How to make your short-let property ready for the holidays?
Summary: The holiday season has arrived. With Christmas songs are played on every radio channel since mid-November, and shopping malls getting full of people hunting for the perfect turkey and doing some last-minute Christmas shopping, the short-letting scene is also changing after a busy summer period. The winter can be a very quiet period of short-let owners and managers, but the holiday season has the potential to be the crown jewel of your financial year. In this short article we will give you some tips on how to turn your short-let property into the perfect holiday destination and turn a slow period into a busy one.
Creating the perfect holiday backdrop in a short-let accommodation is difficult. You don’t know your guests, you don’t know how they celebrate, or if they celebrate at all, so most short-let owners and managers just carry on as always. However, by this they can miss out on a huge opportunity.
There are many cultures, where families go away during the holidays. This way no one in the family needs to be the main host, who is cooking the for the whole, extended family, guests can stay over without being cramped into the toddler’s bedroom and you can save on the big clean as well. Although most families in the UK still celebrate the holidays at home, these are issues that many face, so by reminding your future guests how much hassle they could save by staying in your property during the holiday season, you can turn this otherwise dead period into a busy one.
However, to achieve the best outcome, you need to plan carefully, and in time. Read this short article for some tips and tricks to create a truly welcoming holiday destination.
Christmas Decoration
First, the obvious one. Should you put up some Christmas decoration. Probably no.
Decorating the tree and putting up lights is the favourite part of the holiday for many families, especially those with children. So, while it seems like a good idea to create a Christmas fairy land, it may be counterproductive. Not to mention that not everyone prefers the same decoration or celebrates Christmas at all. People who go away for the holidays can be those who want to get away from it all. So, it is important to create a welcoming atmosphere for Christmas guests, without pushing the Christmas spirit on everyone.
Instead of welcoming your guests with a giant Santa Claus in the window, let them know that you left some decoration in a box in one of the cupboards. This way, they can use it or ignore it.
To take an extra step, you can also think about all the other religions which celebrate around this time of the year. Hanukkah is between the 15th to the 22nd of December while Kwanzaa
is between the 26th December until the 1st January. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important Mexican holiday and is also celebrated in early December, while Yule, a pagan holiday celebrating the winter solstice is on the 21st-22nd December. By adding a few extra decorations to all or some of these holidays, you can make your property welcoming to all guests, especially if you are located in a busy city centre or close to an international airport or tourist destination.
So, what can you do?
The majority of these celebrations, regardless of the religion are about getting together with family and friends. So, the most important point is to highlight the social aspects of your property. Do you have a large house with several bedrooms and large living room? Then it is easy. Offer your property as the perfect location where the whole family can get together without putting a pressure on anyone particular to play the host in the holiday season.
Do you have a smaller property but in a street with free street parking? Perfect. Make sure to highlight that day guests are allowed, so people can think of the property as a location where the family can get together for a dinner before everyone going back to their own accommodations.
Do you have a small, inner city flat? No worries! Highlight the excellent transport links and the proximity to the local Christmas market or restaurants, offering seasonal deals and things to do.
The kitchen
The other common thing about these holidays is food. Almost all of these holidays include a feast for the family. So, make sure your kitchen is ready for it.
People do not often cook large meals in short‑let accommodations. When people are on holiday, the whole point is that you don’t need to worry about these mundane tasks, so eating out is common. But the holiday season is special. Make sure your kitchen has enough plates (hopefully a pretty set, enough for everyone in the property and maybe some extra), large pots to cook in, large oven dish and enough kitchen utensils to prep any kind of food. Maybe get some extra napkins (again, without any specific holidays, just something nice, with quality material) and make sure everything is clean and ready.
If you want to make your kitchen even better, make sure to leave out some hot chocolate next to your usual tea and coffee offering. Hot chocolate is universal in every religion and region and work perfectly with the cold air and cosy evenings under the blanket.
The evening entertainment
If you haven’t done it already, make sure to get some board games into your short-let property. Playing some board games on Christmas morning after opening all the presents is the perfect activity for the whole family. Classics like Monopoly and Articulate can be purchased for a low price from charity shops, while newer classics such as Herd Mentality and Codenames can be played by large groups and always guarantee fun and laughter.
Make sure your TV is in good working order as well and your WiFi is working. Another common activity in the UK for Christmas Eve and morning is movie marathons. So, make sure guests have everything they need to enjoy their favourite festive movies.
Final points
The holiday season can be a busy time for your short-let if you think in advance and make sure to turn your property into a holiday destination. To make the most out of it, update the description of your property in advance to highlight these changes. These updates can be time-consuming, especially if you manage multiple properties. Not to mention that it requires you to think in advance as people make up plans (especially travel plans) at least a few weeks before the holidays.
This is exactly where a short-let management company can help you. Not to mention that by letting us take care of your short-let property, you can make sure you have a relaxing holiday season without needing to worry about your property and your guests – we will handle everything for you. If you would like to maximise your short-let profit in December while also enjoying a relaxing break with your family and friends, get in touch with us today!