Lay My Hat

We've just had a call from HA giving us the heads-up that there wil be an announcement tomorrow about major changes for both sites. Of course, we cannot share what we've been told, but many of you will probably be able to guess wht's coming. However, there was a very interesting article published by...

Hi Coming up wqith a dozen or so key search phrases based on location / lifestyle etc is excellent advice. However, do remember to do it using a private search (on Firefox it is called a 'Private Window' and on Chrome "Incognito'. This is necessary as when you log on to Google etc, Google's coo...

Hi This has been a very interesting thread - made more so because it has tended to stay relevant to the original request for advice. Anyway, we ask for security deposits to be payable with the balancce (although they are clearly advertised and guest's know they are payable before booking. In 10 year...

Hi!

Back to bank accounts. We use Santander - helpful, supportive and excellent value for money with a Business A/C at £9.50 a month all in, apart from International Bank Transfers which work out at about £30.

Uni.

A request to arrive early is something we regularly encounter. Innitially we tried tobe kind - and soon learnt our lesson. If people arrive while cleaning is still going on, two things happen (and forgive me for stating the blilndingly obvious): 1. Guests will imediately note the bits that aren't cl...

Thanks Steve Well that was well spotted - and in good time too! That's one of the problems with damage; often things don't come to light until well afterwards when it is too late to make any claim for compensation stick. We try to create a shortlist of 'essentials' for cleaners to tick off as they w...

Thank you Kev

Always a pleasure!

I've been 'offline' for too long these past few months, but am now returning to the company of good Hatters.

Hi I'm a little late to the party on this thread having only just come across it - but as I'm sure Security Deposits are still a topical issue, I hope my thoughts and experiences on this matter will be worth reading! We directly manage about 80 properties in the UK using an Owner's own terms and con...

Having read through the (long anticipated) changes that OD have announced as part of their site re-design, I'm keen to understand how owners feel about their plans which, at first glance, seem to be a rolling out of the HA model. Is this seen as an improvement or just a wayfor HA to get more money f...

Interesting! We've just called them and were told that they weren't aware of a problem!Bu tproblem there is and it's obviously having an effect. Last week we were receiving between 30-40 e-mails a day from OD. Today - zilch. That's never happened before. Every site can have a bad hair day, but it wo...

And oh, how I wish I had a million $ with which to answer it!

Thanks Charles

Hi Charles Interesting comment and thank you for raising it. Like you, our December bookings are also not as prolific as this time last year - thus far. December is traditionally the worst performing month of the year, but bookings are currently about 15% below 2013 figures. However, having looked a...

Like Greenbarn, we've all but given up on niche pet friendly sites. In some ways theirs no need - we find we just as well if not better for referrals and enquiries just by making it clear in listings that dogs/pets are welcome and by making full use of popular sites which have a search function for ...

Hi Nikita I'd like to second Kyrenia Girl's very constructive comments. You have a nice looking website and the interior of the cottage is beautiful, so much so that it appears completely at odds with the exterior pictures of the house and garden. I'd definitely follow her advice and be out there wi...

Hi Alvaro Have you done a price comparison with other 2-bed Spanish apartments listed on the site? If there are lots of others less expensive than yours it might explain things. Something I always do before advertising on a site is to check out the competition. If there are lots of properties in mor...