| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
la vache!
Joined: 16 Feb 2005
Posts: 7418
Location: A field somewhere on the Brittany/Normandy border down the road from Mont St Michel
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| pepsipuss wrote: | As dog owners ourselves we believe that a well behaved pooch has much less potential to wreck your house than a two year old human  ! (Have we not had a thread on this somewhere else?) |
I'm sure we have! I have 3 dogs and a near 2 year old and I can safely say that the dogs do not write on the walls, stairs, TV or furniture with felt pen, make fingerprints all over the windows or hide the TV remote control (or anything else small) somewhere obscure and take the card out of the satellite box. And dogs are generally much cleaner when they eat, food tends to stay in a bowl, whereas that of a toddler ends up anywhere within a 360° 2m radius of the plate.
_________________
Brittany Cottages
"What you can't get out of, get into wholeheartedly." |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Partridge
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
Posts: 2607
Location: Costa de la Luz
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | they choose a budget and don't look at properties below that...though this year that may change? |
Now that is interesting Mousie. I have always priced between the penthouses and the standard 2 bed apts, sometimes discounting at last minute to same price as 2 bedders. BUT, I have often wondered about experimenting with a large hike to be closer to the penthouses as I think 'perception' is quite a powerful tool. Quality wise we are certainly on a par with the best penthouses, with more space/bathrooms, the only thing we don't have is the massive terrace but we do have 3 separate ones.
On the basis that our guests are on the whole, gushing about the space/quality/view on their return I wonder if I am 'underselling' but always taken the viewpoint that I would end up with less bookings which wouldn't be offset by the higher price. Guess I'll never know unless I try.
_________________
Don't waste energy on things you can't change.
Costa de la Luz apartment rental
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S5386.htm |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HelenB
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 7574
Location: Serre Chevalier
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Having just paid a kennel bill for 2 cats of almost £200 for two weeks, I can see why they might want to save on that. In comparison, our dog's tick and tapeworm treatment is normally 48€ , and the charge for her on Eurotunnel was £30. So to be honest, would they be really saving that much for a cat? I haven't paid a kennel bill for the dog for a while now, so don't know what the charges would be. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Giddy Goat
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Posts: 6867
Location: UK+France/Midi-Pyrenees
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| la vache! wrote: | | I have 3 dogs and a near 2 year old and I can safely say that the dogs do not write on the walls, stairs, TV or furniture with felt pen, make fingerprints all over the windows or hide the TV remote control (or anything else small) somewhere obscure and take the card out of the satellite box. And dogs are generally much cleaner when they eat, food tends to stay in a bowl, whereas that of a toddler ends up anywhere within a 360° 2m radius of the plate. |
A very powerful argument for accepting families with dogs and refusing those with toddlers! 
| Partridge wrote: | | On the basis that our guests are on the whole, gushing about the space/quality/view on their return I wonder if I am 'underselling' but always taken the viewpoint that I would end up with less bookings which wouldn't be offset by the higher price. Guess I'll never know unless I try. |
Might be worth a shot Party - even if you did attract fewer bookings you'd save some dosh on wear and tear. As for whether you'll actually get fewer bookings, if income is paramount at the moment, perhaps it's not the right time to increase the rates - but hesitate before you think of reducing them!
_________________
GG
Vacation farmhouse with pool + panoramic views, SW France
accredited owners
Twit |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
J&J
Joined: 14 Apr 2007
Posts: 810
Location: Bretagne, France
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Helen. Dog in kennel is £13.50 plus VAT per day. We get a small reduction on the second dog as they both go in the same kennel.
Judith
_________________
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Judith & James
Apartment in Dinard, Brittany. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tansy
Joined: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 2110
Location: La Manche, Normandy, France
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
we POSITIVELY welcome dogs... I've only been let down once out of 50+ dogs staying from some Welsh folk that had never rented a property before or been 'overseas' as she called it, with an elderly dog.... couldn't forgive them as dog hair was even in the draws in the bedrooms upstairs! 
One lady in a wheelchair bought her 2 Chihuahuas plus a border collie - we found a few pee pee's in the house (tiled floor) turned out the border was 17 and it was his last trip & she booked again for her & the 2 Chihuahuas...
I have a doggie page on my website - the jack dressed up is Milo that comes at least once a year - the other Jack is Toko who is coming for the 6th year for his hols...
My dog folk are brilliant! I love them as much as my new German customers!!
_________________
it's all a learning curve! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
olive
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1498
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
"Dog in kennel is £13.50 plus VAT per day."
