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Property Owner Information“A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO MAXIMISE RENTAL INCOME FOR PROPERTY OWNERS”WHO ARE WE? Milkbere Cottage Holidays, a successful family business, based in Seaton, has been established since 1976, by the parents of Louise Hayman. Louise has now taken over the running of the Company. She is backed up by a conscientious team who all live locally, having a good knowledge of the area. Louise has had over 30 years experience in the holiday and residential market and after obtaining an Honours Degree in Business Studies worked in the business. Concentrated in East Devon/West Dorset, coast and countryside, we specialise in letting an excellent range of quality Self Catering Accommodation, (cottages, bungalows, houses, apartments, farmhouses and luxury caravans). We operate within a 15 mile radius from Seaton. Our part of the world is now a recognised World Heritage Site and this Jurassic Coast runs from Exmouth in East Devon to Charmouth and beyond. Our aim is and remains quality not quantity and this ensures a personal relationship to both holidaymakers and owners alike. By knowing our owners and their properties personally, we are able to act as that important link between owners wishing to let their property and visitors seeking their self-catering holiday home. We know the local market and we can advise you on the many aspects of letting. We aim to let as many weeks as possible for you, holiday bookings all year or from Easter to October, plus the possibility of a longer winter let if you wish, so ensuring that you make a worthwhile return on your capital. WHERE ARE WE? Our friendly office is positioned centrally in Seaton’s Fore Street, having the advantage of being able to deal quickly and efficiently with enquiries, bookings and the all important last minute lettings, both by telephone and in person. In addition our 24 hours Brochure Line answering service ensures that all enquiries are answered. Our Booking line is open 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week. WHAT WE DO FOR YOU We personally view your property and advise you on the full letting potential, layout, fittings and decor, which will be most suitable for your particular market. We are able to give you the facts, based on our past records, experience and future expectations in the holiday letting industry. We set rentals to your best advantage which allow for seasonal fluctuations. After the viewing we will send you your suggested Price Rate, showing the weekly rentals (we do not give projected income until we have visited your property). Heating and electricity charges are usually included in the weekly rental, holiday makers now expect an all in price with no hidden charges. Also enclosed will be our Letting Agreement. |
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On receipt of the signed Letting Agreement we will include your Property in our Annual Full Colour Brochure with property details and photograph - presenting your property to the best advantage to obtain bookings. It will also be featured on our website.
New properties joining us after the main brochure is printed (late Autumn) are featured in our supplementary colour brochure, so we can add new properties right into the letting season and will be featured on our website. However, we do require that these late additions will be also featured in the following years main Brochure.
Our Website www.milkberehols.com, now offers holidaymakers the additional facility of online availability and booking. This enables us to feature your property with 3 different photographs, internal and external.
We are pleased to discuss individual requirements and can offer flexibility should you wish to use your second home for some weeks in the letting season.
We save you the costs, time and the problems of producing your own literature, advertising, telephone calls, postage and the numerous expenses involved with bookings - all quite considerable today. Milkbere promises to take the worry and problems out of promoting your property for Self-Catering, and to maximise your income.
We act only as the Sole Letting Agent – to avoid the complications of double bookings.
MARKETING YOUR PROPERTY
We handle extensive advertising :-
National press.
Numerous holiday publications/specialist magazines.
Regional advertising.
Web advertising.
Close liaison with our local Tourist Information Centres (most TIC’s
and certain advertising literature will not accept advertising unless all
properties are Tourist Board graded).
Displays at our local office and neighbouring villages.
Large database of past customers and enquirers.
BOOKING SYSTEM
A comprehensive computerised booking system ensures that all enquiries are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
A monthly statement plus monies due are sent to you within 10 days of the end of each calendar month, for the previous month’s bookings. Together with full notifications of bookings stating details of requirements - updated monthly.
Our Changeover day is on a Saturday between 10am – 2pm. This enables cleaners/caretakers/gardeners to service the property, ensuring that the property is spotlessly clean and the gardens and outside areas tidy and well tended.
