Get to know our Property Managers and read Mary Harlow’s take on the
holiday letting business (Head of our Property Department).
Far West Cornwall – Philippa Penney
Philippa started with Classic Cottages in 2004 and is the Property Manager for
the far west of Cornwall, which encompasses beautiful locations such as St
Ives, Porthcurno, Mousehole and Sennen Cove. Philippa looks for cottages with
character and charm and as the sea views in this area can be outstanding, she
feels that if a property also has the bonus of a sea view or is within easy
reach of the coast it will book exceptionally well both in and out of season.
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South West Cornwall – Penny Rushby
Penny joined Classic Cottages in July 2003, and as Property Manager for the
Cornwall South West area she covers from Hayle to Portreath along the north
coast, down to Mawnan Smith near the Helford River, right across the Lizard
peninsula, and back along to Perranuthnoe on the south coast. Generally she
feels that the most successful properties in her area are those which have all
the facilities guests already have at home (and more!), plenty of living space
for the number accommodated, modern kitchens, enough bathrooms or shower-rooms,
good heating systems, and preferably a cosy wood-burner or open fire. Good
quality, tastefully co-ordinated interior furnishings and accessories are
important, and outside private parking is a significant advantage. Larger
properties definitely benefit from including a games-room to keep the whole
family entertained in the evenings or on wet days, and for all cottages a
pretty garden or sitting-out area, preferably private, enclosed and ideally
with an attractive outlook, is a big plus; a sea view is wonderful but not
necessarily essential – so you don’t have to be within a stone’s throw of the
nearest sandy beach!
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North Coast Cornwall and mid-Devon – Anna Gibson
Anna has worked as a Property Manager for Classic Cottages for over 12 years.
She has extensive knowledge of most areas in the South West and currently looks
after cottages and Owners on the north coast of Cornwall and across mid-Devon.
Anna looks for a ‘WOW’ factor when choosing a property and for Owners who are
willing to go that extra mile for their guests.
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Bodmin Moor to River Tamar, Dartmoor and South Devon – Jacqui Gulliford
Jacqui joined Classic Cottages in March 1991 as the third Property Manager. She
has covered most areas but is now responsible for Bodmin Moor to the River
Tamar, Dartmoor and South Devon. Jacqui feels that standards are continually
being raised, which means we have to be very particular in choosing new
properties to join our portfolio. She believes that the main factors that make
a good holiday cottage are first and foremost the location (near the sea or a
river or in a pretty village) and secondly a proactive approach by the Owner
and/or Housekeeper to looking after their guests. Jacqui has the following tips
for anyone thinking of holiday letting:
The exterior should be in good condition, there should always be a sitting-out
area and if possible there should be at least one dedicated parking space.
Inside, all paint-work, carpets and curtains should be in tip-top condition and
spotlessly clean. Kitchens, even in a cottage for two, should have a
dishwasher, a washing machine as well as a cooker, microwave, fridge and
freezer (the latter can be a fridge/freezer if space is limited). For
properties accommodating more than four there should be two bathrooms or
shower-rooms, however if the cottage is absolutely perfect in all other
respects a second WC will suffice. Once you get to eight people or more there
should be at least three bathrooms or shower-rooms. It is always better to have
fewer guests accommodated and allow room for an extra bathroom.
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South Cornwall – Deborah Kingsley-Tubbs
Deborah has been with Classic Cottages for six years. She is the Property
Manager for the Cornwall South Coast region which stretches from Falmouth to
Looe. Properties which do well in this area include those in Falmouth itself,
where there are plentiful shops, bars, restaurants, beaches and watersport
facilities all on tap, and where the property has a sea view or is within a
couple of miles of the coast. Further inland Deborah looks for properties that
offer that ‘added extra’ such as a swimming pool or hot tub, holistic
treatments, locally-produced hampers or ready meals to order, or an amenable
Owner who goes the extra mile, maybe fetching daily papers or groceries.
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Dorset, Somerset, North, Mid and East Devon – Anna Hamlyn
Anna joined Classic Cottages in February 2010. The area she covers includes
Dorset, Somerset and parts of North Devon, mid-Devon and East Devon. With
hands-on experience of a holiday cottage of her own, Anna looks at cottages
from a guest’s perspective – with the immediate impression on arrival being as
important as the location and the overall quality of the cottage – as well as
from that of the Owner, with whom she hopes to create a lasting working
relationship.
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How the holiday letting business has changed in recent years
Coastal residences, period houses and traditional, thatched chocolate box
cottages will always be at a premium, but these days they are often rivalled
for successful holiday letting by cutting edge, modern properties with designer
features or access to leisure facilities. The demand these days is for more
upmarket, quality, self-catering holiday homes than it was 20 years ago, with
holiday lets providing either the same or better amenities than a guest has at
home. The most recent additions to our portfolio have plenty of space, comfort
and facilities, and can come in many shapes or forms, from a converted barn or
village school to a large penthouse apartment with panoramic water views. It is
fast becoming the norm to have a bathroom for each bedroom, a designer kitchen,
'zip and link' (double or twin) beds, the latest technology such as digital TV,
DVD player, Sky and internet access, a wood-burner or open fire, and full
central heating. Extras such as a games-room, gym, swimming pool, hot tub or
jacuzzi bath are not unusual today.
