LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS FOR HOLIDAYS AND HOLIDAY RENTAL PROPERTIES

Anyone who owns a second home, particularly if it is an older property, will know the importance of keeping up with property maintenance. Whether the house is rented out for longer term contracts or is used for short-term holiday-rentals (or maybe just kept for personal use) protecting your investment with regular maintenance is essential.

A thorough property inspection should be carried out on a regular basis and the list made of work to be carried out. The inspection should cover external aspects of the property (roof, gutters, outbuildings etc) as well as internal aspects such as central heating, plumbing, kitchen appliances and all of other electrical equipment. This work can then be scheduled for appropriate times of the year depending on whether it is an internal or external job.

If your second home is being rented out as a holiday let you have to take into account the very high expectations of anybody renting a holiday property. In high season (school holiday times) where people have paid "top dollar" they will arrive at your property expecting "top dollar" quality and service and if anything falls short of their expectations then they will be disappointed.

The key to avoiding problems is "preventative maintenance"-the fixing of small problems such as a leaking gutter before they turn into big problems such as damp on the walls.

Here is a suggested checklist on the main areas to focus on when carrying out a property inspection:

1. Furnishings-make sure everything is in reasonable condition, in line with reasonable customer expectations
2. Interior walls: check for any signs of dampness or crumbling plaster that will normally indicate the need for some urgent remedial work.
3. Check all fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and fire doors are all working properly. It's also a good idea to make spare batteries available for the smoke detectors.
4. Check all kitchen appliances are in good condition and working well.
5. Check the roof for any loose or missing tiles.
6. Check exterior walls for cracks in the masonry or plaster, and also check for any damage caused by things such as climbing plants.
7. Check the garden for damage to fences that may need repair, check gates are in good condition and make sure any brick built garden walls are stable with no signs of cracking.
8. Any play equipment needs to be checked over for safety and stability.