I run self catering Ask Me Anything

[cleaning247]

I run self catering cottages and a B&B and have worked in lots of hotels ask me anything.

How much tidying up do you expect guests to do at the end? I normally sweep floor, wipe surfaces, empty dishwasher and remove rubbish and recycling.

Have you ever had any really disgusting guests?

Do you like reading the visitors' book and seeing where everyone has come from and what they got up to?

Washing up yes I do expect that at removing rubbish to outdoor bins. I would be fine with dishwasher being left full but clean.

I'm always really grateful for bed stripping and nothing being left in the fridge.

Yes. Truly horrendous. Bodily fluid left everywhere. Not keen on used condoms either.

Yes I love the guest book. You get such an insight into people's holidays. I'm always gutted when nothing is written. I particularly like it when children write their reviews.

Can you really fill your spaces in the holidays despite a price increase?

I ask because dh always says let’s go last minute!

We are booked mainly 1-2 years in advance so almost never have last minute bookings. There are sites where we advertise if we do but we are lucky enough to have a waiting list so usually fill it as soon as we do.

Also price increases are tricky. We bought the business from someone so had to take on s complicated pricing structure. I hate fluctuating prices because I feel a product is worth a fixed price. We have managed to get it down to about 3 changing prices but are moving towards one fixed price.

A holiday in peak season is worth more than a holiday off peak though.

I think it depends. I'm just providing the accommodation and service around it. I'd like a fixed price with special offers on weeks that are less attractive.

I've just started (1st July) booked for six weeks of the summer holidays :-).

Neighbour being a slight pain, we have to get drain unblocked and she moaned to holiday company that some one trespassed on her property (see my other thread) but trespassing is a huge exaggeration.

I suspect she's unhappy that we're renting out the property, have you come across this?

Is it for safety reasons that holiday cottages rarely provide knives that are sharp enough to chop food properly?

@pennycarbonara mine are sharp (at the moment!)

Haven't had any problem with neighbours but we are very tourism heavy here.

Re: knives. I only sharpen ours once a year but buy a good new set every 2 years. Is that rubbish?? 😬

This is my dream OP. When I win enough money to buy a home for us with a rentable space on the grounds or close by. I've stayed in places where the owner has made such an effort like scones and jam left or a bottle of wine. I'd love to do that but DH reckons i'd cost us a fortune!

Bodily fluid left everywhere.

What do you mean?

Do you up your prices in peak times?

Bodily fluids-- poo and wee.

Prices---our prices change throughout the year based on loads of factors. As I said above I'm trying to work towards getting one fixed pricing structure but because we get so many repeats it's hard to suddenly change prices.

Everyoneiswingingit. You do spend a fortune and you end up with all the crap stuff at home because whenever you buy anything nice it always ends up in the holiday lets.