How to Maximize Your Rental Potential

by Sarah Sellar
Thinking of getting on the Turkish property ladder? Already have a Turkish property? Want to have some extra income coming in.....in the form of holiday rentals? Read my guide to maximizing your property rental potential now..

WORD OF MOUTH RECOMMENDATIONS - Talk to people................family, friends, colleagues - this is the best and FREE form of marketing that you can do. Tell everyone you have a property in Turkey and that you rent it out for holidays....

SELL IT..... Pretend you are a sales person for a few minutes - Comprise a list of exactly what you love about your place - could it be the views? the fantastic modern kitchen? the comfortable beds? the locals? the local restaurants? the beaches? the fabulous powerful shower? Imagine entering your property for the first time - what do you recall and like? Write them all down and use this list to write your own personal advert. What do you not particularly like? Ask yourself ...can I change this? if so...then make the changes.....

HAVE FREE ADVERTISING ON YOU AT ALL TIMES - Have a small advert prepared on an A4 sized sheet with contact details and carry it with you at all times...you never know when it may be required. The advert should show some stunning pictures and some relevant text as to what your property has to offer - such as how many bedrooms, location - where is it? amenities that are offered such as a swimming pool, views, air conditioning, dishwasher etc..(and of course contact details - telephone numbers, email address etc) Customers like to know EXACTLY what they are getting when they go on a holiday.

ADDITIONAL FREE ADVERTISING - Once you have your advert ready you can place it on notice boards at your place of work, hand it to friends and ask for them to hand it on to people they think will be interested or to actually put on their notice boards at work..If you go to a gym ...put an advert up....if you go to church....put an ad up.......if you go to the local shops - ie like tescos......they usually have advertising boards.....put an ad up.......and the list goes on..............

SCREEN SAVER - Place a fabulous picture of your property on your computer at work or at home - so more people get to see it!!!!! It will also remind you daily that you are a Turkish property owner and remind you of your fabulous holidays!!

BUY A WEBSITE ADDRESS? - Then you can put your own text on about the property - describing all the amenities it has, how many bedrooms, where is it located and then post loads of breathtaking pictures. Then think about what prices do you want? Do you want to rent it out as much as possible? Do you need the money? Would you want just a few weeks bookings? Or as much as possible.......If you want as much rentals as possible then make your prices less than your competitiors...you can do your own research and make comparisons...

INTERNET ADVERTISING - Market your property as much as possible on FREE advertising websites - there are a few - just do a search in Google or yahoo. Contact holiday advertising companies with a view to advertising with them..ask them what do they charge?

A PHOTOGRAPHIC MINI ALBUM - Make sure you take pictures of your property and have then ready to show people in a small mini photo album..Make sure there are pictures of each room - ensure the room is looking its best - is it what a holiday maker wants to see when they first arrive???.. create a holiday feel - with fresh clean products, no clutter, perhaps some fresh flowers, pretty cushions...dress to impress.

IS EVERYTHING IN WORKING ORDER? - Make sure everything is, or there will be complaints. Imagine all scenarios and try to cover for them..For example matches, candles, torches for a power cut, lots of spare lightbulbs, toilet rolls.....It is always a good idea to have a few tools readily available and also know of a company/person who you could call if required. Always have instructions left for the hot water, heating, air conditioning, cooker..and always provide a 1st aid kit.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH - Your clients will really appreciate some holiday information being left for them in your property..Buy a nice hardy, hardback folder and laminate each piece of paper that you put in it - it is then water proof and will have lasting durability..You can put in local details such as the bus time tables, taxi telephone numbers, emergency telephone numbers, recommended places to visit, local attractions, restaurants to try, take away services, taxi service, local maps, doctors, hospitals, emmergency numbers, chemists.....you can add to this list constantly.....and you will also find that other holiday makers that have stayed will add to this too......

WELCOME PACKS - Welcome packs are a nice and appreciated touch.....they can be free or you may ask the client to pay, decide which you want to do. Guests may be arriving when shops are shut or very late at night and may not be able to shop immediately, so this would be a great help.. Remember a holiday is for a rest and if they have a fantastic time the client is more likely to REBOOK. What should your welcome pack include? - for example, tea, coffee, suger, milk, soft drinks, toilet roll, fruit, salad, meats, cheeses, butter, yoghurts.....red wine, white wine, beer......

TESTIMONIALS - DO NOT FORGET ONCE YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY MAKER COME TO STAY - THEY WILL RE BOOK IF THEY LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN, ENJOYED THE SERVICE AND LOVED YOUR PLACE...IT IS EASY TO RETAIN A CUSTOMER THAN TO FIND A NEW ONE. So ask for a testimonial.

KEEP IT SIMPLE - Decorate your property...SIMPLY..Remember the style must appeal TO ALL not just to your tastes. Keep the decor, the colours of the rooms, decor etc, fairly neutral. Simple however, does not have to mean cheap or unstylish though! Remember you need the furnishing to stand wear and tear.... Try to buy washable covers for chairs and settees as much as possible. this way you can ensure cleaniness at all times..

BE SUPPORTIVE - Help your customers come to you, by making everything as simple as possible..try to have information available for the best car hire companies, best airline routes etc

BE PROMPT - Make sure potential holiday makers can contact you easily, leave your phone switched on, provide all necessary contact information ie telephone numbers home and mobile numbers, your email address etc. Make sure that you respond immediately as if you are late these enquiries may go elsewhere.

FOLLOW UP - Do not to forget to contact your guests once they have returned home..this way you will find out what they loved and also if there were any problems. If there are negativities..try to impliment changes to improve your services for future clients..Ask for a testimonial - this can then be posted on to your website, and also added to your album...referalls are often the best type of recommendation for bookings - if they enjoyed their holiday they will almost certainly have told people...Also offer them a reduced rate should they ever holiday with you again.

COLLABORATE - If you have friend or family with a holidy home offer to market each other's property. if you have an enquuir where you are booked offer it to someone else, and vice versa. better still contact other people where your property is based - so that you can market for bigger groups of people - ie 2 families holidaying but wanting two separate accommodations, weddings etc...

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