The dos and don’ts of renting out your holiday home

If you own your own holiday home, then the chances are that it sits for long periods of the year with nobody making use of its facilities. Instead of throwing money down the drain, homeowners are increasingly taking to offering their holiday property on the rental market for holidaymakers. If you want to do the same, check out these dos and don’ts before you list your property for rent.

DO: Leverage the internet

Social media and travel booking websites like TripAdvisor can be useful when promoting your holiday home, so use them to your advantage. Take photographs of your property and advertise it online – cutting out the middleman can save you money and help fill your property during quiet periods of the year.

DON’T: Clutter your property

We get it. Your holiday home is your home away from home, and you want as many home comforts with you as you can. But when others stay, make them feel welcome by decluttering and including only the necessary items for their holiday. You could lock up your possessions in a spare cupboard or outhouse, or ask a neighbour to keep your belongings while you’re out of the country.

DO: Work with a reputable company

While you may think that you have enough friends, family and connections to keep your holiday home occupied throughout the year, you’ll soon find that you have dry periods, where your property is not being used to its maximum potential. Because of this, we recommend working with a reputable company, such as a Monaco estate agency, to rent out your property to holidaymakers. It’s a stress-free way to ensure your home is filled throughout the year, increasing your occupancy rates and helping you make more money. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive and saves you time, too.

DON’T: Go it alone

Unless you can guarantee that you’ll be in the country and the area when holiday guests arrive at your property, it will be in your best interest to avoid undergoing the rental venture alone. Property Management and rental firms are your best bet, as they’ll oversee sourcing cleaners and maintenance, as well as taking the time to welcome your guests with keys and offer the appropriate support to your customers. If you’re taking sole responsibility for your guests, you could face unnecessary stress and lose money by doing the maintenance, cleaning and support aspects of rental properties. But when you leave it to the professionals, you can sit back, relax, and let them do the hard work for you!

DO: Book time for your own holiday

Although it’s important to keep guests happy, you should also take the time to book in your own slots for a summer holiday. If you know that you want a week in the sun with your children, then make sure that you don’t advertise your property as available during those months, as you’ll leave customers disappointed. The earlier you can confirm your getaway, the more time you’ll have to sell.

There you have it – just some of the things you should and shouldn’t do when renting out your holiday home. Whether you’re a rental virgin or you’re just looking to make some more money from your holiday paradise, good luck!