When you are ready to advertise your holiday cottage you want to ensure you get the greatest return on your investment, as well as creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for your guests.Â
There are many ways to advertise your holiday cottage to gain maximum exposure, in order to reach the right demographic of guests you want staying at your property.Â
It is important when picking a booking agent that they share the same values and objectives when it comes to showcasing your holiday cottage.Â
In this article we will take you through what is required to advertise your holiday cottage. We will discuss what methods based on our experience at NetLet UK are used to ensure your holiday cottage is a success.Â
Media Package
Before your holiday cottage is advertised you want to make sure the quality of media put out onto various marketing platforms is high quality and meets the guests expectations. By expectations, we mean that careful consideration has been made in terms of how the footage has been taken. It is important to showcase your holiday cottage in Wales in the best light, but not to over edit or over market what is a reality.Â
Most people with smart phones will be accustomed to the ability to use wide lens, filters and to edit photos very easily before posting. It is essential with a holiday cottage that you do not over edit your footage and that guests expectations are met when they step through your front door.Â
The footage that we recommend using to advertise your holiday cottage listing is:Â
To scale - high quality Images; interior, exterior and surrounding areas
A walk around video or Matterport showcasing the layout
Drone footage of surrounding areas and relevant views
An informative property write up containing key information
As part of our sign up procedure we handle all media packages at NetLet using our in-house team to capture all relevant footage before your property goes live. We always ensure you as the owner signs off on the listing before it is published to make sure you are happy with the content and how it is advertised. Â
Website
Our website has been tailored for guest purposes with all the information they may need for their holiday to Pembrokeshire. With a guest purposed website it allows extensive and specific SEO work to target the correct people and have your property listed on a website which contains guest related information.
Using third party booking channels such as AirBnb and Booking.com create great exposure for your property but the benefit of having a direct booking platform – NetLet Website – will cut out the additional commission being charged to guests when booking. At NetLet we tend to take direct repeat bookings and can save your guests up to 20% off their next stay, just by cutting out the middle man.Â
When booking agents are pushing your holiday cottage onto third party booking channels, make sure the commission they charge is uplifted on your rates so this does not effect your take home rates. Agents that deduct their commission as well as the third party booking channel commission could be losing you up to 45% of your income before service fee's are deducted.
Third Party Booking Channels
Booking through third party booking channels is a great way to push your holiday cottage exposure. At NetLet UK we have identified the leading booking channels that generate the most exposure and have the highest booking rates. They are:Â
Managing your property details, rates and communications through these channels can be a challenge within itself. You need to ensure the continuity of all information and your take home rates remain the same no matter where your property is listed.
There are two types of channel integration that can be carried out:Â
ical – this only links calendars and availability.
API Direct Integrations – links all pricing, information, photos and availability.
With the above in mind, NetLet UK use a booking system that creates all connections to third party booking channels via an API (direct) connection. This ensures that all information is live between the end user and the booking system.Â
If a hospitality software use iCal links to sync to other websites, when a room or an apartment is booked and no longer available, the dates can be blocked on third party systems. Moreover, linking to OTAs using iCal links may mean that availability is only updated a few times a day. This can lead to double bookings as updates are not pushed out in real time, and moreover rates have to be set manually. On the other hand, API integrations allow rates and availability to be sent in almost real-time.
Social Media
To ensure your holiday cottage reaches all demographics, social media is a key role in advertising in 2021. With so many platforms to advertise and promote your holiday cottage on it is important to understand what medium best suits each platform.Â
NetLet offers property exposure on our following social media channels:Â
We use various methods when posting to our social media channels, whether it be a one off promotion, update our followers on availability or to showcase special features and aspects of your holiday cottage we feel would appeal to our audience.
Clientele Portfolio
Over the years NetLet UK have grown an extensive database of clients who book holidays direct with NetLet UK. These clients enjoy the level of service NetLet offers and like to stay in various properties throughout the year.
As well as our portfolio of loyal holiday home makers, NetLet UK have connections to local and nationwide businesses to accommodate temporary workers or business personnel travelling to Pembrokeshire for business. This connection provides an additional platform for out of season stays.Â
Sign up for FREE today
You can sign up for FREE today with NetLet UK and advertise your property depending on the level of support you require from us.Â
Your listing can be live with 48-hours depending on the support package selected.Â
We have made advertising your holiday cottage a simple and stress free way to give you the freedom to manage your holiday cottage the way you want.Â
We offer FOUR levels of support when listing with NetLet UK
Managing any holiday let or hospitality establishment can feel like a full time job, especially when it comes to maintaining constant standards throughout. High levels of cleanliness and hygiene are paramount for upholding any reputation in hospitality and are key areas for any holiday let changeover cleaning service. NetLet UK ensure all quality standards are met and are constantly delivered on every changeover with our internal structured housekeeping department.
