so what's the secret Alan?...
We've had some lovely folk - quite a few coming back this year so we've a few dinner parties in the pipeline.
25% of our bookings this year are repeat.
But there's still the vast majority I wouldn't choose to spend time with.
Do you turn away business if you feel they aren't the right 'sort'?...I'm not having a dig either - just curious - I have a little sneaking suspicion I understand why you have eutopia there...and why I haven't here....could it be to do with the fact of being onsite and in control from day one including enquiry? - I hand over and loose control
Last minute bookings
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Alan Knighting
- Posts: 4120
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Tansy,
It's a combination of many things which make an area and a property attractive to some people and not attractive to others. You have already mentioned some of them. Only to an tiny extent am I selective but it has happened. My visitors do appreciate the fact that I am on-site and available but not in an intrusive or controlling sort of way at all. The area is quiet and devoid of manufactured attractions such as night clubs, happy-hour wine bars, discotheques, theme parks, etc. I could go on and on but I expect you know exactly what I am getting at.
I should not claim that every visitor has left the properties in an immaculate condition but there has never been anything which was not simply dealt with during the preparation of the properties for the next visitors. Sometimes the properties are untidy, other times even the towels and bedding are neatly folded and stacked. Breakages have been very minor, usually reported and often replaced by the visitor. No "tenant from hell" - yet!
But the real point is that I can't identify any major differences between people based on their nationality or their occupation. There are little things, like Americans tend to use the dishwashers more than most and therefore leave the crockery and cutlery in spotless condition, sometimes still in the dishwashers.
Alan
I don't think there is any secret or magic formula.so what's the secret Alan?...
It's a combination of many things which make an area and a property attractive to some people and not attractive to others. You have already mentioned some of them. Only to an tiny extent am I selective but it has happened. My visitors do appreciate the fact that I am on-site and available but not in an intrusive or controlling sort of way at all. The area is quiet and devoid of manufactured attractions such as night clubs, happy-hour wine bars, discotheques, theme parks, etc. I could go on and on but I expect you know exactly what I am getting at.
I should not claim that every visitor has left the properties in an immaculate condition but there has never been anything which was not simply dealt with during the preparation of the properties for the next visitors. Sometimes the properties are untidy, other times even the towels and bedding are neatly folded and stacked. Breakages have been very minor, usually reported and often replaced by the visitor. No "tenant from hell" - yet!
But the real point is that I can't identify any major differences between people based on their nationality or their occupation. There are little things, like Americans tend to use the dishwashers more than most and therefore leave the crockery and cutlery in spotless condition, sometimes still in the dishwashers.
Alan
Paolo, in an earlier mail you said you had taken a booking on a Thursday for the following Saturday: did the full payment show on your account before they arrived or do you demand cash in these circumstances?
(When I have received a last-minute request I say that I will reduce the rent by £25 - to guarantee receipt before they arrive - this is the extra cost of a same-day payment between different banks.)
(When I have received a last-minute request I say that I will reduce the rent by £25 - to guarantee receipt before they arrive - this is the extra cost of a same-day payment between different banks.)
Best,
Alexia.
Alexia.
Alexia,
I talked to the renter a couple of times on the phone on the Thursday, we had a chat about the house and area, and she told me about herself - basically I soon knew for sure that they were honest and reliable so I told her to post me a cheque, which I received on the Monday after their stay started.
If I had had any doubt about them I would have told them to go to a branch of my bank and pay in the week's rental in cash on the Friday before their departure.
(I am an 'absentee' owner by the way).
I talked to the renter a couple of times on the phone on the Thursday, we had a chat about the house and area, and she told me about herself - basically I soon knew for sure that they were honest and reliable so I told her to post me a cheque, which I received on the Monday after their stay started.
If I had had any doubt about them I would have told them to go to a branch of my bank and pay in the week's rental in cash on the Friday before their departure.
(I am an 'absentee' owner by the way).
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
Wow! You must be a good judge of character 
I wouldn't have anyone in my house if I hadn't received the money prior to the start date! I would be just toooo upset if they stole/damaged/wouldn't leave- even the thought of it-for me the worry wouldn't be worth it 
www.thepetitmanoir.com
I wouldn't have anyone in my house if I hadn't received the money prior to the start date! I would be just toooo upset if they stole/damaged/wouldn't leave- even the thought of it-for me the worry wouldn't be worth it www.thepetitmanoir.com
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Hells Bells
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Hells Bells
- Posts: 13173
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Ah ,Ok, I see the difference.Thanks for that-is Nationwide generally accepted to be quicker then? Think I need to open an account 
www.thepetitmanoir.com
www.thepetitmanoir.com
I would not recommend this approach as good practice, but I am very confident in my ability to judge character. In this case there was no doubt about the couple, but if there had been I would have asked for payment to my account before they left. The above suggestions would be best practice, or something instant like PayPal for renters from abroad.Fraise wrote:Wow! You must be a good judge of character
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
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Hells Bells
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Phew- why haven't we all got accounts??
Or maybe you all have and I'm the only Billy No-Mates??
www.thepetitmanoir.com
Or maybe you all have and I'm the only Billy No-Mates??
www.thepetitmanoir.com