How frequent is yours?
How frequent is yours?
Not really the best title for the subject, but this follows on from what Alan said about the trend for his properties being an increase in repeat visitors and a decrease of new visitors on another thread. So my question is, what is the most frequent repeat visits you have all had? This will be my fourth summer and we he have three lots of guests back for their third year here.
I was also wondering what sort of percentage of repeat guests make up your bookings generally? And why do people come back? Sorry I'm not organised enough to do a poll, I'm just interested as it is wonderful getting repeat bookings.
I was also wondering what sort of percentage of repeat guests make up your bookings generally? And why do people come back? Sorry I'm not organised enough to do a poll, I'm just interested as it is wonderful getting repeat bookings.
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- Alan Knighting
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Last year the balance was 50/50. This year is not typical in any way; most of my lettings are Short Term Lets rather than Holiday Lets but the balance is still 50/50.
I am thinking of concentrating on Short Terms Lets for the future. OK, the weekly rent is lower but the overheads, cleaning and laundry are the tenant's responsibility and the properties are occupied for many more weeks. Joan likes the idea of far less handover days. We'll see.
Alan
I am thinking of concentrating on Short Terms Lets for the future. OK, the weekly rent is lower but the overheads, cleaning and laundry are the tenant's responsibility and the properties are occupied for many more weeks. Joan likes the idea of far less handover days. We'll see.
Alan
50/50 is excellent Alan! Nothing wrong with short term lets either - like you say they mean far less cleaning and washing for changeover days. I don't have many of them for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with electricity - we only have one house with a seperate meter and I would never do a let of more than 2 weeks in winter without the electricity being the responsibility of the guest. I also have the Tempo tarif in the other 2 houses, so in the winter I just do lets for long weekends and bank holidays, which keeps the houses partially occupied. I don't have to supply bed linen for those either!
I've just taken a booking for October for guests who have stayed with us on 4 previous occasions for a full week. (Within the last 3 years). They have had Christmas, Easter, Summer and are now wanting to experience Autumn in Northumberland!
I'm not sure on percentages but we always leave "returners" a small gift and a card. Dave was joking we'd have to bulk buy wine with the amount of returners this summer!
It gives you a warm glow, doesn't it? It does me, not for the business side but because folk like the cottage so much they want to return again and again. The guests above are the ones who painted a watercolour of the cottage and sent it on to us!
I'm not sure on percentages but we always leave "returners" a small gift and a card. Dave was joking we'd have to bulk buy wine with the amount of returners this summer!
It gives you a warm glow, doesn't it? It does me, not for the business side but because folk like the cottage so much they want to return again and again. The guests above are the ones who painted a watercolour of the cottage and sent it on to us!
- Alan Knighting
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- Alan Knighting
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- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
That's what I have in my seperate metered house. It's the only house I where I take any long lets or lets of more than a weekend in winter. I'll let you know what my bill is for the 2 months next time I read the meter - I'm sure it will be at least 120€, as it was fully booked for April and most of May.
- Alan Knighting
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