Tips to get your holiday let summer-ready

Hooray for the summer! A time of year that promises long days, lovely weather and plenty of visitors to our beautiful coastline.

As we well know, for many British households particularly those with children, the summer is their long-awaited holiday season. It’s the perfect time to explore the countryside, go to the beach, visit National Trust sites, or take scenic drives to appreciate the South West’s stunning landscape.

Picnics, walks and outdoor events are all firmly on the agenda, and as a holiday home owner there are plenty of opportunities to add value for guests who are looking to make their summer break absolutely perfect.

Local is lovely

Knowing your neck of the woods as intimately as you do means you may have a few favourite pubs or restaurants up your sleeve, perhaps ones off the beaten track with terrific outdoor space, or places that run specials during the summer.

There may also be seasonal outdoor markets or lesser-known small family-friendly events like local fairs to recommend. These could be added to your welcome folder so that guests can plan their days out right from the start of their stay.

Clever storage

While this isn’t always possible space-wise, if your property does have room whether it be a small shed, garage or plastic storage box in the garden, guests will appreciate having somewhere to store beachgear, bikes or boards. Installing hooks on an outside wall is a simple solution for drying wetsuits and beach towels too.

Fresh air feasts

If your property has outside space no matter how small, it’s worth considering a table and chairs, parasol or sunshade so guests are able to sit outside and enjoy a coffee and croissant, glass of wine or, for larger spaces, a fabulous family feast.

Stay safe

As beautiful as our beaches are, there is a need for creating awareness of possible dangers for those who are unfamiliar with the area. Riptides, currents and rapid tide changes can affect some places more than others and the RNLI has a website with resources that can be downloaded and printed for beaches in your particular area.

Visit the RNLI for beach safety tips here >>

Keep it cool

As terrific as it would be to have air-conditioning during the warmer months, this is a big outlay and one that may not be financially or logistically plausible. We recommend offering desktop or floor fans especially during July and August so guests are able to keep cool and comfortable throughout their stay.

Picnic preparations

A lovely personal touch if your property is close to nature walks or viewing points. Providing plastic glasses, plates and dinnerware along with a coolbox or basket, is a great way to make guests feel at home, especially if these items are highlighted in your property’s listing or within your welcome folder.

On ice

If your holiday property provides a freezer, it may be a good idea to pop a bag of ice in for each set of guests. Or of course more cost effectively, to fill ice trays prior to arrival. Again not essential, but a thoughtful addition. Also, popsicle moulds for homemade ice lollies is a great little activity for parents to do with kids, and guests will appreciate the thought.

Summer sizzling

If your property can accommodate a BBQ then we’d highly recommend providing one as this is something many, many guests ask about when booking during the warmer months.

If space is an issue then something like a hook and cook disposable BBQ stand is reported to be a much safer way to use a disposable BBQ. Of course we’d recommend you double check the safety standards before making a purchase.

Some property owners are happy to offer a starter pack of charcoal and firelighters for charcoal BBQ’s however others request their listing to state that this isn’t provided and that guests will need to bring their own. Any shops who sell these items in the area can be listed within your welcome folder too.