Top Tips: What makes guests choose your holiday rental over the competition?

1. Photos

Great photos with good light coming into the room and blue sky – clean rooms. Showing off the outdoor space with furniture (if you have it) – selling the lifestyle! Buy a few expensive items such as oversized lamps and nice artwork to show your attention to detail – these will make your photos stand out too. Clean and ironed bedding (preferably white) – towels folded on the bed helps to give your home a luxury, hotel feel.

2. Testimonials

No-one says it better than your previous guests – leave a guest book in your holiday rental and transfer some comments online with agreement by the guests. You can sometimes encourage testimonials via third party holiday rental sites direct to your online adverts.

3. Equip the kitchen

Get decent kitchen utensils, pots and pans and make a big deal of it on your site. Your home should be a home from home – but without your clutter!

4. TV and media

A flat screen TV is really expected as is a DVD and CD player. It’s worth the investment but to really outshine the competition buy in 30 DVDs (or so) and make a point of this. Same goes for games and books that will entertain your guests, or their children when inside.

6. Stand-out features

If there is anything else which is a major feature about your property then tell people about it in your adverts. Things like distance to the beach, pool or to the shops, restaurants and bars are all essential but also less obvious attractions – air conditioning, Jacuzzi, play station, satellite TV, working fireplace, dishwasher, BBQ, en-suites etc make up part of the decision making by your guests.

6. Keep your calendar up to date

Guests might be put off if there are few bookings in your calendar when you may have simply forgotten to keep this updated.

7. Pricing and cleaning charges

Apply a fair price to your weekly rental rates. If you need to apply a final cleaning charge to each stay as many do then you might want to consider absorbing some of this cost in the weekly rental as guests don’t see the value of ‘final cleaning’.

8. Extra beds

Add extra sleeping for more guests (within reason) – for example you would do well to provide some Z beds and a travel cot but you could also include a sofa bed in the lounge.

9. Catering for families with young children

If you are catering for families make sure you include items such as high chair, plastic knives/forks and plates, a potty, a bouncer and some steps for the sink.

10. Added value items

Add something else to the rental that your guests will value? Ski pass? Transfer from the airport? A welcome food pack?

11. Respond to enquiries within 3 hours

BIGGEST TIP OF ALL – Respond to your enquiries within 3 hours and make sure you answer all the questions well. It’s hard work keeping up with this but you are so much more likely to receive bookings if you are prompt with your response. When your time is worth more elsewhere get someone else to do it. Good luck.