List of works / to do before start.... what have i missed?

If you are planning to buy a rental home, or you're thinking about what to do with one you have just acquired, this is the place for any questions about starting out in the rentals business.
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Calamity Jane
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:52 am
Location: Outer Hebrides

List of works / to do before start.... what have i missed?

Post by Calamity Jane »

Hi there!
I am a complete newbie, just bought a house and we are doing it up at the moment. I'm setting up with my brother. We have decorated and our beds and mattresses have arrived. Our start up loan is coming through on Monday and hopefully we'll be ready to go before Christmas...

Please can you have a look at my 'to do' list and let me know if you spot anything I've forgotten to do?
Thank you!!!

Accounts
Meet accountant
Set up a receipts folder
Set up joint bank account and a deposits account
Set up spreadsheet for running costs

Admin
Home & Contents insurance + Personal Liability Ins
Elecrtical paperwork filed
Set up google docs to share docs online

Carpet Fitter
Lay all carpets

Electrical work
Update electrics/ fuse box for electric shower
Test out all appliances
Install lounge light fitting and smoke co alarms

Joiner Works
fix cupboard doors
Tile entrances
new bedroom + wardrobe doors fitted+ handles
Install new kitchen units and worktops
Install windows and doors
Install multifuel stove and flue

Plumber Works
Install new bathroom
Install new kitchen sink

Garden Management
Grass cutting
Strimming
Lawn maintenance / tidy

Guest Management
Produce a 'Welcome pack'

Marketing
Bookings management - research this
Personal website developed
Marketing Listings sites - join cottage guide and bookings.com
Photograph outside on good day after sign goes up
Non internet marketing - start word of mouth marketing
Write a marketing plan
Pricing - set tariffs


Property Management
Keys cut
Contract written
Running costs on spreadsheet
Smoke alarms / CO alarm test docs filed and elect docs filed
Security - key safe/ lighting outside
Inventory written
Policies - refunds /cancellations /damage /dogs/deposits/Ts&Cs
Fence maintenance

Set up
Buy more furniture
Buy kitchen equipment
Buy outside equipment (bins/ coal bunker / bench)
Put house name sign up onto house
Fire extinguishers and fire blanket installed
Put up pictures for walls
Put blinds and curtains up
Put coat hooks up
Test out living for a night in house

Utilities
Install BT broadband
Inform Council / Business rates
Shop around for Elecricity Supplier
inform Oil provider
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greenbarn
Posts: 6146
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 6:41 pm
Location: The Westmorland Dales, Cumbria

Re: List of works / to do before start.... what have i misse

Post by greenbarn »

From a very quick look:
Calamity Jane wrote: Accounts
Meet accountant
Set up a receipts folder
Set up joint bank account and a deposits account
Set up spreadsheet for running costs
Check with accountant what start up costs are allowable against tax.
Look at options for taking credit card payments.
Calamity Jane wrote:Admin
Home & Contents insurance + Personal Liability Ins
Elecrtical paperwork filed
Set up google docs to share docs online
You’ll need specialist FHL insurance including Public Liability. Consider loss of earnings insurance as part of it.
Check that you don’t need planning consent for change of use, check with Building Regs as well.
You must have a Fire Risk Assessment done, and act on anything it shows up - eg, can guests exit the property without a key in an emergency? Have a look at this: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... guests.pdf
Calamity Jane wrote: Electrical work
Update electrics/ fuse box for electric shower
Test out all appliances
Install lounge light fitting and smoke co alarms
You’ll need a full test on the electrical installation, known as an EICR, to know that it’s safe and up to spec.
Smoke alarms probably need to be interlinked which can be done wirelessly.

No doubt others will be along with more suggestions, but I’d say you’re going down the right lines!
This might be a useful source of information: https://www.visitbritain.org/pink-book
Good luck with it all!
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Calamity Jane
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:52 am
Location: Outer Hebrides

Post by Calamity Jane »

Thank you GreenBarn for reminding me about fire risk assessment and looking at payment options. There is so much to do it's pretty overwhelming!

Thank you for the pink book link too, I hadn't seen that.
zebedee
Posts: 1270
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:57 pm
Location: yorkshire dales

Post by zebedee »

It's all about prioritisation.
There are things you need to do to get started, then things you can do or expand after your property is taking guests. E.g. You can increase payment options - but need at least one to get started. You can add pages to your website at a later date, and so on.

You sound very organised and with a sensible line of thinking so you will be fine if you just see it as a to do list.
I'm sure I'm not the only person who started with an agent before going alone. I certainly didn't find this forum for many years.
I think you will do really well, but don't let it tire you out before you start with guests - it's all about a mindset.
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NeatandPicky
Posts: 377
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:58 pm
Location: Pissouri Bay, Cyprus
Contact:

Post by NeatandPicky »

For taking card payments I'd suggest looking at WaveApps / Stripe. (Threads on here on the subject).

Set up a Facebook business page for your property. (If you aren't on FB already, you need to have a personal page first.) And start writing mini posts about your area, with a few about the works you're doing on the house.

In addition to the mass of useful advice and support here, take a look at Karen Spencer's Facebook group for holiday rental owners https://www.facebook.com/groups/HolidayHomeOwnersHub/ and her website http://thebusinessofholidayrental.com/.

And if you want to set up a WordPress website, I can thoroughly recommend Alan Egan's free course http://yourvacationrentalwebsite.com/get-this/ which is how I made mine.
Giraffe
Posts: 410
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:10 am
Location: Cornwall, England

Post by Giraffe »

Hello CJ. Have you prepared a health/safety and fire regulations book for your visitors? Also a Visitor Book which:
. Details how things in the house operate
. Gives information on things to do/places to go
. Allows visitors to put their comments
would be very helpful.
Good luck with your venture.
The best things in life are free
whirlybird
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:24 pm

Post by whirlybird »

I know it sounds obvious, but don't forget to stay in the property yourself.

This way you will find silly little things that you may not have thought about which need doing or changing.

Good luck.
https://www.moorparks.co.uk/farm-stay-self-catering/
https://www.facebook.com/moorparks/
Moorparks Holiday Cottages Moorparks, EX19 8NA 07850 356627


I have CDO, it's like OCD but all the letters are in the correct order as they should be!
kathiejs
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:05 am
Location: Devon

Post by kathiejs »

Bedding & towels
Table mats/coasters
Coat hangers
Cleaning equipment/arrangements
Waste disposal/recycling arrangements/bin bags
TV licence
Data protection registration
Books/DVDs/games
Emergency light/torch
whirlybird
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:24 pm

Post by whirlybird »

kathiejs wrote: Table mats/coasters
AND instructions on how and when to use the above, really annoys me when they is water/coffee marks on the oak tables RIGHT NEXT to the coasters!!
:x
https://www.moorparks.co.uk/farm-stay-self-catering/
https://www.facebook.com/moorparks/
Moorparks Holiday Cottages Moorparks, EX19 8NA 07850 356627


I have CDO, it's like OCD but all the letters are in the correct order as they should be!
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