TC, but isn't that approx what Margaret charges per person over 2-people occupancy?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Big Sis..
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 6956
Location: Torrevieja and Norfolk
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mouse
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 3100
Location: Ibiza, Balearics
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
that's true BS...we always take our dog when we're away for more than a few days. I might have mentioned already, but the owner of our last place had changed her 'no dogs' policy with great success. Like you Tansy she positively welcomed them; jumbo bone on arrival and a list of good doggie walks plus bars they would be accepted.
| Quote: | | Guess I'll never know unless I try |
Party that was always my worry...would I lose bookings by pricing myself into competition people think I can't compete with.
I changed my mind and hiked up the prices after seeing just how little some guests get for the price apart from a 'wow' looking property and finding out that they start with a budget and work from there.
It's all about having confidence in your property...I've struggled with that as I always compare it to others and bring myself up short...yet I know they get so many things included in the rental that other places don't give.
Mouse
x
_________________
One martini, two martini, three martini, FLOOR!
http://www.ibizavilla.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tansy
Joined: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 2110
Location: La Manche, Normandy, France
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Mouse - I am the same as you - worry worry worry... my OH has to sit me down at least once a week and say our product is so very different to the mainstream... where else can you open the gate and be on a blue flag beach? Buy Oysters direct off the beach and have uninterrupted views.
This is 7 years on! I still worry - but it probably makes us market and think hard - honestly Mouse, when I stay in other places and pay their prices I realize what great value for money we are giving - I have to keep that mantra in my head.
We are going to stay in each house in March - to check everything out and to work out what maintainence needs doing first.
I think part of the problem with owning a rental property is peoples attitude - they can be so varying so you find yourself being swayed... I had one woman stomp in last year saying the place was tired & needs a makeover - when I told OH he rang her up and suggested she leaves if it wasn't to her satisfaction he'd refund all her money... turns out it was a journey from hell she was in her late 50's, gay with a chip and just a moaner - it so rocked my confidence I am still slightly believing the whole house does need a make over - it doesn't when I really look at it!
I have to look at the comments from people that did appreciate our house like a former US Governor, well to do folk, young families that had saved hard...
Your place look great - I'd book it. Keep believing
_________________
it's all a learning curve! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mouse
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 3100
Location: Ibiza, Balearics
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | my OH has to sit me down at least once a week and say our product is so very different to the mainstream |
Yes it's such a help that men seem to look at what they have, rather than what they don't Mr M never talks himself down either.
In one way it is good to be able to be objective in order to help improvements, but in another it can be restrictive.
thanks Tansy...will do!
Mouse
x
_________________
One martini, two martini, three martini, FLOOR!
http://www.ibizavilla.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
elena
Joined: 26 Aug 2006
Posts: 138
Location: PERIGORD NOIR
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | Yes it's such a help that men seem to look at what they have, rather than what they don't Mr M never talks himself down either.
In one way it is good to be able to be objective in order to help improvements, but in another it can be restrictive. |
Yes, that's exactly how it happens chez nous! Nice to know I'm not alone!!
Elena
www.lescrouquets.net |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Margaret
Joined: 16 Jul 2007
Posts: 2654
Location: Bavaria and Mid Wales
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| olive wrote: | "Dog in kennel is £13.50 plus VAT per day."
TC, but isn't that approx what Margaret charges per person over 2-people occupancy?? |
If you mean me, it's 5 Euros per day, including VAT, tourist tax, bedlinen and towels, bread rolls on first morning, coffee, tea, loo rolls etc for the duration of their stay....
_________________
Margaret
www.bavarian-forest-holidays.com
www.border-holidays.co.uk
www.twitter.com/MargaretBavaria
www.twitter.com/BavarianForest |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
olive
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1498
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Margaret,
I'd pay 100% upfront for that, too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lescygnes
Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Location: France
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:35 am Post subject: Re: what is you closing ratio this year to enquiries? |
|
|
We're finding that enquiry rates are about the same as last year but bookings up and earlier, averaging 2 enqs per day and bookings ex those we can't do about 25% -
still think despite currency bad news and doom and gloom self catering in France should do well in 2009/2010 - people still want a break and to be able to cook and not be at the mercy of restaurants to eat will win out.
| tansy wrote: | I am getting a few inquiries in... but I'm not closing anything.
It's odd dates as well and smaller groups.
What are you finding? |
_________________
Les Cygnes
Always up for a deal |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
