Holiday homes are big business at the moment, with millions of people choosing to take a staycation rather than risk a disrupted holiday abroad. The Covid travel situation has settled down in recent months, but it is likely things will remain problematic for at least another 12 months. In the meantime, if you own a holiday rental, it’s worth reviewing your marketing photos and improving them, so you can attract more visitors in a competitive market.
Redecorate and Make Repairs
Before you get your camera out, take a good, hard look at your property and see if any work needs doing. Holiday lets suffer more wear and tear than other rentals, so rooms may need a coat of paint. If the kitchen and/or bathroom is ready for a makeover, tackle these jobs during the low season.
Cast an objective eye over the furniture. Tired, scruffy furniture won’t look good in photos, and pretty scatter cushions won’t do much to disguise a hideous sofa.
Throw out the worst items of furniture and invest in stylish new pieces.
Clean and Tidy
The next job is to clean the property from top to bottom. All surfaces must be clean, free of clutter, and gleaming. Polish windows, vacuum, and mop/polish all the floors. Tidy away any clutter, such as TV remotes, books/DVDs, and miscellaneous items in the kitchen.
The less clutter you have in photos, the more spacious your property will appear.
Style Each Room
Work on one room at a time. Decide which features you want to highlight in the room and make these your focus. For example, in a sitting room, a log burner is a selling point; light the stove and take some photos, so it looks welcoming and cosy. Viewers aren’t going to know if it’s 70 degrees outside.
Plump up the cushions and set the dining table with a dinner service and glasses. Put fresh flowers in vases. Prepare a coffee tray with some local baked goods in the kitchen if a coffee machine is a selling point. Dress the beds with freshly laundered and ironed bed linen. Place a stack of fluffy towels and some expensive toiletries in the bathroom.
It’s the small touches that people notice in photos and it could make the difference between a booking and the viewer moving on to another property.
Stage the Garden/Outdoor Area
Outdoor areas are equally important, especially if you want to highlight exceptional views or target families/renters with pets.
Stage the garden with attractive outdoor furniture, such as sun loungers and dining tables. Invest in upmarket garden furniture sets if you have a large garden and want to appeal to high-end clients.
As you did indoors, dress an outdoor dining table with plates, cutlery, glasses, etc., so guests can picture themselves enjoying a lovely meal in the garden.
Final Notes
Use a good quality DSLR camera and tripod when taking marketing photos. Wait for a sunny day and switch on all interior lights, including lamps, so each room is well lit. Use an editing suite to adjust contrast and light so your photos are as good as they possibly can be.
