Starting Up - your startup checklist
This part of the ‘Startup’ pages is arranged as a checklist of the tasks associated with running your holiday home.
Each section below will provide a link pointing you to the part of the website where the issue is dealt with in more detail.
The best way to use this page is to bookmark it, use the links to visit the other parts of the website, and then return to the bookmarked page.
Marketing
Marketing is one of the most important factors affecting the success of your holiday cottage. You may have the best holiday cottage in the country but people need to hear about it!
A good rule of thumb for your first year is to be prepared to spread your marketing net as wide as possible to attract guests. After your first season you can then work what areas of your marketing brought you guests and what didn’t. At that point you can then decide where best to spend your money in the next year.
See: Marketing
Get your own website
When it comes to marketing your holiday cottage, one of the most useful and important purchases you can make is your own website.
Don’t underestimate the value of your own website! This is the place where you can really sell your cottage and provide all the information and pictures that guests will need in order to tempt them to book.
At HowToHolidayCottage we know the importance of having a website properly designed specifically for holiday cottages, which is why we provide off-the-peg websites for owners of holiday cottages, designed by owners of holiday cottages.
See: Get your own website
Booking process
You may think that how you manage your bookings isn’t something you need to think about at this stage, but we would recommend that you give it some thought as it helps you to think through the practicalities of running the cottage.
See: The booking process
Decor and furnishings
Your guests experience of your holiday cottage will be based to a large extent on their appreciation of your decor and furnishings. When guests write comments in the guest book it will generally be about what they liked, or didn’t like, about the decor and equipment!
If you do get it right, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t, then you will greatly increase the chances of repeat bookings, and there is no clearer sign that you are getting things right than to have repeat bookings!
See: Decor and furnishing
Finances and bookkeeping
Hopefully before deciding to let your holiday home you will have estimated your running costs and income. If not, then have a look at how to do this in our 'Starting Up' pages. Once your holiday home is up and running you will need to keep a record of your income and expenditure, including any start up costs.
Not only will this let you see how your cottage is performing, but it will also provide you with the information you will need to complete your tax return, or to provide to your accountant.
You will probably also want to have some idea about how this will affect your tax liability and cashflow. For more information see the links below.
See: Startup finances, Finances
Insurance
When your holiday home is up and ready to run you will need specialist holiday home insurance for your buildings and content as well as for public liability. Our pages on insurance will help you go about getting the best insurance for you.
Note: you may also need to consider interim insurance during any renovations. Holiday home insurers will generally not cover the house during that time.
See: Insurance
