We are going to the Property Investor Show

 Your window to private holiday heaven

Global Lettings are heading to the Property Inevstor Show this week (9th &10th Oct) and it would be great to meet you there...

You can register for a free ticket here and come and see us on the GMP Property stand (360)

Why use Global Lettings instead of a hotel or holiday package?

8 simple reasons to book your holiday through Global Lettings

1. Choice
2. Freedom
3. More for your money
4. Your own space
5. Family friendly
6. BBQ on the patio
7. Breakfast in your PJs
8. A holiday home all to yourself

Book a privately owned holiday home for your worldwide holiday now

Pet Friendly Holiday Homes

Pets are one of the family and many pet owners would never contemplate leaving their four-legged friend behind. So this brings about the question “should my holiday property accept pets?” This is a question only you can answer and here are some positives and negatives on the subject of allowing cats and dogs in your accommodation.

You may find it interesting to know that Welcome Cottages, a major UK based holiday cottage agency, built up its brand on the back of a ‘Pets go Free of Charge’ policy and now boasts over 5,000 pet friendly holiday homes in the UK, Ireland and France. To date they have also donated over £500,000 to the Dogs Trust charity. So if a big player like Welcome Cottages thinks it’s a good idea to not only accept pets, but also allow pets to stay at no extra cost, maybe it’s time you reviewed your pet acceptance policy.

The positives of having a pet friendly holiday cottage:
According to PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturers Association), there are over 8 million pet dogs, and over 8 million pet cats in the United Kingdom. Based on these numbers it is safe to assume that a decent portion of these pets will go on holiday with their owners. So by allowing pets to stay at your holiday home you are opening yourself up to a wider market of customers.

Dog owners especially will be used to walking man’s best friend in all weathers; rain or shine, so if your holiday cottage is located within an area that offers a lot of walking trails, it may boost your property’s bookings in the off-season months if you allowed dogs to stay. 

The negatives of having a pet friendly holiday cottage:

Pet hair and odour is something every home can live without and it is something to watch out for when accepting pets into your holiday property. One way to combat pet hair and odour is to provide high quality cleaning equipment and products in your holiday cottage; most responsible holidaymakers – not just pet owners – will clean up as they go along and by providing them with the right tools for the job they should be able to remove the bulk of any pet by-products. You may now be asking yourself, “why should I foot the bill for expensive cleaning products and a high-end vacuum cleaner?”, the simple answer is you don’t have to foot the bill, you could charge a pet supplement – but be wary of charging too much as many customers do not like additional fees. But on the other hand is the cost of cleaning products and equipment a drop in the ocean compared to the potential income from an increase in off-season bookings? Sadly nobody has a crystal ball but the aforementioned PFMA figures suggest that accepting pets could encourage more bookings.

By making my holiday home pet friendly am I losing potential customers who are put off because they have allergies? This is a very good question as it is true that some people may be discouraged from booking by the thought of you accepting pets in your property.

Not everyone is an animal lover and some have allergies relating to animals. So what can be done? Firstly you could give assurances that your accommodation will be clean and show no trace of pets staying; this may be a bold statement to make but if cleaning is to a high standard and you ensure all remnants of previous pet guests have been removed, you should feel confident in your claim. To increase the success of this, you could include a section in your booking terms and conditions dedicated to pets. This section would inform pet owners that they should not allow their pets on any furniture or allow pets in any bedrooms, also it should be made clear that pets must not be left unattended in the property at any time. You may also wish to make clear that the property and its grounds must be left in the same clean and tidy condition in which they were found. Failure to adhere to these terms and conditions may result in additional cleaning and damage fees being charged. By conveying this upfront and for all to see, this will possibly reassure a potential customer who normally would not consider a pet friendly holiday home, and also go some way to ensuring you get responsible pet owners booking your property.

Secondly you could highlight the fact that The Equality Act 2010 means that accommodation providers in the United Kingdom must amend their ‘no dogs’ policy to allow guide dogs and other assistance dogs. So even if a hotel, bed & breakfast or holiday home advertises itself as ‘no pets allowed’, they cannot guarantee that no pet has ever stayed there, as any registered guide / assistance dog belonging to someone with a disability is allowed access to accommodation even if the accommodation description says that pets are not allowed.

There is a lot to think about when contemplating whether or not to you want your holiday cottage to be pet friendly. Would you consider making your holiday home "pet friendly" for the chance of more out of season bookings?

Top UK Beer Gardens

UK Summer drinking at its best

What better way to celebrate the start of summer than with a golden draft or two in a sun-drenched beer garden? VisitBritain have selected a bevy of Britain's best... which we would definately also recommend visiting.

