At Silverlake Dorset, we understand all the great benefits that owning a holiday let can bring. Whilst managing a holiday home remotely can have its challenges, this guide will explore how to manage your holiday let remotely, offer some remote holiday property management tips and show how a dedicated property management company, such as Habitat Escapes, can help ease the stress and worry.
From maintenance and housekeeping to marketing and booking services, these services streamline the whole process, ensuring a hassle-free experience for owners.
Securely checking in and out of a holiday let
Ensuring a seamless check-in and check-out process is crucial for guest satisfaction. If you’re not local, providing guests with easy and secure access to your holiday let is essential.
One of the most convenient solutions is the use of key safes or smart locks, which allow guests to check in and out at flexible times. However, it’s important to communicate clear instructions in advance, including check-in and check-out times, as well as periodically updating access codes for security purposes.
While self-check-in solutions are practical, they lack the personal touch of a meet-and-greet service. A holiday let property management company can arrange for a representative to welcome guests upon arrival, walk them through the property and answer any questions they may have.
This not only enhances the guest experience but also minimises the risk of issues arising during their stay – eliminating calls at unsociable hours.
Holiday let cleaning
Visitors understandably expect to stay in a clean and tidy property. After every booking, the property will need to be thoroughly cleaned (a changeover clean), which includes dusting, hoovering, laundering bed linen and towels and emptying bins and recycling. Changeover cleans need to be coordinated to take place between check-out and check-in times.
You will also likely want to undertake a deep clean of your property a couple of times a year. This will involve more intensive tasks such as cleaning ovens, washing carpets and ensuring windows and gutters are clean and tidy.
If you have a log burner at your property, you’ll also need to ensure a supply of logs is always available for your guests and arrange delivery should they run low.
Holiday let property management companies offer housekeeping services to ensure your property is professionally cleaned, providing an inviting and comfortable environment for your guests.
Home maintenance for your holiday let
Maintenance issues can arise at any time and when managing a holiday home remotely, having access to trustworthy and reliable plumbers and electricians is essential.
Whether you need an emergency repair or routine maintenance, it’s important to ensure you source a reliable tradesperson or handymen.
If your property has a fireplace or wood burner, regular cleaning and sweeping are necessary to ensure safety. Similarly, if you have a hot tub at your holiday home, a full clean and refill is required prior to every guest stay.
Instead of searching for individual contractors when issues arises, a holiday let property management company can take charge of sourcing and coordinating maintenance professionals, saving you time and reducing worry and stress.
Garden maintenance for your holiday let
A well-kept outdoor space can significantly enhance the appeal of a holiday let. If your property includes a garden or patio area, it’s essential to keep it tidy and inviting.
Regular summer jobs might include mowing the lawn, cleaning the patio and checking over garden furniture. You’ll also need to make sure you have the right tools for the jobs, such as mowers and pressure washers.
If you lack the time, tools or know-how, a holiday let management service can undertake these tasks, providing a welcoming exterior to match the interior!
Keeping your holiday let safe and secure
Keeping your holiday home safe when you are not nearby can be a major concern for holiday homeowners. There are many modern security systems to help keep your property safe. An alarm can help to deter burglars and trespassers, whilst a doorbell camera can monitor any activity at the main entrance and motion sensors can light up the exterior if any movement is detected. However, you will need to inform guests of any security set-up and be aware of privacy and the law.
To create the impression that a property is occupied during off-season periods, timed lighting can be scheduled to come on when the nights draw in.
If you prefer a personal security check, holiday let management companies can visit your property to pick up post so it doesn’t collect on the doorstep, ensure windows have been closed, and turn off heating or taps. They could also be your designated person to respond to an alarm callout should you not be in close proximity.
The finer touches for your guests
There’s nothing more exciting than arriving at a holiday home to a welcome hamper.
Providing guests with a selection of leaflets and flyers about local attractions, activities or places to eat will help them make the most of their stay.
Additionally, ‘how-to’ guides for appliances are a great way to minimise calls and emails from frustrated guests. You can also incorporate any house guidelines.
You can work with a holiday let management company to provide these thoughtful details.
Successfully marketing your holiday let
Whilst owning a holiday let can be lucrative, effectively marketing your holiday let can become a full-time job with managing websites and booking sites, leaflets and social media.
Holiday let property management companies often have a dedicated in-house marketing team to advertise your property to ensure you achieve your rental goals. This can include email marketing, photography, SEO, PPC, advertising, social media and national PR.
Successfully managing a holiday rental property requires careful planning and can be time-consuming, especially when done remotely. There are some key best practices for managing a remote holiday let, but by outsourcing these tasks to a holiday home property management company like Habitat Escapes you can ensure your property is well-maintained, leading to great reviews and repeat visits.
From in-person check-ins and housekeeping to maintenance, marketing and bookings, Habitat Escapes takes care of every detail, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of holiday home ownership from afar.
Habitat Escapes is Silverlake's official in-house, fully managed lettings service. Passion, knowledge and professional support remove the worry of letting a holiday home remotely.
Discover how Habitat Escapes can take the hassle out of managing your holiday let at Silverlake. Contact us today!