Due to when we bought our house, all our holiday advertising runs from March/April but I am considering bolstering our out of season bookings with a third paid site - possibly Owners Direct (though I have to say I don't like their site, they do seem to get the business!)
Anyhow, my main question is does there seem to be a trend for enquiries for UK propertities for certain months - i.e. can I hang on until the post Christmas rush (ever hopeful) or should I consider coughing up now?
Have any of you noticed a trend of any kind for your UK rentals?
Peak enquiry time
Why not do it now ? Your contract runs for (potentially rolling) 12 months, so what do you have to lose ?
I don't know the UK market that well, but in our part of the world larger properties (8 people+) are booking now for next summer.
I don't know the UK market that well, but in our part of the world larger properties (8 people+) are booking now for next summer.
** Richard
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
PIMS: Holiday Rental Management system
They say we learn from our mistakes. That makes me a genius !
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Hells Bells
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Giddy Goat
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I quite like the look and feel of the OD site Goosie - wotcha got against it? 
Orange isn't my favourite colour but it's cheery and makes a change from the red/yellow theme of others. It's clear and an easy site to use. They are our best performer and have maintained that position for 4 years - and bring us nice guests on the whole!
Your market is different in that because you're driveable to and also offer short breaks you can expect a much longer season than we can - so yes, I'd have thought a third site would be worth the outlay. You will get some overlap - ie people saying they can't recall which site they found you on, but with the main UK sites that's inevitable, whoever you're listing with. However people don't necessarily trawl all of them.
In the hope that we may get some shoulder season bookings (anything outside June, July and August is a bonus because of the size of the property, and its situation) we're signed up to 4 paid sites.
Orange isn't my favourite colour but it's cheery and makes a change from the red/yellow theme of others. It's clear and an easy site to use. They are our best performer and have maintained that position for 4 years - and bring us nice guests on the whole!Your market is different in that because you're driveable to and also offer short breaks you can expect a much longer season than we can - so yes, I'd have thought a third site would be worth the outlay. You will get some overlap - ie people saying they can't recall which site they found you on, but with the main UK sites that's inevitable, whoever you're listing with. However people don't necessarily trawl all of them.
In the hope that we may get some shoulder season bookings (anything outside June, July and August is a bonus because of the size of the property, and its situation) we're signed up to 4 paid sites.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be
Goosie
We have had our first 2009 booking already.
For 2009 [{edit} oops 2008!] our booking started in September 2007 and we had
4 bookings made in September
3 bookings made in October
5 bookings made in November
2 bookings made in December
I would say it's definitely worth starting your campaign now!
HTH
John
We have had our first 2009 booking already.
For 2009 [{edit} oops 2008!] our booking started in September 2007 and we had
4 bookings made in September
3 bookings made in October
5 bookings made in November
2 bookings made in December
I would say it's definitely worth starting your campaign now!
HTH
John
Last edited by Windy on Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
I agree with John,
In fact this is usually my busiest period for next summer bookings.
Ive already had 14 weeks booked[thats for 2 houses though]and 2 pending and had 3 enquiries just this week.
We take larger parties and that is probably one reason we get booked early
Take Carex
In fact this is usually my busiest period for next summer bookings.
Ive already had 14 weeks booked[thats for 2 houses though]and 2 pending and had 3 enquiries just this week.
As Richard has says.I don't know the UK market that well, but in our part of the world larger properties (8 people+) are booking now for next summer
We take larger parties and that is probably one reason we get booked early
Take Carex
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Hells Bells
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things are pretty dead right now for me with both properties...couldn't get off the darn computer last Jan. and Feb. though with enquiries for Italy (had not started advertising US yet) - then things stopped and picked up again for the last-minute bookers around May maybe (would have to go look...but was not 'til late Spring anyway) Only have one booking for next summer so far.
Hi Goosie,
John and Sue[nice to see you here Sue
]
are both renters in the UK, which I spose has more relevance for you.
Peak times does very much depend on where youre located.
But I definitely would get listed asap.
Next year looks as if it might be difficult for people wherever they are.
So if you do manage to get some bookings early for next year, it will really help.
Take Care, and Hope it goes wellxxxxx
John and Sue[nice to see you here Sue
] are both renters in the UK, which I spose has more relevance for you.
Peak times does very much depend on where youre located.
But I definitely would get listed asap.
Next year looks as if it might be difficult for people wherever they are.
So if you do manage to get some bookings early for next year, it will really help.
Take Care, and Hope it goes wellxxxxx
Windy, you've inspired me - can I ask how many paid sites you list on and, that age-old question on which you think are best from your perspective? We've done really well from both H-R and Hlettings but that third one is eluding me as to who to turn to - pros and cons with lots of them because they don't come up the search engines as high as the two big hitters so it will be a bit pot luck for the last one, any tips would be most welcome