Launching your first holiday let

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.

Have you decided this will be the year you finally launch your new holiday let? There is a long list of great reasons to become a holiday cottage owner.

Not only can it be extremely lucrative for your bank balance, but you can put your own stamp on a property and help guests to have a memorable holiday.

There are lots of things you need to think about though to make sure everything runs smoothly. Here’s some of our best advice for prospective new holiday cottage owners.

Selecting the right property for your holiday let

When you’re selecting the right property for you, you need to think about how much work you want to do, the market you will be targeting (romantic, dog-friendly etc) and whether you will be managing the changeovers yourself.  

Find out more in our guide to selecting the right property for your holiday let.

Farm diversification

Barn conversions will always be extremely popular as a holiday let – particularly if they have lots of original features, outside space and a lovely rural location.

If you are lucky enough to have unused farm buildings, then these are ripe for conversion and it can be a very profitable way of diversifying.

Find out more in the Gorgeous Cottages Owner Guide to Farm Diversification.

Holiday cottage interior design tips

Getting the design right for a holiday cottage is important, so it’s well worth putting time (and money) into getting this right.

We spoke to interior designer (and owner of the cottage The Secret Garden) for some of her top design tips which includes lighting, using good quality furniture and having a signature scent. Discover the design secrets of The Secret Garden.

Adding the finishing touches to your holiday let

Sometimes in life, the little things can make all the difference. Added extras such as luxury toiletries, a warm and cosy arrival, books and games will help to delight your guests and mean great reviews.

Making your holiday home child-friendly

There’s always a big demand for family-friendly holiday cottages and there are lots of practical things you can do to make your property more appealing to this market.

From providing cots and high chairs to having a room that can be set up as a twin can help to make your property family-friendly.

Creating a dog-friendly holiday home

Taking a dog on holiday has never been more popular, so going dog-friendly can be a great way to boost bookings for a holiday cottage.

Having flooring that is easy to clean, making a garden enclosed and providing bowls and blankets are just some of the things you can do to make your holiday cottage dog-friendly.

Find out more about creating a dog-friendly holiday home.

Gorgeous Cottages are the booking agents for a vast collection of luxury Yorkshire holiday cottages. If you are looking for help and advice on launching your first holiday cottage, please contact our friendly team.