Tag: second homes

How to list your home on different aggregator sites

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Investing in real estate is on everyone’s bucket list nowadays. Finding the right property, completing the paperwork, and turning it into something you like is a huge task. But for investors, the job is only half done until then. The real challenge begins when you want your home to start making money – renting it out. 

Holiday homes can be a huge asset to your investment portfolio if (and it is a big if) you know how to get people to rent your property. Not everyone is an ace in the hospitality sector, and the first few steps in renting your holiday home can be quite confusing. 

That is why SaffronStays brings you this guide on listing your holiday home on aggregator sites. Save this for easy access, and you never have to worry again. 

So shall we? 

Listing your Holiday Home Online

So now you have chosen and decorated your holiday home as you wanted it to be. The time has come to put it on the market. What used to be one of the hardest things before has now become marginally easier to do. 

The myriad of aggregator websites online allow you to list and market your property to a wide audience, from the comfort of your home. While it still does not help you manage and run the holiday home as such, it does help you get your property on the market. 

While there are a lot of free listing and paid listing options, major aggregator sites online like Airbnb, booking.com, and MakeMyTrip offer free listing options. 

The process is simple enough on these sites : 

  1. Create an account on the website you want to list your holiday home on. If you have an existing one, log in before starting. 
  2. The first form you see after clicking the “Add a listing” is a basic form that needs you to input Home type, number of guests, and city. Ensure that you pick only the number that can be a comfortable arrangement with everyone having a bed to sleep in. 
  3. After this form, you move on to a more detailed second form to input the amenities, host responsibilities, property description, images, and so on.
  4. Choose the most attractive property images and ensure that the best ones come in the first three since they become the display picture. 
  5. Then, move on to choosing what documents your guest must carry, the booking calendar, and the pricing. 
  6. Add any other additional conditions such as pet restrictions, additional charges, exclusions, and inclusions, etc. before going live.

This is a generic process and does not differ much across the major aggregator websites. 

But marketing a property is not just about uploading a few photos and filling out forms. If it was, then every holiday home would be a roaring success. No, there are a few more factors to watch out for. 

Especially the pricing. On platforms like Airbnb, it is the host who sets the price but if you are a first-time Home Owner, it can be daunting. Pricing your property too high or low can impact your sales or profit margins. Even with the pricing calculator tools on Booking.com, you may not truly hit the right pricing according to what you are offering. So, scout well before zero down on any number. 

The same goes with choosing the number of guests, amenities to list, and what to hold off on to make your property look better over the years. Without a deep dive and ample research, you might as well not list your holiday home on these sites. 

Monetizing your Holiday Home

Does it all sound dry and confusing? Are you not having any luck with renting your holiday home even after ticking all the so-called boxes on these aggregator sites? Well, as it turns out, that is most often the case. 

Unless you are a wizard in hospitality and know what the market needs, renting out a holiday home can be a challenging task. 

So what is the solution? How can you monetize the stunning holiday home you have on your hands? And more importantly, how can you do it without running pillar to post every day? 

Well, we have an obvious and profitable solution for you – partnering with a rental home operator. Premium rental home management companies like SaffronStays know what your property deserves and helps Home Owners like you get exactly that! 

Want to know more? Reach out to us at partner@saffronstays.com today! 

Furnishing v Architecture: Where to spend your money and attention

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Are you contemplating buying a vacation home? Do your days go by looking at project images, combing through decor magazines, and forming/editing the budget. We understand. 

Investing in a vacation home is a big task, and it is one that you have to get right. This is a space to indulge your design dreams and go all in. The constraints you usually have with a home in the city just fly out the window, so why not make the most of it? 

But the question is where to spend the most, and where to take a step back? 

The two contenders usually are architectural design for new homes/structural renovations for a built space vs new furnishings to bring the space to life. 

Putting the age-old debate to rest, the SaffronStays team is here to show you both sides of the coin with our insights on what matters when. 

Let’s dive in. 

Architecture: The long term Investment

When is architecture significant? Well, the truthful answer is always. The design forms the base of your home’s appeal, longevity, and strength. So yes, good architectural design is a must in all conditions. 

But if you are asking us in terms of investments, we would ask you to take a step back and consider :

  • If the existing home celebrates the natural elements of the location in terms of light, heat, wind, and views. If yes, you do not have to invest a lot in renovating it. Florence Nightingale believed that clean spaces with fresh air, sunlight, and sanitation infrastructure had a positive effect on people. So if this is yes, you are good. 
  • Are you buying a home in a picturesque and special landscape? Will a special design enhance the value of the space, making furnishing secondary? For example, if it is a sea view or a cliff view space, furnishing takes a backseat because the outdoors are so inviting. 
  • What does the base material used/proposed to be used in the home look like? If they are climate-appropriate and sturdy to last long, you are safe. If the structure (walls, floors, roofs, and doors/windows) is good, stick to minimal investments in paints and other interior aspects. 

Bottom line, architectural design is an important investment but not if you can spruce the existing space with a few finishes and furnishing choices. 

Furnishing: Add flair to your architect’s vision 

As important as architectural vision is for the vacation home, furnishing plays a major role in turning the space into something everyone can feel happy in. And that is definitely a requirement for vacation homes. 

The interior goals for vacation homes are a little different from what they would be for a residential home. 

Investments in furnishings become pertinent when : 

  • You want to create an experience with a particular aesthetic for the vacation home. This is usually a significant point when you are looking to rent out the home for tenants.
  • The property demands a specific themed decor to enhance its appeal. For example, a beach property needs a Boho-themed furnishing to bring it together, while a hill resort may not need much to perk it up. 
  • You want to invest in durable materials and statement pieces to improve the value of your property and reduce maintenance. 
  • Accent the rooms and spaces with unique furnishing pieces to play with light and wind further. For example, vacation rooms in mountainous regions need wind chimes to jazz up the space and fall into the aesthetic. 

The bottom line is if you have a grandeur architecture that has a character of its own, you can stick to minimal furnishing without a lot of frills. But, if the home needs a personality of its own, go all-in with furnishing. 

Balancing Furnishing vs Architecture 

The key to building the best dream vacation home is balancing your focus and investments on furnishing and architecture. 

Understand the home and the spaces before picking a side. Analyse who the target audience is, and tailor the expectations accordingly. This is especially true if you want to rent out the home to tenants. 

If you are looking for a partner to make the most of your vacation home and guide you in this journey, connect with us at partner@saffronstays.com now!