‘A pleasure to deal with’ 

At Luxury Coastal, we love getting to know the stories behind the holiday homes that we represent — and the people who pour their hearts into creating them. We recently caught up with the owners of Higher Yalberton Farm, who went on a journey from a chance property purchase to beautifully restoring a collection of holiday barns just outside of Paignton, South Devon. In our conversation, they shared how their vision evolved over eight years of dedication and hard work, what makes their countryside retreat so special to guests, and how partnering with Luxury Coastal has supported them every step of the way.

 

What inspired you to venture into holiday letting, and how did you come to develop Higher Yalberton Farm?

We bought the Farm ‘by accident’ whilst on holiday in Devon in 2015. It had been a tenanted farm for almost 100 years and had just come onto the market. It was in a neglected state, and what are now the holiday barns were almost derelict and piled full of years of farm rubbish.  As we walked into the old Georgian farmhouse where we now live, we knew that we had to buy it. We did much of the work ourselves and our vision evolved as we fell in love with the beautiful old buildings. Each barn now has a storyboard of what they looked like in 2015, with a key to each picture, which our guests love.

We always intended to retire to the coast and have a B&B or holiday let. I’m not sure we quite realised how much we had taken on or just how much work would be needed to bring the old place back to life.

Were you met with any challenges or obstacles during the development of the barns? And how were these overcome?

The challenges of the development which were physical, mental and financial, were far more than we anticipated – on every level. The whole process took eight and a half years. We overcame a lengthy planning process of two years, as the barns are listed; logistical problems, Covid, injuries and cash flow issues. Both of us were working full time with Kev working abroad for long periods and leaving me in charge.

We were told early on by a friend who is an engineer/builder, that it was a good job we knew very little about what was ahead or we would not have started. This is probably correct, but we are so glad that we persevered through all the obstacles we encountered as the results are so rewarding.

 

What makes your properties so special to you and your guests?

The barns will always be very special to us as we know every stone and beam – having cleaned, treated and sealed each one during the development. We know the family who lived here during the previous tenancy and have loved learning about its working farm history. The barns and our grounds that surround them have a wonderful atmosphere that is often commented on. We are in a conservation valley with an old cider apple orchard and stream for our guests to enjoy. We have all kinds of wildlife, things not seen in more urban areas. We often sit on one of many benches in our meadow; listening to the birds sing and the stream trickle by, thinking how lucky we are to live here.

Our location is unique – it feels as if you are deep in the Devon countryside when in fact there are shops and eateries at the end of our road, and the beach is just a ten-minute drive away.

Our guests always comment on how spectacular the barns are. We’ve retained all the original beams, internal stone walls and high ceilings with all their character, and we’ve ensured every detail has been considered to make our guests feel truly comfortable and welcome. The comments left in our visitor books reflect this and are a great reward after all our hard work.

Why did you choose Luxury Coastal specifically?

We looked at a number of letting agents, larger national companies, and smaller companies before choosing Luxury Coastal. A smaller company was more appealing, and the fact that LC concentrate on Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

 

 

Can you describe the process of onboarding with Luxury Coastal and how they assisted in setting up your property for success?

LC were so patient as it took us more than a year to go live. During this time they kept in touch and offered great advice to help us on our way. We couldn’t have done it without them.

How do you feel that Luxury Coastal gives you the support you need throughout your holiday letting journey?

As a small company, LC react quickly to any request and is efficient in making any changes that we request or with any advice we may need. We are very happy with their support and help.

Are you happy with the visibility of your property to attract guests and the occupancy achieved?

We’re a very new business to market in 2024, so it’s been harder to fill our barns outside of school holiday periods. LC will often contact us to suggest changes to drive bookings during the quieter periods, and whilst pricing isn’t always the answer for us, there are other initiatives at play which support alongside price. As we’re in Torbay, gaining visibility is crucial in a competitive local market, but not many barn conversions have hot tubs like ours. We are happy to play the long game to build our bookings as our pricing structure is fantastic value for what we have to offer.

 

Looking back, what have been the most rewarding aspects of owning a holiday let, and what advice would you give to others considering this venture?

The most rewarding aspect of owning our holiday lets is the enjoyment our guests experience when they stay here, particularly the children. We have had exceptional comments and reviews from 100% of our guests. Dexter our six year old black Labrador is the biggest star of the show.  He has received cards, gifts, hand drawn pictures and letters from his fans, often children who were nervous of dogs when they arrived. We have been fortunate to have several families with special needs staying in the barns. These guests have been particularly rewarding to host.

For others considering this venture I would say:

  1. Be prepared to work incredibly hard especially in the summer season.
  2. Ensure attention to detail in every aspect of your business. Everything needs to be perfect and spotless before guest arrival.
  3. Compile a detailed guest guide. Ours is very comprehensive and updated regularly.
  4. Before you go live get several different ages/types of guests that you know to trial your accommodation and give honest feedback/suggestions.
  5. And lastly, if you cant give 100% to the business then consider doing something else. Last year we hosted guests who run a holiday let themselves. After seeing how we do things they decided they weren’t giving theirs the attention it needed and they would re-purpose it. We took this as a great compliment.

 

What are your top tips for others thinking of letting a holiday property?

Don’t underestimate your costs: Utilities, laundry, cleaning, insurance, compliance/safety.

If you are not on site at your holiday let have someone you trust to do your final checks and manage issues during your guest stays.

You must enjoy working in a service industry.

Finally, would you recommend Luxury Coastal as a holiday letting agent?

I would definitely recommend LC as a holiday letting agent. As a smaller company they are quick to respond and deal with any issues promptly. They provide suggestions and guidance for new businesses. All staff are friendly and enthusiastic – a pleasure to deal with.

 

Find out more about Higher Yalberton Farm here

 

We’d love to hear from you

If you’re a holiday let owner in the South West and are looking for the next steps in your holiday letting journey, we’d love to speak with you. You can find out more about us here at Luxury Coastal and the long terms partnerships that we form here – Let Your Property

Ready when you are.

 

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