LOFT's Holiday Let Checklist | LOFT

The holiday let market has benefited from a massive boost in popularity in the last few years. And with many UK holiday-makers still on the back foot on travelling abroad in 2021, now is a great time to tap into the staycation market.

But before you list your holiday let on AirBnB or Booking.com, you should make sure your property hits the mark in every aspect. The best way to do this is by coming up with a holiday let checklist, a rundown of all the furnishings your guests will want and need to enjoy their stay.

To make things easier, we’ve written a full holiday let checklist for you. All you have to do is go down our list and tick items off as and when you’ve found the right furnishings for your accommodation.

Make sure to read all the way to the end for our bonus tips as well.

THE LOUNGE

The lounge is where your guests are likely to spend most of their time in your property, as it’s where they can all gather to relax and chat. Having a warm and welcoming social space will appeal greatly to families looking to reconnect with work and school out of the way, and to friends who have gone away for a catch up and some fun.

Here is what’s on our essential holiday let checklist for the lounge:

SOFA

After a long day of exploring the city/countryside, your guests will want to collapse on a sofa and rest in good company. You can encourage this by including sofas that are inviting, comfortable and have that right look and feel of luxury. 

When deciding on the perfect sofa, you should think about who might be using your holiday let. Three-seaters are perfect for families or friends that need the extra room, but two-seaters could work best for couples. You might even want to think about going for a sofa bed, so the lounge can be used as another bedroom.

You should spend some time researching what type of guests other holiday lets in your area attract for a better idea of what sofa to buy.

COFFEE TABLE

If your guests are meeting up in the lounge, a quality, stylish coffee table is a must so they can keep drinks, snacks and other items within easy reach.

Think of the coffee table as the centrepiece to the living area. Much like the sofa, it needs to have that special something about it to keep your guests happy.  This is why it’s so important to pick a table that not only goes well with your sofa, but is also fashionable in its own right.

Our range of coffee tables are durable and are easy to clean, which makes them perfect for the rental market.

ENTERTAINMENT UNIT

Entertainment units are great for holiday lets as they can hold several bits of tech that guests expect from a short-term rental including a:

• TV
• CD player
• Games console
• DVD player

By providing guests with a range of entertaining electronics in the lounge, there’s a good chance they will use them to connect with each other. Your guests may want to watch films together or even have a late-night gaming session, so make sure to browse our entertainment units for the best storage solutions.

BEDROOMS

As much as you want to encourage your guests to spend time with each other, they need some space for themselves, too. This is why the bedrooms have to be cosy and homely so guests can continue relaxing on holiday in their own company.

A QUALITY MATTRESS

Having a poor quality mattress at the top of your holiday let checklist won’t do you any favours when guests leave reviews for your property online. You should invest in quality mattresses that will provide guests with a comfortable night’s sleep, so they wake up feeling fresh and ready for whatever the day brings them.

Make sure to find soft and luxurious sheets as well, and take a look at our Zen mattress range to really help your guests get the best night’s sleep possible.

BEDSIDE DRAWERS OR TABLES

We all need somewhere to put our watch and book before we go to bed, and it’s important to give guests somewhere they can safely store items they may need during the night or as soon as they wake up.

Your guests won’t be happy if they have to put their glasses, phone, alarm clock or drink of water out of arm’s reach, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook bedside furniture when coming up with their own holiday let checklist.

Many of your guests might want to do a little bit of reading before going to sleep, so when buying a bedside unit, make sure to take a look at lamps as well to give guests the best evening relaxation experience.

WARDROBES

Guests will need somewhere to store their clothes, but remember, they’re only staying for a short while, so it's best not to buy large or bulky wardrobes that will take up valuable space in the bedroom. We have a great selection of wardrobes that are perfect for holiday let properties and have plenty of room for storing clothes and accessories. 

THE KITCHEN

Eating out in popular UK cities can get pretty expensive, especially in tourist hotspots such as London, Manchester and Liverpool. It might be fine as a treat or for groups of friends who pay for their own meals, but your average family of four won’t want to go to restaurants every night.

And of course, some people will always prefer to do their own cooking instead of going out or ordering takeaway. 