To maintain high standards and quality of service, NetLet ensures that all members of staff are trained, audited and have the opportunity for further development and training. To guarantee professionalism and assurance, all of our housekeepers are uniformed, insures, trained and DBS checked.
What is a Holiday Let Changeover Clean?
A changeover or a departure clean is the cleaning of a holiday rental premises at the end of a guests stay. This is to reset the property to its original state and standards before new guests arrive.
First impressions are key when a guest enters your holiday let so it is important to get it right from the start. Journeys to your holiday let can make a stressful start to any holiday and any guest who arrive in such a state of mind will notice all imperfections in your property. Poor/bad reviews in terms of hygiene and cleanliness can often be irreversible and detrimental to your holiday let’s reputation.
Following these easy and manageable steps can ensure your holiday let is kept at your advertised standards, create a easy and achievable work flow and that you have happy content guests stay after stay.
Booking Schedules
Having a up to date and detailed booking schedule will make sure housekeepers are aware of what needs to be set up for each changeover and no request has been missed.
Property Layouts
When resetting a holiday let its important too reset to the correct layout. A simple picture guide for each room and area can ensure your holiday let is reset the same each changeover
Time Allowance
Providing your housekeeper with enough time to carry out the changeover can make a big difference. Each changeover should be treated like a full deep clean and have the time to do so.
Contact us
Here at NetLet we understand the importance of holiday let changeover cleaning services. With our industry knowledge and development with the holiday let industry we are able to deliver high quality services to our NetLet owners or third party holiday lets in Pembrokeshire.
If you are interested in our holiday let changeover cleaning services please contact us to receive a free non-obligation quote
The Importance of Booking Schedules for Holiday Let Changeover Cleaning Services
If you are looking at hiring a third party to carry out your holiday home changeover cleaning services it is important to provide adequate information about your bookings so the changeovers and departure run smoothly.
Key bits of information you should record are:
Arrival and departure dates
Arrival and departure time
Number of nights occupied
Number of guests
Number of children or infants
Bed layouts (zip and link)
Additional information (allergies etc)
Number of pets if applicable
A reliable system to record and forward the relevant information in a timely manner is essential to running a successful holiday let. Depending on how your property is managed will determine how easily accessible this information is.
If you are listed with a company that manages all bookings, a simple updated monthly booking schedule is usually issued to owners which can be forwarded directly to the housekeepers. If you manage your bookings directly keeping an up to date spreadsheet will allow all information to be kept in one place.
Arrival & Departure Dates
This states which day the guests will be arriving at the property and the day in which they will be departing.
Depending on previous bookings either side will alter the status of your current booking.
Changeovers are most important to manage effectively. There is a very limited window to achieve a complete reset of the property and very little room for mistakes.
Some properties only allow certain day changeovers in peak or high season. They are commonly set to a Friday or a Saturday. With some housekeeping companies they prefer the structure of fixed changeover days. Working with larger housekeeping companies will usually allow flexibility around changeover days with access to resources to provide cover for any day.
Property Statuses:
When reading a booking schedule you will be able to categorise each property reset as one of the following statuses:
Changeover: when one booking leaves and another arrives on the same day.
Departure: when one booking leaves a holiday let and there is not an expected booking on that same day.
Arrival: Arrival of guests into a vacant property. No booking has departed on the same day
Mid-stay service: a light cleaning and linen service for stays longer than 14 days
A changeover day is often something to record per property. It is the day in which the property allows guests to arrive and depart. This is usually fixed during holiday times.
Arrival & Departure Time
The time in which guests can arrive is usually stipulated before a booking calendar is released. This is the window in time to when a property reset can take place. This needs to allow enough time for a housekeeper to carry out a clean with a hour or two deviation either side to allow for maintenance or repairs that could be required between stays.
