Many people buy a Lanzarote villa needing rental income to help to pay the mortgage and annual running costs. So it's vital that you prepare your villa correctly for your guests so that they get maximum enjoyment from their holiday and want to return, and also tell their friends about your villa. That is how you build up your rental business and you get the maximum return from it.
There is no point in having a lovely Lanzarote villa, marketing it well, but have the reality for your guests not meeting their expectations. Firstly, spend as much as you can afford on decent furniture. Cheap tatty furniture will not impress your guests and also will not show up well in the photographs which you`ll use for your very important marketing. Nice bed covers, the right suite and a few flowers around the villa can add a number of weeks on to your rental for the year, so will pay for themselves very quickly.
What you put in the villa by way of equipment is very important as well. You don't want to advertise your villa as taking 6 guests but only provide 4 sunbeds, cutlery, china, glasses etc.! Ideally good quality, but something which can be replaced easily when broken, otherwise you'll end up with 2 of this and 2 of that which don't match. If you don't intend to visit the villa yourself on a regular basis, make sure your villa manager has been instructed to report to you when anything needs replaced, whether it be kitchen equipment, linen, towels etc. It can be quite cool at night in Lanzarote in the winter, so make sure that blankets are available through the winter and provide a small heater as well. Air conditioning isn't really essential in Lanzarote due to the cooling breezes in summer, but for the days when it is hot, have one or more fans in the villa. Your guests will really appreciate that. Satellite TV is pretty well essential now as is pool heating. Also provide a DVD player and a selection of DVDs.
I'd recommend having a welcome pack for your guests. You don't need anything fancy, just milk, bread, water, eggs etc. The appreciation of your guests will far outweigh the few euros it costs, especially if they arrive late. Have an information pack in the villa. This should contain all the information the guests will need during their stay, such as where to put the rubbish, replacing the pool cover at night, how to use the washing machine etc., as well as loads of information about the island, where to visit, eat, shop etc. Importantly as well, the contact phone number of your villa manager in case of problems or emergency
Your villa manager is key to your success. Have a good one and you can relax back in the UK knowing that your guests will be happy, have a bad one and you will be soon know about it! Leave a visitors book in the villa for guests' comments, and follow up guests visits with a friendly email asking if they enjoyed their holiday and was everything in the villa all right for them.
Remember, happy guests come back again! |
