Not all holiday rentals allow pets, but if you decide yours will you are opening yourself up to a fairly large market. According to Travelsupermarket.com some 40% of Brits include their pets when going on holiday. It has the advantage of cutting out boarding fees and also means the whole family can enjoy a break.
Are you prepared?
Allowing pets in your accommodation will attract a wider market and potentially increase your revenue. However, before you open your holiday let to this market you should consider the additional work it’s likely to give you.
Dogs shed fur and can damage the furniture, in some cases. Unfortunately not all dog owners treat their animals for fleas, so you should be prepared to deep clean your property after every guest too. If a dog leaves fleas behind you’ll have to deal with them before your next guests arrive. You also need to make sure you get rid of any ‘pet smells’ that may be left behind.
With all this in mind it makes sense to adjust the price of your holiday rental so you cover the additional cleaning costs for those guests who do decide to bring their pets with them. Details of this can be included in the rates and in your terms and conditions. Bear in mind you might need specific equipment – such as a vacuum that is designed to remove pet hair – to help you with the cleaning. Additional cleaning items such as flea spray should also be purchased and accounted for. Redecorating may also be required more often than it would be otherwise.
If you have decided to allow pets in your accommodation, you now need to ensure your holiday rental appeals to this audience. Here are some tips to help make sure your property does just that.
Include the essentials
A doggie bed is an ideal addition. Make sure you choose one that can easily be washed after your guests return home. Include bowls for food and water and fill the water bowl before your guests arrive.
It’s a good idea to leave some pet towels by the entrance to the holiday let, so owners can clean their dogs when returning from a walk. This will help keep your property in better and cleaner condition too. Include waste bags the owners can take with them while out and about, and if you have a welcome pack it’s a nice idea to pop some treats in there for your furry guests.
Think ahead
Just as you would have to make a holiday let toddler friendly if you were marketing it to families with young children, so the same applies if you want to make your property pet friendly too. Go through your property room by room and make sure you keep all breakable items well out of reach. You can minimise the chances of damage and breakages by preparing your holiday rental in advance of guests with pets arriving.
Opening your holiday let up to be pet friendly will appeal to a much bigger audience. If you are prepared you can enjoy more holiday rental success.
Leave a Reply