Owner Information Board: Latest advice, tips and news - Our property owner community
  • Buying a holiday home
    • Holiday home investment
      • Reasons to buy a holiday home in Cornwall
      • What to look out for when buying a holiday home in Cornwall
      • Buying a holiday home as an investment
      • Five popular types of holiday homes in Cornwall to buy
      • Buying a holiday home as a lifestyle choice
      • Where to look for a holiday home in Cornwall
      • Long Term Let, Holiday Let or B&B?
      • 7 Reasons to holiday let in Cornwall
      • Getting the best holiday letting return on investment in Cornwall
      • Holiday Letting Income Calculator
      • How much does it cost to buy a holiday let in Cornwall?
      • Holiday let rules and regulations
    • How to let your holiday home
      • Letting your holiday home: DIY marketing, local or nationwide agent?
      • Letting agencies: full management, or marketing and bookings only
      • You get what you pay for – Holiday letting agents’ fees explained
      • Preparing your holiday home for letting
      • All you need to know about holiday let wear and tear
      • How to deal with complaints about your holiday let
    • Turn lookers into bookers
      • How to best present your Cornish holiday let online
      • 5 tips on search engine optimisation for holiday lettings
      • Encouraging online booking for your holiday let
      • Catering for a niche – are you set up for it?
  • Let with us
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Property Team
  • Contact Us
  • Our Cottages
Owner Information Board: Latest advice, tips and news - Our property owner community
Buying a holiday home
    Holiday home investment
    Reasons to buy a holiday home in Cornwall
    What to look out for when buying a holiday home in Cornwall
    Buying a holiday home as an investment
    Five popular types of holiday homes in Cornwall to buy
    Buying a holiday home as a lifestyle choice
    Where to look for a holiday home in Cornwall
    Long Term Let, Holiday Let or B&B?
    7 Reasons to holiday let in Cornwall
    Getting the best holiday letting return on investment in Cornwall
    Holiday Letting Income Calculator
    How much does it cost to buy a holiday let in Cornwall?
    Holiday let rules and regulations
    How to let your holiday home
    Letting your holiday home: DIY marketing, local or nationwide agent?
    Letting agencies: full management, or marketing and bookings only
    You get what you pay for - Holiday letting agents' fees explained
    Preparing your holiday home for letting
    All you need to know about holiday let wear and tear
    How to deal with complaints about your holiday let
    Turn lookers into bookers
    How to best present your Cornish holiday let online
    5 tips on search engine optimisation for holiday lettings
    Encouraging online booking for your holiday let
    Catering for a niche – are you set up for it?
Let with us
About Us
    About Us
    Meet the Property Team
Contact Us
Our Cottages
  • Buying a holiday home
    • Holiday home investment
      • Reasons to buy a holiday home in Cornwall
      • What to look out for when buying a holiday home in Cornwall
      • Buying a holiday home as an investment
      • Five popular types of holiday homes in Cornwall to buy
      • Buying a holiday home as a lifestyle choice
      • Where to look for a holiday home in Cornwall
      • Long Term Let, Holiday Let or B&B?
      • 7 Reasons to holiday let in Cornwall
      • Getting the best holiday letting return on investment in Cornwall
      • Holiday Letting Income Calculator
      • How much does it cost to buy a holiday let in Cornwall?
      • Holiday let rules and regulations
    • How to let your holiday home
      • Letting your holiday home: DIY marketing, local or nationwide agent?
      • Letting agencies: full management, or marketing and bookings only
      • You get what you pay for – Holiday letting agents’ fees explained
      • Preparing your holiday home for letting
      • All you need to know about holiday let wear and tear
      • How to deal with complaints about your holiday let
    • Turn lookers into bookers
      • How to best present your Cornish holiday let online
      • 5 tips on search engine optimisation for holiday lettings
      • Encouraging online booking for your holiday let
      • Catering for a niche – are you set up for it?
  • Let with us
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Property Team
  • Contact Us
  • Our Cottages
Customer focus, General, Quality

What to recommend for guests staying your Cornwall holiday cottage

Recommendation

As well as providing the perfect Cornwall holiday home with everything your guests could possibly wish for, you also want them to have a break to remember.

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Customer focus, First Impressions, General, Quality

How to create holiday home WOW factor

WOW Factor

The Cornish holiday let market is a crowded one so your property faces lots of competition. If you want yours to stand out in this crowd and fill up your booking calendar outside the easy summer season, you need to make your property special. Creating holiday home wow factor needn’t cost a fortune, but it does require thought, care and time. Read on to discover our space-by-space tips for creating a holiday let that stands ahead of all others.

First impressions

First impressions are super important and they’re lasting. With this in mind, make sure all your online advertising is tip-top with quality photos and compelling copy. Be on hand to answer all queries as soon as possible and always go the extra mile to help with information and advice.

First Impressions

First Impressions

Top tip – get some expert advice on how to present your holiday let online.

Second impressions

Your next step to adding that wow factor to your Cornish holiday let is the property itself. Each space can offer something extra:

Living areas

Sofas – settee, sofa, couch, call it what you will but consider it part of the decor not just the furniture. There should be enough of them – or they should be at least big enough – to seat the maximum number of guests. Smart and potentially squishy sofas are almost impossible to resist!

Sofas, settee, sofa, couch

Sofas, settee, sofa, couch

WiFi – it goes without saying that your property should have high-speed broadband WiFi. Make sure it reaches all corners of the house, especially if you’re aiming to attract the family market – teenagers like to be connected 24/7!

Entertainment – the TV should be a Smart TV and for an extra, take out a subscription to Netflix, Sky TV or Amazon Prime. Provide a games console for families. On the other hand, if you’re providing a relaxing retreat, perhaps a digital detox haven, equip the living room with some good books and board games.

