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launch issue 4 Getting started Meet our founder the brains Unique selling pointers How to best market your property letting out Our guide to getting started using our website Step by step guide to uploading your property Spotlight on bath Home for Holidays visit Bath Christmas in Wales Home for Holidays saves Christmas
getting started Renting out your home for holidays can be a great way of making money Joanna Williams founder of H4H
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enting out your home for holidays can be a great way of making money. We first began renting out our home when I was looking for somewhere to stay for a weekend break, out of curiosity I looked at what was available in our area. I soon realised that we could offer our home at a fraction of the cost of holiday lets, guesthouses etc and still make it worth our while. Like many people these days we don’t live particularly close to our family or friends so do spend much of our free time visiting. With no small measure of trepidation we signed up to a letting agency, blocked out the dates that we knew were unavailable and waited. Within a couple of weeks our first few available weekends were booked and paid for. When entering our details we tried to be as honest as possible, we wanted people to know that they were booking a home the advantages being that pretty much everything they would need was available, the price was competitive however they weren’t necessarily going to find luxury bedding and bath products. Prior to the first arrivals there were a couple of days of frenzied cleaning and some moving. Ensuring all valuables and personal belongings were stored away, in our case in the cellar. We did leave books, cd’s, cleaning equipment and supplies, food etc but removed anything private. We labelled keys, found local guides, left a wel-
come note and directions and some recommendations of where to go handed over a spare set of keys and set off on our own break. It was quite scary putting the key in the door, wondering what we would find, but we found the house as we had left it. In the times we have let the house since that has been the case every time, the dishwasher is left whirring, beds are made, rubbish has been put out. It is something we will continue to do, our home makes as money when we are visiting family and friends and has even covered the cost of our own trips away. There are obviously some legal requirements, we had a landlords check and safety certificate for our boiler, you need to declare any income from renting out your property this can go onto your personal allowance or through the rent a room scheme. You should also notify your home insurer, this is fairly straightforward give them a call and usually requires a small increase in your premium. People I have spoken to since have said that they wouldn’t think there was any call for their house, however I think there are many reasons your property would be of interest to someone, you need to look around you. Do you have great walks, is your house unusual in anyway, are the transport links to an area of interest good, do any major sporting, music events happen near you...open your mind it could make you some money!
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Like many people these days we don’t live particularly close to our family or friends so do spend much of our free time visiting
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Unique selling pointers Tips for writing copy and taking pictures to best market your home
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he first few lines someone reads about your property are absolutely crucial. They decide whether people read on, or move on. Say something about the location as well as the property in the very first paragraph. People tend to choose location first, accommodation second. Consider headline. Less ‘Holiday cottage with off-street parking’, more: ‘Romantic hideaway between moor and sea’, ‘Stunning views from the highest house in Hastings’, etc. Keep paragraphs short. If possible with one idea per paragraph - it makes it much easier on the eye when you are reading from a screen. People read picture captions: so use them well. A descriptive caption can alter a picture’s meaning. Appeal to stomachs: e.g. ‘The garden is perfect for long, lazy lunches’. Or to families: ‘Kids can run around all day in the garden’. When it comes to writing: less is more. Go through your copy and delete superfluous words. People love to read lists: Easier to read and easier to understand. Write as if to one person: Tell them how they will benefit. Instead of ‘The pub serves local cask ales: ‘You’ll love the local - they serve local cask ales. ‘You’ and ‘your ‘ are important words. Give it a human voice. People like to be reassured that you really exist - there is still a distrust of the internet for important transactions. Bring yourself into the copy, use ‘I’ and ‘we’ to personalise. Use complimentary comments from your guestbook - if it works outside theatres it can work for you!
1 Start with the basics. You need at least one photo of: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living area, exterior. Your guests expect to see where they’re going to be cooking, sleeping, washing, living. If you don’t show one of these, they’ll think you’ve got something to hide. 2 First impressions count. So vacuum floors, wash surfaces, clean windows, remove clutter, display flowers. Prepare for your photos as if preparing for your guests. 2 Highlight the best features. What is it that makes your place special? The enormous master bedroom? The view of the beach from the balcony? Show it to your guests. 3 Include local attractions. It’s rare that your guests will spend all their time indoors. Why did they come to this area in the first place? Show them the village nearby, the the beach a 5 minute walk away. 4 Experiment. Open the curtains and use natural sunlight, close the curtains and use the glow from a roaring fire. Use a flash, don’t use a flash. Take your photos first thing in the morning or as the sun sets. Try different shots and decide what works best for you. There are no golden rules. 5 Copy the professionals. Work out what makes their photos so good… and copy them. Stand on a chair to photograph a room, place a bottle of wine with some glasses on a dining table. Get help. If you’re the sort of person who can’t hold the camera steady or can’t take a photo without planting a finger over the lens, ask a friend to help.
