Article By: •Tian van Taak
Coastal towns and properties have long been sought after tourist destinations. With
tourism now finding its feet again we have put together some guidelines for potential
investors and or home owners as to how to create a steady revenue from your own home
with holiday rentals.
Renting out of holiday accommodation in sought-after areas during peak season is
generally very lucrative. However, many investors struggle to rent out their properties
at less popular times of the year when holidaymakers are thinner on the ground.
Here are some tips for maximising your chances of consistently renting out your
holiday home all year round.
Advertise effectively
Identify who your holiday home will appeal to and direct your marketing efforts
accordingly. If, for example, most of those making bookings in your area hail from a
particular part of the country, consider advertising in those local newspapers or on
localised, targeted social media groups. Make sure the photographs advertising the
property portray it in the best possible light. Consider hiring a professional photographer
if necessary. Look at your décor make it inviting and memorable. If you don’t have a
view of the lagoon or ocean then create interesting or unique space within your home
that will appeal to tourist.
Likewise, provide a detailed, correctly spelt and grammatically correct (it has a huge
impact…promise) description of the home, highlighting the finer points. Don’t forget
to include a list of amenities in the area and it’s always a good idea to include a
roundup of recommended local restaurants.
Don’t assume that just because your holiday home is situated on a specialised estate such
as a golf estate that only golfers will be interested in booking the unit. In this
instance, while it would of course be advisable to target your advertising on the
various golfing social media sites, remember not every holidaymaker is necessarily an avid,
die-hard golfing fan.
Remember use one or 2 booking platforms like Lekkerslaap and Booking.com, this will
help you advertise your property to a large audience even internationally.
Kit the home out with comfort in mind Seaside homes generally attract young
families. Make sure your unit caters for this by having items such as high chairs and
safety gates available in double storey units. Make your unit stand out by supplying board
games, sporting equipment and comfy loungers if there’s a swimming pool on the
premises. Consider putting in a good television set, provide a stable WiFi
connection and make up the beds with high quality linen. It’s often the smaller things that
make the biggest impact and a thoughtful touch like fresh flowers or a small fruit basket
usually go down a treat. Buy the most comfortable furniture you can afford. Word of
mouth advertising is always going to be the biggest drawcard for holidaymakers and the
more comfortable the unit, the more likely it will be rented out throughout the year. Use
social media to as a cheaper and more interactive mode of marketing than a
webpage as you can easily update the page.
Provide clear instructions for any appliances in the unit and ensure that a handyman is on
call to repair any faulty items. Better still, check and service the appliances regularly to
ensure they remain in good working order.
Manage the property
There are many benefits to using an agent to advertise and manage your holiday home
bookings. As always, use a reputable agent that can assist in marketing management
upkeep and housekeeping of the property. Fly by nighters and con artists have been known
to let a unit on the sly, pocketing the cash in the process. Make sure the agent gives you
access to the booking schedule and that you have a contract in place that will benefit and
identify both parties’ roles. Some agents have added benefits of a
concierge service that can give added benefits of food events and activities.
Should you require any further information in this matter do not hesitate to contact
Tian: 076 943 8387 West Coast Destination Events.