Some guests may require an early check in or a late check out for their stay. Things to consider before approving this are:
Any same day arrivals – limited window of time
Length of stay before departure or arrival. This can determine whether additional time is needed to reset property after a long-stay (14+ days)
Housekeepers work schedule, they may already have published their work schedules
Additional fee’s charged for change of work schedule from third party companies
Number of Nights Occupied
When taking bookings throughout the year it is important to look at minimum and maximum night stays. Minimum for self catering holiday lets usually begin at 3 nights. This is to cover all running costs for the home over a 3 night period. Maximum night stay is 56 nights for all holiday lets in the UK. If a holiday let is occupied longer than this period of time it will be deemed as a tenant let and no longer a holiday let.
Often enough, out of season stays are open for a minimum of 3 night stays with no cap on length of stay. In the busier seasons minimums of 7 nights will become fixed in the calendars to maximise occupancy while demand is high. During these busier months with a minimum of 7 nights, the length of stay will be blocked into weeks stays only. This will allow the length of stay to be 7, 14 and 21 nights long.
Mid Stay Services
From our experience with Holiday Let Changeover Cleaning Services we have found that a mid stay service will manage the cleanliness of a property on departure. NetLet UK found that a 2 hour quick bed linen change and refresh accompanied with a basic clean reduces the need to additional cleaning time on the departure day. With a long stay of 2 or even 3 weeks we would dispatch our housekeepers every Friday of the stay.
Number of Guests
When taking bookings it is important to note the number of guests staying at your holiday let. The capacity of the booking will dictate the layout and essentials provided for some stays.
Some owners will provide towels and linen for the exact occupancy arriving where as others will always provide the maximum/standard occupancy numbers.
When releasing booking information to a housekeeper, they will naturally work off your occupancy numbers unless instructed otherwise.
Number of Children or Infants
The joy of self catering holiday lets is that you get the comforts of home while away. These stays are very appealing to families with small infants or children as it provides a familiar atmosphere with the privacy and security of your own space.
Often enough, families will not have the capacity in their vehicles to transport the essential equipment needed for young children such as high chairs, cots and essentials.
This information is important to pass onto a housekeeper to ensure they can set up the desired items ahead of the guests arrival. This will reduce stress after the journey to the holiday let and allow then to settle the children or infant on arrival.
Bed Layouts
Even with your occupancy numbers some guests will require beds to be laid out a certain way for their stay.
If you have adjustable beds such as zip and link (king into twin) this should be advertised on your listing with an area for guests to leave layout requests when booking.
Forward this information to your housekeeper ahead of time to allow correct bed layout to be set up but also to allow correct linen brought out to the holiday let.
Additional Information
When taking bookings it is always recommended that you allow additional communication or information space for guests to relay any information they see important about their stay.
Subjects such as allergies often come up, they could have a feather allergy which could effect bedding, dog allergy which would require additional cleaning and all upholstery to be shampooed. This level of detail will ensure your guests stay is a comfortable as possible.
Any comments should be passed onto the housekeeper to ensure work is carried out.
Number of Pets
When guests are traveling for a staycation or to another National location it isn’t as easy to justify kennel costs. When travelling within the UK guests will often want to bring along their dog or family pet.
Housekeepers will often need to know if a dog is or has been in the holiday let. For dogs arriving they may set the property up with your dog friendly items or put away some items that you do not want out while a dog is present. These items could be dog bowls, beds, throws that you do not want to collect hair and child gates to keep the dog downstairs during your stay.
If a dog has been in the property, the housekeeper or grounds staff will have to be more diligent when checking your holiday home. They would look for areas or damage, hair collection or dog faeces that may have not been picked up in the garden or around your holiday home. These checks are vital to your re-cooping costs from the guests if additional work has had to be carried out to reset the property back to its usual standards.
Workflow and Booking Schedules
Running a team of housekeepers or an individual to carry out work at high standards with a smooth workflow are essential in meeting client and business requirements. Small details that could be missed and prevented from the passing of information can have an effect on your guests experience in your holiday let.
Ensuring correct record keeping and passing of information is in place will keep the workflow between owner, booking, housekeeper and guest running smoothly.
NetLet UK Holiday Let Changeover Cleaning Services
Here at NetLet UK we operate of our own bespoke booking system with our own internal team of housekeepers. We cover the Pembrokeshire country and also cater for the domestic, commercial and industrial industries. Owners who live away or do not have the time management to run a holiday let as a full time business enjoy our combined services. They hand over their keys and we will do the rest. For us, operating Holiday Let Changeover Cleaning Services is second nature and is the fundamentals that our business model was created around. One location for all services required to run a successful holiday home.
If you are a holiday home owner and are interested in our services click here to submit a enquiry
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