Why Choose Classic Cottages?

Years of Experience

We were founded in 1977 by Tony and Clare Tregoning, so we have been in business for over 30 years. Starting with just twelve holiday homes in the first year, the company has grown to the point where we now market some 600 holiday homes throughout the West Country.

We are still a family run company with the next generation picking up the reins. The company has grown, but everyone involved still holds true to the combination of family commitment and professionalism that is the foundation of our success.

Quality Control

We are very proud of our portfolio of holiday homes. Since the earliest days of the company we have been determined to build a reputation for offering only the very best properties. Success has been built on the fact that our customers feel that they can trust us with each and every holiday they take. We are also a VisitBritain Quality Accredited Agency, which recognises that we manage our holiday homes to the highest standard and only take on properties that meet our exacting requirements.

Your Personal Property Manager

We have holiday homes to let in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, which are managed by five Property Managers. Your own personal Property Manager will be individually assigned to you to discuss all aspects of holiday letting, both before and after signing up to join our portfolio. They will be contactable at any time during the week, and we also have a Duty Property Manager on call at weekends. Each of the Property Managers has an extensive local knowledge of their area and will always be available to give advice.

We will give you a full and frank assessment of the suitability of your property for holiday letting, including any changes we would request before marketing the property. Our Property Managers do not receive a commission for adding new holiday homes to our portfolio, so you can be assured that the advice is impartial. On the financial side, your Property Manager will advise you on the right rent band to maximise your income, and will give you an estimate of the season length you might expect in order to arrive at a projection of your annual net income. They will also be happy to advise on other matters like design, décor, statutory requirements – even the duties of your housekeeper should you need to employ one. Even if your project is still at the planning stage, please do seek our advice as early as possible.

Once your holiday home is established in our portfolio, your Property Manager will arrange a marketing visit with you on an annual basis to discuss the previous year’s bookings and make plans for the following year. At these meetings customer feedback from questionnaires will be analysed and discussed, and the description, photos and rent banding will be reviewed, together with any changes or plans you may have for the future.

Building a Trusted Brand

We take great pride in our service to our property Owners but, in the end, success hinges on our ability to let your holiday home successfully – in other words, maximizing bookings. We have taken great care to build a brand that our regular guests trust and that has given us a large client base who will only book their West Country holiday with Classic Cottages. We understand that a holiday is an important purchase and our job is to give the customer confidence that they will get what they expect. Full and accurate information is a basic essential, but the care and attention we put into every aspect of our communication with them – from the brochure to the Web site, even to the booking confirmations – reassures them that they will get value for money. Buying a holiday is an emotive experience and we want every customer to enjoy the experience from their first contact with us. The feedback and level of repeat bookings tell us that we do that well and your property will tap into that valuable band of loyal customers as soon as we start marketing it.

Getting it Right

An important part of the trust placed in us by Owners and guests alike is our efficiency. Intelligent use of Information Technology ensures that we handle all the routine administration punctually and accurately. In addition, having an in-house IT team of three means that we are constantly developing and improving our systems so that our operation is not welded to the computer – we do not allow our computer to say “No”! We pride ourselves on attention to detail in every aspect of our business from preparing property descriptions to dealing with a complicated booking request and, perhaps most importantly of all, we promise to make our monthly payments accurately and on time.

Good Team Support and Backup

We have a knowledgeable team of 28 with an average length of employment within the company of six years. On joining, each person trains in all departments to equip them with a good overview of the operation, and to ensure that the company’s commitment to quality and efficiency is instilled in each individual! We also hold regular team building days in order to reinforce the team spirit.

A History of Success

It is easy for us to extol our own virtues, but it is also nice to get some reassurance from third parties that we are on the right track. Here are some of the awards that we have collected over the years:

Success is not all about winning awards, however it is about winning over loyal customers and that is where we focus our effort.