Helping a friend? Wish I hadn't mentioned it now!

[KathyG]

I have promised a friend today that I'd sort out a listing site for them, problem is their properties are in Southern Spain, one of them a Polaris World site and until just now I didn't realise that there are hundreds and thousands of them down there and renting for next to nothing too!

I'm going to have a go at Paolo's original advice re finding the right listing site for them but does anyone have any advice/ideas in the meantime?

They use an agent down there at the moment and were told to keep May - September free as he would fill it for them, and he got them ONE week this year! Can I do any better..........?

The apartments both sleep 4, communal pools etc, one on the La Torre Polaris site and the other one at Manilva Beach, Duquesa.

[brenda]

Friends of ours own at Polaris World - they had a shock too at the rental they can achieve!

However, they advertised themselves for the first time last year on www.spain-holiday.com and achieved 75% occupancy over the months May - October: have already got some repeat bookings for 2009 too. They were so pleased with spain-holiday that we decided to register with them 2 months ago and we already have 4 bookings for next year through them - including one in July for 16 nights in both our Guest Rooms.

Am afraid that, to guarantee getting a fair share of the market, your friends are going to have to ask a realistic price but at least they won´t be paying an agents fee.

[Big Sis..]

Hi Brenda

Do you mean spain.holiday or spain-holiday??

[brenda]

Link corrected - thanks Ros.

[Big Sis..]

Thanks Brenda Ive been looking for a new site as Ive dropped OD and H Lets
Looks just the job .........
I did consider them when I was starting off and they seemed expensive but now that other sites have increased prices they look pretty reasonable

Kathy I do well with Portside as Ive said.
Roxy has a site as well, she charges commission but only if she gets bookings of course. Id happily recommend her!!

www.spainrentalsite.com/index.php
www.costablancaholidays.eu

[fincafern]

I've just checked my booking results with them, Big Sis.
2 for last year - double weeks/ two houses and one booked for next year.
Always a steady flow of interest.
Thumbs up from me too.

[bilito]

spain-holiday is a good site for me!

[Partridge]

I think Spain-Holiday are promising, I only joined end of May and didn't have much availability up to end of August but it filled my 'end of August' which has always been tricky. I have also got my first ever Xmas booking (10 days) with them.

I wanted to see if they would bring in more euro guests and sure enough the 2 bookings were from Portugal and Holland.....downside is they were both serious bargain hunters but hey ho.

Renting an apartment where there is lots of similar property isn't easy, I have had 15 weeks booked (each year) in the last couple of seasons and most I know get 4-8 maximum. Only advice I can give is to furnish better than competition / price better than competition / be prepared to negotiate / take gorgeous pics / constantly check your competition .....if your friends don't want to do those things then......be the cheapest by a country mile

[Big Sis..]

Well Katie
dont know about 'Helping a friend' but youve certainly helped this 'friend' as I said Ive been looking for another site to register with and Im deffo signing up for these.......thanks .
and for all the input from you others appreciate it
.
They seem pretty reasonable as well .......

[KathyG]

Thanks everyone so much!
I'll go and check out spain-holiday and Portside too but do you think they could get away with advertising on just one of those without using The Big Four?

but at least they won´t be paying an agents fee.

Well they might be.........

[Big Sis..]

Brenda wrote:
but at least they won´t be paying an agents fee.
Well they might be.........

Oh Kathy you little entrepreanure...I know but itll do

Im not sure about none of the big 4 but the only biggie Im on is Holiday lettings........having dropped H Lets and OD.

[Partridge]

Kathy, they could always try one of the big 4 for say 3 or 6 months (think HolidayLettings do that) to test them out, now is a good time to do it isn't it with the booking season approaching.

I didn't join Portside until end of August but haven't had any enquiries yet.

[brenda]

Would think the biggest problem with Polaris World properties on the big 4 sites is the volume of similar properties already advertising there so competiton for enquiries/bookings is intense.

On sites like www.spain-holiday.com there are only about 10 so less competition and your ad would stand out more.

[fincafern]

Keep the faith, Partridge, Portside were my top performers last year, matching the Big boys, bit quiet at the moment but I have one fortnight for next year with them. I have every confidence they will bring home the bacon again.
How about a short term advert on homelidays for the friends - they are one of my other top ones here in Spain ? Particularly good for July and August months.

[Big Sis..]

Well thanks all for telling me about Spain-Holiday I joined this morning and just got an enquiry
I havent even sent the chq off yet...........
Apparently they make you live straight away.
Hopefully it will result in a booking but even if it doesnt shows Im getting found........
£95 was pretty reasonable as well compared to some others mind you its 125 euros so I think I got a bargain.