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Yes lets
Homes for holidays helping you rent your home out with confidence
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f you own a house, there’s a way of making extra cash this summer that you might have overlooked. Short-term letting – renting out your property to accommodation-seekers, from as little as a week to a couple of months – could provide an income boost of hundreds of pounds a week. It could even help you fund that summer holiday you’re wondering how to afford. So how do you get into this lucrative market?
1. Own a property with at least a week unoccupied One type of typical short-term renter is someone who already owns more than one property. Perhaps you rent out properties, e.g. to students – filling any summer gaps between tenants could see you make a killing. But it’s not just for those who are already landlords, or well-off enough to own a chalet somewhere. You might be away for a few weeks every now and again on business. You might have just moved to rented accommodation and have a property stood vacant somewhere. Well, any let of any length is better
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than nothing, surely? Or perhaps you just fancy a holiday – which itself creates an absence of a couple of weeks. Why not pay for it with a tenant in your place? It could at least cover the cost of a flight or a hotel! 2. Live near something that draws visitors It’s well known that the UK lacks sufficient hotel accommodation for the major events our country hosts every year. Hotel businesses don’t build the rooms because there isn’t the year-round demand to sustain such investment. But that leaves an opportunity (some might say a responsibility!) on private homeowners to take up the slack. And this is a money-making opportunity for you. The obvious opportunities are big events such as Wimbledon, the Open golf tournament or the Chelsea Flower Show: any event anywhere in the UK that draws travelling crowds. Glastonbury is a candidate nowadays: an increasing number of upper-crust festivalgoers are looking for an option other than camping.
Set a pre-agree cost for bills, to avoid any disputes later about electricity usage Take an inventory, give the property a thorough clean and make sure everything’s in good repair Clarify all assumptions – the tenant might expecting you to provide towels, bedding and the opportunity to do laundry Offer a variety of payment options, but make sure funds have cleared before the tenancy begins Meet your tenants personally: hand over the keys yourself, explain the workings of your property and agree when you will collect the keys at the end of the let. http://www.lawpack.co.uk/landlord-and-tenancy/tenancy-agreements/product728.asp http://www.lawpack.co.uk/landlord-and-tenancy/managing-your-tenancy/product730.asp
Of course, the biggie is coming up next year: the 2012 Olympics. It’s not only London property owners that can benefit. The sailing is taking place down in Dorset, the rowing takes place in Berkshire, and the mountain biking venue is in Essex. If you don’t live near an event, just living near a big city or tourist attraction could be enough. 3. Prepare for a mutually satisfying let The Association of Residential Letting Agents suggests that you take a few steps to ensure a happy short-term lettings experience:
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using the website Step by step guide to upload property details and get your property working for you
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o rister with Homes for Holidays go to http://www.homes4holidays.co.uk. On main menu bar click login and enter username and password as prompted. (see box 1)
To add your property Click my properties and select add properties. Step 1 Enter full address, Town ,City, County, Postcode. Step2 Position marker using address Step 3 Save
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Enter Search Details Selent ‘Edit and enter deatails according to the property you are entering. Number of beds how many it sleeps, bathrooms and many other options.
Enter Property Description Details Step 1 Enter Property Heading (Name of property) Step 2 Add Main Summary Block Under headings such as ‘About the Property’ enter property descriptions (see guide) Step 3 The Edit Summary Blocks allows you to move headings and make changes to your your property profile. Add Property Images Take (see guide) select and upload pictures of your property. Allows you to edit and arrange image in whatever order you like.
Edit Pricing Once you’ve done the research and decided what price you want to list at enter here. You can also select pricing policy, high and low seasons etc.
Availability Select and block out dates that will not be available or have been booked already.
Preview and Publish Now all the detail are complete your ready to publish online. You can always return to drafts and edit at any point in the future.
