Furnishing and Equipment
Equipping Your Property
When you first venture into the holiday property business, it can be
tempting to try and limit your initial set-up costs by providing the
bare minimum of furniture and equipment. But the advice from seasoned
holiday property owners is…don’t try and cut corners! Furnish and
equip your property as well as you can possibly afford.
Obviously you’re worried about getting a good return on your investment.
The fear that some holidaymakers from hell will wreak havoc with your
possessions might deter you from equipping your holiday home to a high
standard.
Those who’ve been in the business for years have found that most
holidaymakers take greater care with furniture and other more personal
items if they can see these are things which the owner obviously cares
about…it’s human nature.
Generally speaking people prefer – and expect – their holiday
accommodation to be superior to their own homes. They are more likely
to look after your property if they feel you have taken a lot of trouble
to make them feel welcome and comfortable.
Ensuring all the beds are comfortable is an absolute must. A lack of
sleep is enough is ruin anyone’s holiday. One owner advises: ” Sleep
in every bed in the place! I had several complaints about a bed during
my first year of renting out – and when I next visited my property I
realised the complaints were entirely justified.”
Bear in mind that many holidaymakers regard certain items – such as a
microwave oven, satellite TV and tumble drier – as essential in a
holiday property, even though they might not have them at home.
If you store personal things in the property which are not for the
use of your tenants, it’s not a good idea to keep them in a locked
cupboard…it just makes people curious and they may try to wrench
the door open! Many owners find a polite notice, asking tenants not
to use particular items, works better. Generally, holidaymakers will
respect the owner’s wishes. A better solution, if possible, is to
store personal items with friends during lets.
It’s advisable to have removable and washable covers (or throw-overs)
on your three-piece suite – especially if your property is in Cyprus.
As one property owner pointed out: “People come in from the beach or
terrace and sit down covered in suntan oil. It took me ages to figure
out why my suite was filthy every time I visited.”
The same owner continued: “You’d be amazed at what tenants can do.
I’ve had pictures stolen, frying pans apparently used as hammers,
the kitchen workbench (solid wood) used as a chopping board. One
of my friends had her portable barbecue lit inside the lounge,
leaving a very black ceiling!”
This owner’s motto is: Be prepared for the worst…even though it
doesn’t normally happen. In seven years of holiday letting, the vast
majority of her experiences have been positive!
The Black Art of Buying Property in Cyprus™ ®
The Cyprus Informer™ ® ©
http://cyprusinformer.eu