The trend in recent years has been a move towards more short break holidays.
This has been made easier by the advent of the internet, and visitors being
able to book last minute on-line. It is also a medium where we have seen a huge
revolution in the marketing of holiday homes. Advertising on the Web now
accounts for over 80% of our new business. It is however a cut-throat industry
and the competition to stay at the top of the search engine pages is immense –
our IT department work on this continuously.
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The factors we take into account when deciding whether to take on a holiday home
The key factors are always location, size, and the facilities provided, with
location being the prime factor. When looking at the location we use our long
experience and take into consideration the demand for holiday homes of a
particular size in that region. This varies from one area to another and from
one season to another; for example, large properties near the coast will suit
two families holidaying together in the summer, whilst small romantic retreats
on the moors will suit couples taking short breaks in the winter. When looking
at new holiday homes to take on, sea, river or countryside views would be our
main consideration, followed by the property’s proximity to neighbours (for
many guests, privacy is a key element of their holiday). Factors such as the
size of the garden, and whether it is enclosed for dogs or children, also come
into play. Comfort, interior design and the facilities provided are very
important, and we will help with advice on layout, design and furnishings, to
maximise the letting potential of the holiday home. Other important factors
that we take into consideration are parking, and the type of heating provided
(which can affect the length of the letting season), accessibility and whether
the property concerned would photograph well for promotional purposes. For
inland holiday homes the additional facilities of a pool, games-room or hot tub
can make a difference to bookings. These days, as the market place becomes more
and more competitive, the criteria we use to assess holiday homes have become
ever more stringent.
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What is our most popular type of property?
Our most popular properties vary tremendously; some people prefer a thatched,
beamed cottage nestling in an archetypical country garden, and others a
designer-style modern apartment perched on the waterfront, or a clifftop house
with stunning views. What they all have in common however is some form of ‘wow’
factor, together with quality furnishings and thoughtful attention to detail
throughout. Immaculate cleanliness is a pre-requisite. Our aim is to entice
guests back time and time again, so holiday homes that are well-maintained and
constantly updated are the ones that do best. On arrival the guests should feel
that they have arrived somewhere better than ‘home-from-home’, where the
perceived value is greater than the cost of the holiday.
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Advice to people who are thinking about entering into the holiday letting
business
Our advice would be to select a holiday home somewhere you would choose to
holiday yourself and somewhere that would suit your own personal use. Most
importantly, the property must be a desirable destination for your potential
guests. In essence, this means that the house itself, its setting and/or the
view should be capable of producing good photographs so that it will stand out
against the competition in a brochure or Web site. At the top end of the
market, good quality, comfortable homes can command a substantial high season
rental and a long letting period throughout the year (Christmas and New Year
demand peak rates).
Discerning guests will want space and privacy both inside and out, so rather
than trying to accommodate more people, remember that an extra bath or
shower-room may add better value than another bedroom. Some of our most popular
holiday homes have an equal number of bedrooms and bathrooms, ideal for couples
or multi-generation families holidaying together throughout the seasons.
Smaller groups also mean less wear and tear – and in a rural or beachside
house, a downstairs shower-room will prevent a trail of outside dirt or sand
throughout the house.
Gardens that offer shelter and privacy will always be more attractive to relax
in than a shared area or courtyard, so bear this in mind if planning to convert
a range of buildings.
Buy the best fittings and furniture you can afford – your guests will be
delighted to stay in your holiday home, will want to come back, and so will
cherish it in return. Quality fabrics, carpets and upholstery will last longer,
clean better and be well respected by all who stay.
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The hidden costs and legal pitfalls Owners need to know about
Always check planning permissions before marketing a holiday home that has yet
to be built and take plenty of time in your own planning process. It is
surprising how many times a holiday home is marketed for six months prior to
being finished, only for the layout to be changed substantially before the
project is completed. This can obviously lead to extra costs when guests who
have already booked have to be refunded or moved to an alternative property
when their expectations are not met. Once the purchase of a holiday home is
complete, seeking advice from holiday letting agents such as ourselves about
layout and design before conversion or restoration can save on expensive
mistakes and help to maximise bookings.
Other hidden costs include breakages and wear and tear of the property – be
sure to obtain good holiday home insurance cover which takes into account
specifics relating to holiday letting. This will also ensure that you avoid
certain legal pitfalls. Utilising good holiday letting agents is another way of
gaining sound advice on all aspects of holiday letting, from proposals on
layout and design to advice on dealing with guest complaints.
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Ask our advice, send for an Owner's Pack or arrange a visit.
