For a holiday home owner, this needs to be seen!

This Christmas we raised a toast to another very successful year and, in spite of the current economic climate, we are looking forward to an even bigger and better 2012.

As I write, in the last week of December, we are ending the year up by an amazing 30% on forward bookings for 2012 compared to this time last year all within what I think you’ll agree is really a pretty shoddy economic climate.  25% of these bookings are repeat bookings, people who have travelled with us before.  This is my favourite stat because I truly care that we are delivering on our promises.

So this is a thrilling end to the year which I think reflects the energy, enthusiasm, value and commitment that the Tots Team demonstrate.  For families who book with us we deliver peace of mind and save them stress and time and for holiday home owners we represent a successful partnership that brings not only bookings but advice, support and a stronger, more successful business proposition.

Read more

Original post can be found at Holiday Home Rental Site (Tots to Travel)

More new properties added in December than ever before

I am delighted to announce that December has been our “best month ever” at www.totstotravel.co.uk, with over 25 more fantastic, family friendly holiday homes coming on board this month.

This growth, in preparation for the 2012 season, indicates the growing success of a formula that works in partnership with property owners in supporting them to create profitable holiday home businesses.

I am convinced that in these torrid economic conditions, it is partnership that wins over isolation, and innovation that wins over stagnation. The temptation within this climate is to retreat, to cut back on your marketing and to leave things up to lady luck.

In my opinion, that is the opposite of what you should be doing.

Now’s the time to find new and exciting ways to delight your clients and new ways to reach the market…and that’s exactly what we’re busy doing here at Tots HQ.

We’re busier than ever trying new things, innovating and being courageous, you’ll see the results of all our hard work over the next few weeks and months…

Click here to find out more about successfully letting your property

Moreover, now’s the time to find your property’s niche and to examine what you could do differently to stand out from those property owners who have opted to do nothing new.

So congratulations, and welcome to all our new partners who have been courageous in trying something different for the 2012 season!

Merry Christmas & a happy and fully booked 2012

The accidental holiday home owner

Image: Simon Howden

Due to the current economic situation, a new kind of holiday home rental owner has emerged, I like to call them, 'the accidental holiday home owner' and there are plenty of them about.  They are different from the usual holiday home owner who's second home is their love, and sometimes their passion.  Many have bought their homes as a second home, to be used as a side business, extra income maker until they retire to their dream home.

But the new 'accidental holiday home owner' is different, most have bought their homes as an investment.  In the case of Portugal, many bought during the property boom with a view to a quick profit but have found themselves stuck with a property they cannot sell and so have turned their mind to holiday lettings in a view to retain and reclaim their investment.  This is not what they had planned, and they have had to be resourceful and more importantly learn new skills and understand a new type of market. They have a different agenda than your normal holiday home owner with a much stronger focus on the financial side of the business.  But in order to achieve your financial needs, you need to have a clear plan.   I have a couple of Home owners through my role as a Letting Expert with Tots to Travel who are exactly this type of home owner and have had to change their direction and do something completely different to their original plan and they are doing it quite well.  They have found their niche (the family market) and know what they want to achieve and are learning as they go.

But not all in this position can be so lucky, if you are in the unfortunate position of having invested only to find your investment effectively trapped in the downturn with payments to be maintained it can be terrible.  They never imagined or wanted to be in the 'holiday letting' market and are like a fish out of water.  Holiday lettings can be time consuming, especially for the inexperienced or those who do not want to do it, property management companies can be an effective solution but finding the right one, especially for your budget is not always easy.

If you are feeling out of your depth and need some help, now is the time to ask; with only a few weeks left before the critical new year booking season.  To find out how I can help, contact me, to discuss your options and a way forward.

How was your season? Time to review

Now the leaves are changing, the nights are chilly and its time to review.  This time of year is a time to review, as we approach the end of another year, many of us are reviewing and evaluating how this year has been, both in business and personal terms.

If you are a holiday home owner, new or old, you will no doubt be taking stock of your performance over the season.  Did you do better or worse, or stayed the same?  Did you see a change in the market?

Every year it is essential for any 'serious' holiday home business owner to sit down and plan for the next year.  And now is the time to do it, you need to make important decisions that you can implement before the booking season starts in January, if not even December as people make those plans for that all important yearly get-away.

You need to consider:

What were your problems?  Were they customer based, environment based, monetary based or otherwise?
Where were your successes?  Did you have better feedback, more returning guests or increased profits?
What marketing did you do?  Was it effective?

What do you want to achieve next year?  How will you build on your successes?

I would love to hear your feedback, if you would like to share.  Either pop a comment on the blog or drop me an email at christine.amorim@totstotravel.co.uk

Adeus!

5 Things a Holiday Home Owner should do!

Now these may seem basic things but you would be surprised how many people do not get this right.  If you have read some of my recent posts, you would see that I have been looking for a holiday rental for a late season break and these are the things I have come across, not in a huge amount of listings but enough to correspond to probably 10% of listings have one of more of these issues going against them.  For me, these are a complete turn-off and tell me that the owner is not bothered about their listing, so what is their service like from that point.