The Ship, Noss Mayo

Scrumptiously set in one of the prettiest villages in Devon, The Ship Inn, Noss Mayo garden sits surveying the town quay. The view takes in bobbing boats, hungrily circling seagulls and a gentle estuary bordered by forested hilltops. If you arrive by boat you can tie up outside. The food is excellent and the beers are well kept.
 
The Pandora Inn, Restronguet Creek

The medieval Pandora Inn dates back to the 13th century and perches in a prime spot overlooking romantic Restronguet Creek. Drinkers and diners can sit on the patio outside or further over the water on a floating pontoon. Tuck into fresh crab, watch boaters footle about on the creek and marinate yourself in real ale and historic charm.
 
Three Horseshoes, Elsted

This 16th-century treasure lying at the foot of the South Downs has a garden ripe with roses and other perfumed blooms. The views from Three Horseshoes stretch for miles over emerald fields and gentle hills and there are great local walks. On sunny days it's best to arrive early to grab a good spot.
 
The Bell, Aldworth

The Bell is everything you could hope for in an English village pub. The interior is creaky and quirky and excellently kept ales are joined by guest brews. But it's the quiet, old-fashioned cottagey garden, evoking a gentler England, that's the draw here. It's by the village cricket ground, and behind the pub there's a paddock with farm animals. In summer, you might be treated to the occasional Morris dancer.
 
The Windsor Castle, Kensington

This characterful pub is rightly known for having one of the best beer gardens in London. Enclosed by lofty, ivy-cloaked houses, The Windsor Castle feels protected and removed from London's chaotic rattle and a handsome Plane tree gives welcome shade. Inside, tiny interconnecting rooms radiate genuine Victorian charm. The bones of Thomas Paine are said to be buried in the cellar, after his son sold them to the landlord to settle a beer debt.
 
The Joiners Arms, Newton by the Sea

This little gem is in the small village of Newton by the Sea in Northumberland. Located half a mile back from the sea, The Joiners Arms serves "The Biggest Fish the Boat Could Safely Land" which is match perfectly with Kwak, a 8.4% Craft Beer. Over looking the sandy dunes of one of the UK's most beautiful beaches, this country pub is perfect for a cold pint after a refreshing walk out along the beach.

Applecross Inn, Applecross

This remote, waterside pub is worth seeking out for its cracking views across to the Isle of Skye. To get there you'll also take in some terrific scenery either over the hair-raising Pass of the Cattle (Beallach na Ba) or along the single-track lane winding round the coast from just south of Shieldaig. As you'd hope, the Applecross Inn serves some excellent seafood. Devour oysters or lobster, drink in the view of Skye's jagged Cuillin Hills and wash it all down with a warming whisky.
 
Tarr Farm, Tarr

Set in its own 40 acres, 16th-century Tarr Farm Inn sits just above Tarr Steps and the River Barle and to say it has a great garden wouldn't really do it justice. From outside the Inn, the whole of Exmoor National Park unfolds beckoning with wooded valleys, open moorland and the much-photographed, prehistoric Tarr Steps.
 
King's Head, Wadenhoe

Not to be missed this summer, the stone-built King's Head is a 16th-century inn in a wonderful spot with seating in a grassy paddock sloping gently towards the River Nene. Serious ale fans won't be disappointed and fine cask-conditioned beers include their own King's Head Bitter. Grab a seat under the shade of a willow and watch the Nene slide lazily by. If you arrive by boat you can moor up for free.
 
Inn at Whitewell, Whitewell

The Inn at Whitewell is a former Victorian deer-keeper's lodge that must have one of the most perfect settings in Britain. From the terrace the graceful fells of the Forest of Bowland sweep into the distance with the River Hodder streaking silver on the valley floor below. If you can tear yourself from this veritable postcard, you can fish the river or walk. We'd rather sup an expertly made gin and tonic and drink in the view.
 
Square and Compass, Worth Maltravers

For sheer English eccentricity, this one's hard to beat. The Square and Compass has its own fossil museum and holds events from pumpkin carving festivals to stone masonry workshops. It was a local quarrymen's pub and still retains an odd assortment of roughly hewn stones, some of which act as seating in the sunny garden. From here a grassy slope descends to the village and down to the sea beyond. A lovely setting to sup a homemade cider.

Credit: www.visitbritain.com/en/Things-to-do/Food/Top-10-best-beer-gardens.html

Good Turkish Travel Blogs

When starting to research your next travel adventure, its best to get your information from people who have been there, done that... Someone who has been to the places you want to see and experienced the things you want to experience.

The blogs below are good resources for information and colourful stories of the writer’s own adventures.

1. Turkish Travel Blog

If you want a blog that gives you not only information about places to visit and things to see but also food you must eat and traditions you should witness or can participate in, check out turkishtravelblog.com. Natalie is originally from the UK and moved to Turkey and now has a goal of seeing everything and going everywhere the country has to offer. It’s a tall order but she’s up for it!

