothing is broken. Check under and behind beds, duvets, pillows and mattress protectors. Replace as necessary and make up with new linen.  

Check if there are any spare blankets. Make sure there’s nothing left behind in the closet, chests of drawers. Set up cot if necessary. Hoover and mop the floor. 

Bathrooms, toilets and shower-rooms

Check the toilets and flush, clean, and disinfect. Make sure the shower or bath are clean, check ceiling for mould. Listen to the extractor, if it’s working not too loud. Leave toilet roll as appropriate. Hoover and mop the floor. 

If there are any bins in the bathroom, empty and change towels along with the bath/shower mat.

Hall / Stairs / Landing

Some spaces have quite high ceilings, so make sure there are no cobwebs. Remove dust, empty the bins. Check stair carpet, handrail and stair gate if they are secure. Remove any newspapers, flyers and make sure there’s a torch next to the entry door. 

Finishing touches

Finally, deodorise if necessary, turn on hot water, heating. You may wish to put some fresh flowers inside from the garden. Ensure the key is in the key safe or in other agreed place as per guests’ directions.  

Leaving a welcome hamper for your guests is a lovely touch and one they will appreciate after a likely long journey. Dorset Happy Hamper create hampers of local Dorset produce that you can order ahead of time.

Report any maintenance or other issues and call guests after they arrive to check if all is fine. They will appreciate the gesture. 

Pest prevention

There are some key things we want to mention in addition to all of the above. Check regularly for pests and don’t allow conditions to develop that attract them in a first place.  

If the property welcomes dogs, schedule regular spray or powder. Food might attract mice, so if you choose to leave traps or poison, make sure to make guests aware about the location where they are. 

Spring cleaning

At the start of every year, organise a deep spring clean which will include soft furnishings, carpets, curtains, bedding and other. You might want to touch up scuffs and scratches with some paint. 

At Dream Cottages we offer a full cleaning and laundry service and we can assure you, that our cleaning team have even more extensive and detailed list which they follow on a daily basis. 

 Fully managed services for your Dorset Holiday Let

We understand that all properties are different and sometimes some guidance may not apply to yours. If you are looking to holiday let your Dorset holiday home, we’d love to help. 

Contact us today for your free pricing appraisal and managed service options on 01305 789000 (option 2), or email: newowners@dream-cottages.co.uk.