Buying and letting a holiday home could be one of the best investments you ever make – but how can you make sure you’re marketing it to get the best reach and attention that it deserves?
Here to answer all your questions and give you a head start to let your property, we speak with holiday home landlord Alpesh Patel, who owns Moat Barn, a stunning property nestled in the heart of Suffolk with his wife.
Below, Alpesh shares his expert advice and years of letting experience to help get you on the right track.
Q: What was your motivation for letting a holiday home?
A: We wanted to create some passive income through rental and liked the idea of holiday lets, as it’s a profitable market. Moat Barn was a property we saw during the Covid-19 pandemic, so the price had dropped, and we knew it was worth the money when we viewed it.
Q: What did you consider when selecting your holiday let?
A: My advice is to look for potential - some properties will already be in a condition to rent, but if they’re not, don’t dismiss them. Location is everything and will be a crucial factor in customers choosing your property for their stay, and renovation is always an option to consider.
Moat Barn was already done to an extremely high standard (with five bedrooms that sleep 10 people) – but we needed to ensure it was acoustically dampened and that no external sound from the nursery next door could be heard from inside the property. This is another important factor which can deter guests if there’s lots of noise from neighbours or surrounding areas, so bear that in mind.
We also incorporated a games room to increase the attractiveness of the property. Make sure you’re designing a property that is suited to the kinds of clientele you want to attract and the activities they may be interested in - small changes can really make all the difference.
Q: Why was Best of Suffolk your final choice of agency compared to its competitors?
A: It was a very easy decision – we hadn’t bought the property yet, and so asked a couple of agencies to look round and give us their advice on using it as a holiday rental.
The first agency was more interested in getting the rental and persuading us to choose them. Best of Suffolk did not ask for the work and were honest and generous with their advice.
They became a partner who came with us on the journey as we purchased the property, offering us lots of support and insight into the kinds of changes we should consider when preparing the property for letting.
Q: What’s impressed you most about Best of Suffolk since you began your letting journey?
A: The team has an expert in every field, which I really like. From liaising with guests, dealing with property owners and providing customer feedback to website communications and managing bookings, everyone specialises in something.
This kind of expertise is vital to support the investment from a landlord’s perspective. Tim, the director of Best of Suffolk, is always available and happy to have a chat when I have a query or something to discuss. Efficiency and customer support is crucial to consider in an agency when running a holiday let, and that’s what Best of Suffolk do best.
Their photography is stunning too – the images Hannah has taken are wedding photo quality. It’s a real skill and makes an incredible difference to how the property appears online.
They also have an incredibly strong housekeeping team who are nothing short of amazing, keeping the property spotless for my guests.
Q: Would you recommend letting through Best of Suffolk?
A: Absolutely. The money you invest in them is worth more than opting for a cheaper agency who charges less commission and offers less bookings as a result.
If you’re considering letting a holiday home, remember it’s an investment, and the agency you choose is part of that investment too. The access to customers with their website reach is massive. Best of Suffolk are on the higher end of the market and make the property much more money than if I’d gone somewhere else.
Q: What is your advice to prospective owners who are considering a holiday let?
A: Location is everything – Suffolk is a holiday let market where people are looking for quality. So, if you’re buying the property to let it as a holiday home, you should approach it as though it were your own home. I furnished Moat Barn the same way that I furnished my own home – this way visitors will experience its special quality.
Make sure the property reflects you as an owner, making it stand out as a unique property compared to other lets in the area. It doesn’t need to be expensive, but just good quality. Many of your visitors will be looking to repeat book – once they like a place, they will often return, so first impressions are crucial.
The images are also important to appealing to a customer online – most people will have never seen the property they are intending to stay in, so your photos need to do all the talking. Either hire a great photographer or be sure to look at an agency’s photographs when narrowing down your options.
I would also ensure the property is winter proof too, making the property appealing all-year round. We’ve put a hot tub under a shelter, incorporated a games room with lots of TVs and ways to entertain our guests.
For more information on letting your holiday home with Best of Suffolk, visit bestofsuffolk.co.uk/letyourcottage/ or contact the team at pno@bestofsuffolk.co.uk.