2. Turkey Travel Blog

This blog is a little more technical and informational. It offers how-to’s and suggested companies to use for certain things from tours to travel arrangements. With a focus on the larger cities, this is a good start if you’re planning your first trip to Turkey and want to do the standard, tourist based things.

3. My Traveling Joys

This blog includes travels from Turkey, Poland, and other places both domestic and international.  The blog writer, Joy, is a pastry chef and focuses on food in many of her articles.

4. Travellerspoint – Turkey

Travellerspoint is a great resource for posts by many people and many things sorted by country. Not only does it give people’s perceptions of the places they visit but also talks about important topics while traveling. These posts include traveling alone as a woman, customs in the country you’re going to, and how to handle medical emergencies in the country you’re visiting.

5. Istanbul Eats

Food, food, food, and more food! If you’re going to find yourself in Istanbul and consider yourself a foodie, this is the blog for you! Not only does this site include reviews and restaurant suggestions, there is also a section to find authentic Turkish recipes to try at home!

6. The Turkish Life

An American woman who moved from San Francisco to Istanbul updates this blog about her life in the city. This is a more down-to-earth blog, which includes commentary on local news and political unrest and is a helpful perspective on life in Turkey.

7. Turkish Cultural Foundation

The Turkish Cultural Foundation maintains this useful and informative website. There are portals for cuisine, music, culture, and connecting with people. If you want to brush up on your cultural references, works of art, or find a connection in Turkey this is a great resource.

Photography Tips for your Holiday Home

 

 Your mission when you are taking photos of your rental property is to get as many good pictures as you can. Getting the best pictures of your property is not hard, but it will take some effort and technique.

What Camera?

You can take good photos with just about any digital camera less than 5 years old that has a flash. The real question should be, can I use my iPhone or smartphone? Yes you can, if you follow some of the following tips.

Phone Photography Tips

The biggest drawback of using your Phone is the lack of flash. That little flash is OK for ‘selfies’, but it just doesn’t have the muscle to light up a room. That being said, the actual camera in most smartphones in the last 3 years can take some really good photos, if you have enough light to begin with.

Try these tips:

• Turn on the HDR (High Dynamic Range) feature. This feature tells the computer in your iphone to take three pictures at the same time, and then the computer inside your phone combines the best elements of all three shots to give you a real life looking picture.
• Keep your hand still and wait for your camera to focus before taking the photo
• Get as much light into your house as possible. I’ll tell you how in a moment.

Declutter in 5 minutes

The trick is to move things around and play with the angles.

• Remove all tea towels and bath towels
• Remove remotes and magazines from all bench tops and tables
• Pack up or put in a box all the small things on the ground
• If the fridge is loaded with fridge magnets remove them
• Remove all dishes from the kitchen sink and bench tops.

The key is to get all the small distractions out of the shot which means playing with the angles. Holiday makers are going to see a great picture in your ad BUT don’t need to know about the pile of stuff behind you!

Show your Holiday Home in the Best Light

Sunny and bright rooms not only make technically better pictures, people looking for a holiday homes respond better to them. Follow these tips to make your pictures brighter:

• Open all the curtains and blinds
• Open all the doors (every bit of light counts)
• Shoot your pictures during the day to take advantage of the light
• Turn on all the lights (even lamps and the range hood in the kitchen)

There are a number of ways to take great pictures of your property. If you know some tricks or have any other comments please add them below so we can share them with everyone.

Top Tips on How to Advertise Your Holiday Home

The first few lines someone reads about your property are absolutely crucial. They decide whether people read on, or move on. 

Here are some tips on how to keep them reading:

• Holiday makers choose where they want to go before they pick the accommodation, so make sure in the opening paragraph you talk about the location as well as your property.
  
• Try and describe what the holiday maker could be doing while at your property, rather than the exact features in the property header/headline. “Relax in a cosy country cottage” or “Surf’s up at this beach front villa”. Describing what they can do lets them think about them actually being there.
  
• Keep your descriptions punchy and in short paragraphs, making it easier for the holiday makers to read.
  
• Make sure to mention only the important things about your property. Less is more, don’t describe the colour of the bedroom but the views across the bay from the window.
  
• Maybe list some of the features inside your property, rather than full sentences. This allows holiday makers to see exactly what’s on offer.
  
• Write your advert like you are speaking to the person who is coming on holiday. “You” and “your” are great words to use to make the holiday maker feel that they are already there.
  
• Write if you are actually speaking with the holiday maker, make it human. Saying I and we allows guests to trust that there is a person behind the property.
  
• Humour is one of the best ways to get a holiday maker to trust and respond positively to you. Use it!

Register your property on Global Lettings for as little as £250 a year, to receive access to your owners portal, real time booking calendar and informative website advert. 

Register today at globallettings.com