Lay My Hat

Thanks for that Ladygaga, actually since the original post we have our 4 new residents, and they are quite a hit with the guests. But I am going to take your advice and have a set time for feeding etc. Apart from anything else I don't want the animals pestered day and night!

Thank you all, I knew you would help clear my thinking! I shall of course go in every week and change the beds and clean up a bit. No, there was no discount so they should get this as it is their holiday, and it would be nice if they came again! The heating will never be clear in my mind...that's on...

My second ever booking is for a month! Stupidly it has never occurred to me that somebody would rent the cottage for 28days! So I am now in a spin. What should I do about cleaning and linen? Should I offer a cleaning and bed changing after 2 weeks? Should I charge? Should it be more often? I thought...

Thank you clairelou for that...it is all a bit of a worry when you start this isn't it! Bookings have picked up pretty well since my first post, so I am feeling a little more relaxed about it all. Although I can see that the income would increase considerably if I left Sykes, I just don't think I wo...

Thank you that's good to hear, they do seem ok ....I'll give it time. I guess when you are new to this you just don't know what to expect, and you can't help being optimistic at the beginning

Hi Caroline, thank you, and no it isn't all obvious. I shall be fencing them well away from the holiday let, and in such away that if any animal becomes a problem access can be more restricted. I suppose this is really an excuse for me to have Alpacas, and if it gives some pleasure and possibly ups ...

Thank you. Had that conversation with Sykes, the photographs are now on I'll stick it out a bit longer with them

We are thinking of getting Alpacas and maybe a couple of Goats as we have a large field that needs to be managed and I've always fancied them. I think this will be of interest to guests, does anyone have any experience of 'farm' animals and guests? We already have Pigs that are easily accessible by ...

Having taken on all your advice I spent a long time sorting better pictures last weekend.I am also putting together a website. Sykes had them Monday morning, along with my request to replace all of the existing ones on the site with the new ones and also to reduce the May b/h weekend as I felt that ...

Thanks for that Jo. We finally got our first booking today! For the end of August so maybe that's the start. Had a sneaky peak at your websites (hope you don't mind,) what pretty cottages you have and your sites are very clear and very attractive. I shall have to get my act together. Does it take yo...

Wow, thank you all - I really do feel much better! I guess after. months of refurbishment and expense I got myself into a negative frame of mind, but now I feel much more positive and will be chasing Sykes to keep the pressure on amongst other things on the "to do" list.

Thank you Nemo and Mouse. I will speak to Sykes about it next week. I have read most of the stuff about them on the forum, but as I am new to all this and already run another business I just thought that for the first year I would use one of the big boys. Guess I will have to wait and see as I am si...

We finally managed to get our cottage ready to go on with Sykes two weeks ago. We have had no bookings yet. Is this par for the course...we are completely new to this (as if you hadn't worked that out!) and just don't know what to expect. We are based in Devon, but nearer Dartmoor than the sea, slee...