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Ready Steady... Getting everything in place for your guests
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ou’ve got the booking, now you want to impress your renters so much that they will come again next year. Here are my top tips for preparing your property so it makes the right impression. The most important thing by far is that your property is spotlessly, beautifully clean. Every surface shining, every spot and cobweb banished. Nothing is more off-putting than someone else’s dirt. Make a good first impression with a welcome pack. This can be celebratory (bottle of wine or champagne), functional (milk, butter, bread etc.), or both. Free is best, or you can offer to buy in certain items to be paid for on arrival. It’s worth buying good-quality towels for your rental home. They last longer, and they make a good impression. White towels often look best but can be harder to wash, especially when those mystery stains show up. Have a small library of books on your area, from the major guidebooks to local histories. If you can’t find them in shops, try Amazon, which is also excellent for second-hand and out-of-print books. Take the time to write up-to-date information on how everything works in the property, under clear headings. Print out and place in a folder with plastic page-holders. It’s also a good idea to write about recommended things to do/places to
see nearby Collect leaflets and brochures on local tourist attractions, sights worth seeing, maybe even restaurant menus, and place them somewhere prominent. Guests will add to the pile. The weather is not always perfect so in-house entertainment like board games are always popular. You can buy second-hand and ‘ out of print’ board games cheaply on auction websites like eBay. And don’t forget a pack of playing cards. Does the kitchen have everything you would have in it if you lived there? It should do! And plenty of extra glasses, because your renters are on holiday and don’t want to be washing up all day. Provide cleaning products, including dishwasher and washing detergent, toilet paper, etc. Renters will not appreciate having to buy all these things for just one week’s stay. If you cater to families, have cots and high chairs freely available. Charging for them may cause resentment because they are a necessity, not a luxury. You can buy these second-hand, they won’t cost much. Our Visitor’s Book is where our guests, who quickly become our friends, can share their thoughts and give us ideas for further improvements. Another idea we use: send a postcard 2 weeks before their arrival to say everything is ready and we are looking forward to meeting them soon.
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Bath time Relax in one of the world’s most beautiful cities
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ourished by natural hot springs, Bath offers a unique experience with stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions. Use this site to discover more and book accommodation and hotels in Bath and the surrounding countryside. Bath and the surrounding area is brimming with things to see and do. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge alongside a diverse collection of museums and attractions including the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre and Thermae Bath Spa. Bath’s compact city centre offers irresistible shopping and there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the surrounding area. If you are looking for somewhere to eat during your stay in Bath, you will certainly not be disappointed. A city renowned for great hospitality, Bath’s streets are littered with wonderful award winning restaurants, quaint tearooms and welcoming cosy pubs. Many of Bath’s hotels boast amazing restaurants, serving exquisite cuisine, and more hearty fare can be found in country pubs in and around Bath. All tastes really are catered for, with british and international food in all price ranges served in restaurants in Bath. For people who really love food, a selection of food and drink events run throughout the year, and you will find local produce and tasty treats at local farmers’ markets in Bath and the surrounding towns. Shopping in Bath offers a memorable experience
with a fabulous selection of small independent shops and stylish boutiques alongside the familiar big name stores. The city centre is compact and easily walkable with grand Georgian streets and small picturesque passageways to explore. Don’t miss Milsom Street in Bath voted ‘Britain’s Best Fashion Street’ in the Google Street View Awards 2010. Relax in one of the world’s most beautiful cities Nourished by natural hot springs, Bath offers a unique experience with stunning architecture, great shopping and iconic attractions. Use this site to discover more and book accommodation and hotels in Bath and the surrounding countryside. Bath and the surrounding area is brimming with things to see and do. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe such as the Royal Crescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge alongside a diverse collection of museums and attractions including the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre and Thermae Bath Spa. Bath’s compact city centre offers irresistible shopping and there are plenty of activities to enjoy in the surrounding area. If you are looking for somewhere to eat during your stay in Bath, you will certainly not be disappointed. A city renowned for great hospitality, Bath’s streets are littered with wonderful award winning restaurants, quaint tearooms and welcoming cosy pubs. Many of Bath’s hotels boast amazing restaurants, serving exquisite cuisine, and more hearty fare can be found in country