1. Photos - I cannot say this enough, good photos are essential! Most people do not look past the photos, that is what draws them in to look at the other information.  If the photos are unclear or just plain bad, people will go away.

2. Links and emails - must be correct and working, several times I have come across email addresses that do not work or links to websites that go nowhere.  In the case of the email addresses, I think it is essential in this modern age of smartphones etc that people take enquiries via email.  For me as a customer, I do not want to have to phone a home owner if I am looking at several options.  This is an instant put-off for me.

3.  Use a marketing mix - this means using several forms or sources of marketing.  The best idea is to mix and match with a large scale advertiser or listing site, such a Owner Direct or Holiday Lettings and a smaller, more niched advertiser.  It is not wise to advertise through only one advertiser, you run the risk of not being seen by a big enough market and also that they may not do well for you, amongst other things.

4.  Identify your customers - In terms of who you market to, select a type of customer who your property appeals to, put yourself in their shoes, be realistic.  If your property is half way up a mountain on a dirt track, you will not appeal to beach lovers or young families, no matter how nice your property is furnished and decorated.  Find a niche or selection of customers who you appeal to and aim your marketing at them, don't try to sell to everyone, as you may end up selling to no-one or at least lose potential sales.

5.  Assess the market - every year, sometimes more often, you should assess the competition, what makes you different, what are your unique sales proposition (USPs), are you effectively selling these?  Also assess the pricing, has the market pricing changed, has it risen or reduced?  In whatever case, try to understand why that is and how you should react to that.  If prices have dropped, don't just follow suit but instead add value to your rental through adding services or facilities.


It is vital that you get the first step (the customer looking at your listing) right, otherwise everyday you are potentially losing leads and bookings, can you afford that?

For a FREE book on how to fill your empty weeks, click here

What does 'family or child-friendly' mean?

This is a question as a Mum of two and as a Letting Expert I am constantly looking at.  At Tots to Travel we are continuously gathering feedback from our customers, parents and assessing the market for the latest trends and ideas in this area.

Recently, I have been looking for a place for a late season holiday, a rental house or a hotel and am surprised by some people's idea of 'family-friendly'.  Firstly, if you are family friendly, there must be fencing on the pool or some way to allow the children to be outside but not have access to the pool.  As a parent, I want to be relaxed, not always worried about the pool.  To that extent, if the pool is not enclosed somehow, I wont even consider it, next.  Secondly, provide a decent cot and highchair as the absolute minimal basics, doesnt have to be expensive, but not an ancient family heirloom which looks like it will collapse if I put my child in it.  Do not charge me for it, in that case I think you really dont want me there.  If there are stairs in the property, especially near bedrooms or basement, please provide some form of protection.  Think of me as I try to feed my one year old child with grown up cutlery that she will bite and hurt her mouth, as I try to make a tiny meal in a huge bowl and end up feeding her out of a tea cup!  Imagine me packing for my two children and how much kit we will have to bring, something as simple as providing swimming/beach towels saves me a lot of space and weight.

What got me thinking about this was in my search for accommodation, I specifically searched 'family friendly rentals in .........  And there was nothing I would choose as family-friendly.  The worst I think was the house, lovely and new as it was, up a very steep hill in the countryside, with an unenclosed pool, right outside a door.  The property was walled from the photos I could see but the wall was low, low enough for my two year old to lean over and potentially fall down a very steep hill.  Im always wary with properties in the countryside, if they are not very well fenced for a child to get out and get lost.  This isnt lazy parenting, it's being safe.  It only takes a second for a child to wander out of a property or fall in a pool, next to a door.  Parents deserve a holiday too, and shouldnt go on holiday to worry about the new environment they are in.  

Just because you provide a cot and highchair, does not mean you are family-friendly.  Think about the customer, put yourself in their shoes, how can you make their life easier and give me a great family holiday that they will rave about and recommend to others.  After all, isnt that what you want?  And let's be honest, if you are not willing to add some family touches, dont advertise yourself as 'family or child-friendly'.  There are many more customers out there that you will appeal to.

If you think you are 'child-friendly' or want to find out how to appeal to this evergrowing market, Wendy Shand has written a FREE book full of great advice and tips developed from feedback from customers, her own experiences as a letting expert and as a parent. To get your FREE copy, go to www.freeholidayletsbook.com

How important are holiday letting websites?

If you are currently considering the purchase of a holiday home which you are going to rent for income or if you already have a holiday rental home and are maybe reviewing the effectiveness of your current choices, this is a really interesting article looking at some of the options you have, well worth a read.

http://www.jamesdearsley.co.uk/2010/12/how-important-are-holiday-letting-websites-to-your-overseas-property-purchase/

What I particularly liked and thought was great advice was to go with a large advertiser with international coverage rather than a local agent but also to add a niche market - something which sets you apart from the others and let a market segment find you effectively, rather than being lost in the 1000s of other similar properties. 

Trends in the holiday markets

In this post from the Tots to Travel website, the TUI boss talks about recession and how holidaymak​ers are behaving this season.  Useful information for holiday home owners.

http://www.holidayhomerentalsite.com/2011/05/10/riding-out-the-recession/