You've signed the contract, taken possession of the keys and the holiday home is yours!
But what do you need to do before it's ready to welcome its first guests?
There's more to be done than equipping it with the essentials, and this page will help you work out exactly what you need to do.
Happy holidays. Stay in your property for a couple of weeks - make sure that you have all of the basic essentials.
Spot check. Check every room, the garden, balconies and outbuildings for any problems that need to be fixed. Do these now rather than wait for them to become urgent.
Neighbourly love. Introduce yourself to your neighbours and let them know your intentions. They may be able to recommend local services or help with key holding. Getting to know them now will help avoid problems in the future.
Waste no time. Find out when the rubbish is collected and where the local recycling centre is.
Shut up shop. Enquire locally as to when national and local holidays are so guests know when amenities are likely to be closed.
Just in case. Compile a list of emergency contact details for guests during their stay. Also make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit.
Take note. Keep a list of good restaurants and collect local attraction leaflets and guides. Leave these in a file at your holiday home.
Lock it up. Remove any irreplaceable items that risk being damaged by guests - designate a closet or cupboard for storing your personal items and extra supplies.
Forward thinking. If you can't finance any big projects such as building a swimming pool now, then budget for them in the near future. Concentrate on making existing features stand out for now.
Get online. Think about joining an online forum such as laymyhat.com. Run for and by holiday home owners, these can be an invaluable source of information and are a great place to ask questions.