Here’s what you need to get the kitchen up to scratch:

A DINING TABLE

The right dining table can bring people together at meal times, but you need to make sure you find one that’s right for your property. If your property isn’t the biggest in the world, a small circular table might work better. Larger spaces could benefit more from square or rectangular designs.

It’s also worth remembering that circular dining tables can be seen as more sociable and welcoming, as there’s no head of the table and everyone sitting around it can see and speak to each other clearly.

ELECTRICALS

No kitchen is complete without a range of electrical goods — especially since so many of us need a kettle for our morning coffee. Electricals are both a necessity and a convenience, so ensure you have a fridge-freezer that’s large enough for food and drinks, a microwave, a toaster, and of course, the all-important kettle.

You can find our deluxe kitchen electrcal packs here, and make sure to check out our range of fridges and freezers.

THE ESSENTIALS

Last but certainly not least is the kitchen essentials. We have deluxe kitchen packages that includes everything your guests will need to eat, drink and be merry during their stay at your holiday let. This pack contains (amongst other items):

• Tumblers & wine glasses
• Plates & bowls
• Pots & pans
• Cutlery
• Placemats & coasters

THE BATHROOM

The bathroom is an oasis for anyone who can use it peacefully (ie. without a partner or kids knocking on the door every five minutes). With the right pieces, you can set your bathroom apart and make it another key space for rest, relaxation and pampering.

Make sure to add the following to your personal holiday let checklist:

TOWELS

Towels should be practical and stylish. There’s nothing worse than a poor quality towel that isn’t very absorbent, and they form part of the decor when not in use. 

Soft, luxuriant towels that match the style of your bathroom are a must. Your guests will certainly thank you for it when they step out of the tub and can wrap themselves in a towel that’s warm, fluffy and comforting.

BATH MATS

Just like with the towels, a bath mat is another practical and stylish necessity. Find one that matches the rest of the decor to really bring the bathroom together.

ACCESSORIES

Well, we did say the bathroom was room for pampering and relaxation, so it’s important to remember the little things.

Some nice ceramics always add a touch of extra sparkle to the bathroom such as:

• Soap dispensers
• Soap dishes
• Toothbrush holders

Other key accessories your holiday let bathroom will need are:

• Toilet brush
• Shaving kit tray
• Waste bin

LOFT’S TOP TIPS

With our holiday let checklist, every room in your property is bound to impress. But don’t forget to look after yourself as well as your guests. To ensure you get the most out of your furniture, we’ve added some of our top tips to help:

KEEP A DETAILED INVENTORY

While furnishings are there for the enjoyment of your guests, they still belong to you, so take some time to put together a detailed inventory that also lists the current condition of your items.

If anything is damaged or missing, you’ll be able to keep track of your furnishings with ease to fix any issues as quickly as possible.

HAVE DURABILITY IN MIND

Holiday lets are designed to be used and enjoyed by a huge number of people. The most in-demand properties will pretty much be fully booked during the entire peak season, and may even see use during off-peak times.

Naturally, that means your furniture has to stand up to some decent punishment since it will be in constant use. To make sure replenishment duties aren’t a regular occurrence, you should install pieces that can withstand children jumping on it and using it as a play-den.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN REPLENISH AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE

Even the most durable furniture can’t last forever. When something breaks, and you have a string of guests lined up, you need to replace items quickly to ensure everyone gets the full experience they’ve paid for.

Right at the top of your holiday let checklist should be a fast and efficient furniture supplier. LOFT can deliver, assemble and install replacement pieces within 24 hours.

And if you or a property agent can’t reach your holiday let at short notice, we offer a key collection and return service that guarantees items will always be in place for your guests.

YOUR HOLIDAY LET CHECKLIST FINISHING TOUCHES

We’ve covered the furnishings that need to be on your holiday let checklist, but when it comes to keeping guests truly happy, the devil is in the details.

Consider stocking up on little items such as tea, coffee and sugar. Put some toothpaste and mouthwash in the bathroom. If you really want to make a good impression, you could even offer your guests access to streaming services like Netflix and Spotify.

However you choose to give your guests the luxury experience, we’re on hand to help with any furniture you’ll need. If you need any assistance in putting together your holiday let furnishings make sure to get in contact with us.