Think of a mantra as “a guiding principle which inspires you to do whatever special things you do” (Roger von Oech).
As holiday rental owners we too should have guiding principles. They should be at the heart of what we do and will make what we do rather special.
I’d say I have many guiding principles, but here are my top 5 mantras as a holiday home owner.
1. Cleanliness is next to godliness
Cleanliness is next to godliness according to the ancient proverb. Or put another way “cleanliness is next to success”. Even at the lower end of the market, guests (although not expecting the amenities and attention to detail that I advocate) will expect cleanliness.
So for a holiday rental at the higher end of the market, there is no excuse and guests are within their rights to expect the cleaning to be spotless.
2. I am a business owner
Even viewing my holiday rental as a “second home” rather than a holiday rental property, the moment I accepted paying guests, I had to treat it as a business, with me as the business owner.
From this moment, I had to keep track of my income and expenses and prepare a tax return
. So I made my business more exciting and inspiring than that. I started by setting myself a vision. What did I want to achieve with my holiday rental business? Think financial or a lifestyle change?
There’s no need for a complicated business plan, just one that’s meaningful and actionable to me! Try the Holiday Rental Business Planner that I used for free (download by clicking on the image on the left), to get you started and thinking as a business owner.
3. Respect your guests
It’s about my guests, as without them there would be no business. This mantra runs through everything I do. From my website which is written for my ideal guest; to my décor scheme which is not about my personal taste but about what will appeal to my guests.
I treat my guests with respect. For example, providing quality items in my holiday rental (for example luxury bedding and quality crockery) which they appreciate. In return they respect me and my things. I am guest focused at all times.
4. Show some passion
I have a passion for my holiday home, for the village it’s in, for other local business and the wider community and nearest towns. I like nothing more than to shout about all this. I share my passion with my guests because encouraging them to book with me is as much about the local area as it is my fantastic cottage. Let your passion shine through in every communication whether offline or online.
5. Life’s pretty good
Ending on a positive note. It’s so easy to take owning a holiday rental or second home for granted. Rarely do I take time to take stock and be grateful for what I have. This doesn’t just apply to the holiday rental but to family, health and friendships. I often take a step back and appreciate what owning a holiday rental means to me in the short term and for the future. I love my holiday rental and to be able to earn from it puts a big smile on my face. This doesn’t stop bad days happening and me tearing my hair out when things are going pear-shaped but that’s when I have to remind myself that generally “life’s pretty good”.
So fellow holiday home owners, these are my mantras and guiding principles. What are yours? Do you agree with mine?
Please share on my Facebook page: TheBusinessofHolidayRental or email me: I’d be delighted to hear from you.