SMART TV

SMART TV

View-gazing – if your Cornish holiday let comes with an amazing vista or enjoys an unpolluted night sky, add a telescope so that guests can stargaze or check out the ships or the local wildlife.

Quirky detail – add the occasional unusual ornament or large picture to show your holiday let’s personality. But don’t overdo it and don’t go too over-the-top because you risk putting guests off rather than wowing them.

Top tip – place a vase of fresh flowers near the entrance to reinforce a freshly cleaned holiday let.

Kitchen

Go as high-spec as you can afford with your appliances. Holiday cottages and farmhouses often benefit from an AGA, which always adds a wow factor to a holiday let kitchen. Don’t forget a dishwasher – even a slimline one makes all the difference because no one really wants to wash up on holiday. A coffee machine such as one that takes Nespresso capsules is another bonus (make sure you provide the capsules too).

Nespresso

Nespresso

Equip the kitchen with quality tools and gadgets. If it’s a chef’s kitchen, why not provide cooking and baking equipment? And don’t forget a supply of basics – tea and coffee, cooking oil, salt, pepper and sugar as well as a few extras such as herbs and stock cubes.

Salt & pepper

Salt & pepper

Top tip – colour-coordinate your kitchen so that cabinets, countertops and appliances all fit well together. For a sleek effect, buy smaller appliances (kettle, toaster, etc.) in the same colour.

Bedrooms

If you’re got room, put king-size beds in all double rooms. Super-king adds that extra wow. Top them with plenty of pillows (at least 2 per person) with different fillings like hotels do with their pillow menus. Provide good lighting for bedside reading and for each person. For the ultimate in a heavenly night’s sleep go up a size on your duvet so there’s enough for both in the bed. E.g. on a king size bed provide a super-king duvet.

Top tip – buy zip and link beds that can convert to single or super king depending on your guests’ needs. Comfort and adaptability.

Bathrooms

Guests will love bathrobes and it goes without saying that towels should all be soft and fluffy. Provide a set of towels per person including one large bath sheet (bigger than a bath towel). Amenities are another area where your Cornish holiday let can really shine. Stock the bathroom with some locally sourced lotions and potions and include a little note saying where they’re from.

Bathroom

Bathroom

Top tip – a local supplier may be prepared to give you free samples in return for publicity or offer your guests a discount encouraging them to buy locally.

Outside space

If your outside space gets lots of sunshine, provide an umbrella for some welcome shade. Make sure your furniture is clean and has comfy cushions – these tend to get stained with mildew so replace them often or buy cushions with removable washable covers.

Garden Furniture

Garden Furniture

For family holidays, put some children’s play equipment in the garden. This could be a small climbing frame, slide or play house. In larger properties, a set of badminton, swing-ball or croquet will appeal.

If your Cornish holiday let is lucky enough to have a pool, put some loungers or reclining chairs next to it. And again, make sure the cushions are uber-comfy.

Top tip – provide a barbeque so guests can cook al fresco. Make it a gas one to avoid the hassle of charcoal and firelighters.

Niche markets

Different types of guests will appreciate different holiday home wow factors. For example, for families, stock up on equipment for young children. Include a cot and highchair plus useful baby gadgets such as a bottle steriliser and blender for pureeing food. Provide a few toys and if your holiday let is near the beach, some buckets and spades with a fishing net.

For dog owners, put out water and food bowls and provide a towel for drying the dogs after a wet walk. A welcome treat for pooch always gone down well after a long journey too!

dinner time mat with dog bowl and treats

Top tip – find out more about catering for different niche markets for Cornish holiday lets

Welcome pack

The welcome hamper your guests find as soon as they walk in the door is an easy to add holiday home wow factor and worth spending money on. Make the contents as locally sourced as possible and suited to your guests. Anyone will appreciate scones with a pot of Cornish clotted cream or a tub of Cornish ice cream in the freezer (don’t forget the cones as well). Couples will love a bottle of wine and a few nibbles.

Top tip – if you include local produce, add a note about where it’s from and how guests can buy it when they’re staying. Tell the producers you’re using their products and they might cross-promote you as well.

Insider secrets

Experience is the new watchword in holidays so many guests will be looking for more than just a bed when they book with you. Online information also risk there being almost nothing new to discover when they arrive.

Except that locals always know something an outsider doesn’t. Share your ‘secret’ information with your guests – tell them about that quiet beach in August, the local baker serving the exquisite pasties or when’s the best time of year to see bluebells, dolphins or otters. Add this information to your welcome pack – preferably the front page.

Secret Spots

Secret Spots

Top tip – add a hint of your insider secrets in your online advertising to entice people to find out more.

At Cornish Traditional Cottages we’ve been helping owners add a wow factor to their Cornish holiday let for over 50 years. Find out how we can help you bring those extra touches to yours so it stands out in the crowd. Get in touch now.

Customer focus, General

Guest reviews: How to request and respond to feedback

Feedback

As well as making sure your guests’ holiday gets off on the right footing, you also want to collect their feedback. Peer opinion forms a vital part of decision making and buying behaviour in today’s world and holidaymakers are more likely to book a holiday home that has positive opinions. Garnering this valuable information will also help your marketing by:

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Customer focus, First Impressions, General, Maintenance

It’s a dirty job but someones got to do it!

No one likes cleaning the oven, and with all that hard-to-remove grease, it’s a job we try to avoid. If you don’t have the time or inclination yet still want a hygienic, sparkling kitchen, why not call in one of the experts who make cleaning the oven look effortless using eco-friendly products.

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Cornish Traditional Cottages
3 Eddystone Court
Eddystone Road
Wadebridge
Cornwall
PL37 7FH

Tel: 01208 893 980

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