The following is a guide to what we go through to ensure your holiday home or investment property is looked after, provides maximum return on investment, and gives you the flexibility to visit at your leisure.
1. Preparation
Styling your property is key to captivating your market. We have a good eye for what to keep and what to purchase, utilising only the best existing pieces of furniture, accessories, and necessities, whilst adding a ‘WOW!’, other essentials, and going the extra mile to include items guests wouldn’t expect (such as bicycles to get around and explore the local attractions, kayaks if there’s great local rivers or estuaries to explore, or even just fold-up beach chairs and umbrellas they can take and use at the local beach). What already exists and what budget you have to finish the property off all comes into play here.
2. Details
To ensure maximum presence on any short-term platform such as Airbnb, Expedia, or Bookings etc, we put together a listing that not only highlights the features of the property, but has enticing wording and quality photos. Making sure every section and every detail is filled out whole-heartedly to the best of our knowledge, using quality keywords to give you the best possible advantage for your listing.
We also put together a welcome book including rules and regulations for using your property, instructions on using various electrical items or accessing Netflix for example, contact details for us and various trades if there is an emergency, and also including recommendations and brochures for local eateries, activities, and tourist attractions. A ‘welcome basket’ is also included to make the guest feel at home and to give them that something extra to make them feel at home.
3. Pricing
Getting the right pricing structure in place is essential to maximise a return on investment – especially at the start. You don’t want to overprice the property to start out, you want to get those first few guests in the door to leave glowing feedback and a five-star experience. We do the research of the local area, see what compatible properties are asking, and what availability is out there at certain times when setting the right price. This leads me on to ‘Calendar’.
4. Calendar
We at Hostfully source what events occur in the target area – both annual and one-off in advance, so we can adjust pricing accordingly so you can cash in on the peak times, and reduce in the quiet times to get those essential bookings and income coming in.
5. Availability
We work hard to ensure quick responses and confirmed bookings are taken care of – even working late into the night when we get an alert from a potential guest.
6. Screening
We always have a connection with each and every guest when they reach out to book a property. We like to have a conversation with them through messaging to make sure they are a good fit for your property. We find out a little more about their background and why they are visiting the region, while ensuring the conditions on guest numbers and previous five-star feedback are in place.
7. Cleaning
Hostfully provide a professional cleaning service once every guest has vacated each property, or more if they are staying for longer periods. This includes regular changeover items such as linen and replenishment of guest amenities, as well as keeping the oven, microwave, and washing machine/dryer are kept clean and free from lint.
8. Inspection
After each guest has vacated the property, we not only do a ‘clean sweep’ throughout, we also do an inspection of all lighting fixtures and other electricals, check and attend to any issues with mould or insects, or any damage that may have occurred and needs fixing. This is essential for keeping the property in top shape as well as for guest feedback (which they rely on to keep their five-star status).
If you wanted to spend a lot of time going through the process of setting up, monitoring, and running a short-term rental property, it would take up far more of your time than you probably have in daily life. This is why it’s easier to leave it with Hostfully who can set-up, list and run everything for you. Having a property work for you so you don’t have to, frees up your time to spend on living your life.