Cleaners, gardeners, handymen, key handling, etc. in our local area, can be arranged if you wish. Regarding keys we usually like to hold a spare key at our office, together with any keys for holidaymakers/cleaners etc. as required.
Pets, a decision will have to be made as to whether you wish to accept pets. We charge the holidaymaker a fixed charge per pet per week. The Brochure lists the holidaymaker’s conditions of acceptance of a pet.
Smoking, unless you tell us to the contrary we will market your property with no restrictions on smokers.
PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THE MORE RESTRICTIONS ONE PUTS ON A PROPERTY THE HARDER IT IS FOR US TO MARKET YOUR PROPERTY TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
IN ADDITION
We operate a Cancellation Plan for holidaymakers which GUARANTEES YOU MONEY on confirmed written bookings.
We also arrange longer Winter Lets if you so wish - providing the necessary legal agreements, references and rental collections.
QUALITY STANDARD – SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION
Milkbere participates in the VisitBritain Quality Standards. We only feature properties that have been inspected by the Quality Standards Representative. On request we can give you the booklet which will help you and give guidance as to the varying gradings for the holiday properties, included is a list of the recommended Kitchen inventory. This scheme is operated on an annual inspection which Milkbere arranges and attends. The charge for the 2005/2006 season is £70.50 inc Vat, as charged by VisitBritain. Your property can be added to our Lettings list as long as a future appointment has been set for an assessment. Once a grading has been awarded this is added to the property description.
WHAT IT COSTS YOU
There is NO Registration or Joining Fee and no charge for Brochure Entry,
Photographs or inclusion on our Website and online availability and booking.
Our commission rates are competitive and negotiable, depending on the number
of your properties. This rate can be easily compensated for by our ability
to obtain higher prices, a longer season and extra weeks booked for you.
Our standard commission rate is 20% plus VAT for one property, reduced
commission for more than one property. 12.5%-15% plus VAT is charged on
longer winter lets.
TAX – FURNISHED HOLIDAY LETTINGS
The commercial letting of furnished holiday accommodation in the UK is subject to beneficial relief in respect of Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. To qualify as holiday accommodation the property must comply with certain rules set by the Inland Revenue. For further information visit www.hmre.gov.uk to view “The Property Income Manual” (PIM) - PIM4100 – Schedule A: furnished holiday lettings.
This information is intended as a general guide only and you should always discuss your particular circumstances with a professional advisor.
YOUR ROLE THE OWNER
Your property should come up to our quality requirements and conform to the VisitBritain standards for self catering properties – at least to a 3 star grading. Holidaymakers are constantly demanding better standards and as much of our business emanates from repeat bookings and recommendations a good standard of accommodation is vital.
To ensure that the property is maintained to the advertised standard, cleaned and ready to receive holidaymakers.
INSURANCE
Your property insurance must include Public Liability and your insurance company must be informed that the property is let out for holidays. We ask for a copy of this to be sent to our office and held for our records.
FURNITURE FURNISHINGS (FIRE, SAFETY) REGULATIONS
Owners must check that all their furniture complies with the Furniture and Furnishings Regulations 1988. Further details available from your local Trading Standards office.
GAS SAFETY REGULATIONS
Gas installations must be in working order. Owners are required to organise a CORGI contractor to carry out the annual testing of all gas appliances etc. Further details from HSE Gas Safety Advice Line 0800 300 363, or visit their web site www.hse.gov.co.uk
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS/EQUIPMENT
Any electrical appliance that you furnish your property with should be regularly tested and inspected to P.A.T Standards.
THE PINK BOOKLET
A useful practical guide to legislation for accommodation providers. Available from VisitBritain.
INFORMATION SHEET
This is sent to you with your suggested Brochure entry. To be displayed in a prominent fixed position. This will have emergency telephone numbers and instructions etc. for the holidaymakers.
THE NEXT STEP
If you are interested in holiday letting with us we will be pleased to meet with you, view your property completely without obligation, and answer any questions you may have concerning your property.
Please contact Louise Hayman on 01297 20729. Alternatively, email us at info@milkberehols.com and we will telephone you at a convenient time.