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spotlight Your guide to a weekend in Bath
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hy not take in a game of ruby at Bath RFC . They play in the Aviva Premiership league. The club has experienced major success, having in the past won England’s domestic competition, the Anglo-Welsh Cup (as the John Player and Pilkington Cup), as well as the Heineken Cup. Bath play at the Recreation Ground in the centre of the World Heritage City of Bath which offers a magnificent blend of cosmopolitan restaurants and wine bars, hotels, shops, theatre and historical architecture in a superb setting on the River Avon. Fixture list: www.bathrugby.com/results/fixtures www.bathrugby.com/tickets Tel: 0844 448 1865 Mon - Fri: 9am -5pm Home Matchdays: Sell Outs: 11am - Kick off Non Sell Outs: 9am - Kick off
Winter Fixtures 5/11/11 14:15 Harlequins AVIVA Premiership 13/11/11 15:00 MontpellierHeineken Cup 03/12/11 14:15 SaleAVIVA Premiership Buy tickets 11/12/11 12:45H Leinster Heineken Cup
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ee is a luxury women’s fashion and lifestyle boutique, a haven of delectable delights, in the heart of Bath. Opened in June 2003, Mee offers a unique form of shopping – the chance to escape the frenzy of everyday living for a civilsed haven. Mee is a place to relax, unwind, and browse, somewhere you can come and spoil yourself, and others, with things that are beautiful, inspiring and unique. 9A Bartlett Street Bath AvonBA1 2QZ Telephone 01225 442250
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ogue Magazine has selected Prey’s shop in Bath as a BEST BOUTIQUE 2010. It is one of only 38 boutiques in all of the United Kingdom to receive the Vogue recognition. Your home is your personal space, your family place, your shelter. It should reflect who you are, your individualtiy. In both the Prey store and Prey on-line, we offer individual special pieces to decorate, to enhance, to use and to display. Always that little bit different. Prey Bath retailing since 2004 has been described as an Aladdin’s Cave of beautiful objects, an eclectic mix of the best in design, a boutique with a unique twist, even the ultimate micro departmental store. We are probably bits of all of these. We would be delighted to see you at our shop when you are next in Bath. Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 12 noon to 4.30 p.m 3 York Buildings. George Street, Bath, BA1 2EB Phone: 01225 329933 www.homes4holidays.co.uk
spotlight Hall & Woodhouse Bath Tucked around the corner from Queens Square in a beautiful old sandstone building, it’s a combination bar and pub, with a fabulous restaurant upstairs and a magnificent terrace on the roof. It’s been recently done up and while it’s clear there has been a lot of money spent on the project, the result is a venue that feels luxurious and modern, while retaining the feel of the original building. Phone: +44 0122 546 9259 Dress Code: Business Casual Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes Menu: www.hall-woodhousebath.co.uk Childrens menu available
Opium The venue is split into four themed rooms including the Dispensary, Pandemonium, Absinthe and Decadence, which will reflect specific time periods from the early 19th century, through the Victorian era and the present day. Having utilised local craftsmen throughout the project, Opium sets out to support local talent and provide a venue for showcasing it. The bar in what used to be an art gallery is closed on Sundays and Mondays and open from 11am to 11pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It is open from 11am to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tel: 01225 332321 The Cellars Spring Gardens Road, Bat www.opiumbars.com
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A childs Christmas in Wales H4H finds the perfect venue for a family winter holiday
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ne Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six. And so begins Dylan Thomas famous short story of ‘A childs christmas in Wales’ that many of us will remember from our childhood. We were looking for such a family christmas when we first went online to find a venue. Our wish list included sleeps eight, open fire, large dinning table, local pubs and fun activities for kids both big and small. We found the ideal place to house our family christmas using the H4H website and serach engine. Kids packed up we crossed the Severn and within and hour we were at our cottage destination in the Swansea Valley. Everthing was perfect and as described by our hosts who were off on their annual pilgrimage to find the sun. Roaring fires, organic turkey ordered from local butchers, ales sampled in local pubs we were
in fine form. On Christmas Eve the kids hung their stockings with care in the hope that St Nicolas would soon be there. Despite some concern by younger members of the family he was and a great christmas day followed. It was a fantastic holiday and we are already booked in for next year and yes as you can see from the pictures they can also organise snow. Swansea Christmas Market @ Princess Way The Christmas Market makes a welcome return to Oxford Street and Princess Way with a variety of trade and craft products on offer. There will also be a fabulous programme of musical and children’s entertainment. Everything you’ll need for a perfect Christmas! LC2 Swansea, www.thelcswansea.com Make waveses in Swansea’s premier waterpark!
Featuring an exciting network of pools, rides and slides including The Boardrider you’re bound to find something for everyone – The best family day out in Wales! Grand Theatre Swansea Pantomime - Aladdin - 16th December 11 - 15th January 12 ON SALE NOW
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