Staycations, our new business, help and feedback appreciated
Discussion
As per the other thread, I love this plan and wish you the very best.
You ought not to have any trouble with bookings either.
My wife's aunt and uncle have a small farm in South Devon, with a courtyard surrounded on 3 sides by barns. They have converted one of the parts of the barn so far into a one bedroom holiday let with a small lounge area, and despite what I consider the high cost of renting the place, they have been booked solid throughout most of the year.
They also let out their Airstream caravan which is parked in the courtyard and that gets taken up quite quickly as well even though it does mean mostly having to dash over to the main barn area where they have built a bathroom.
A hot tub has now been built at the top of their old water tower which I'm looking forward to next time we visit as the views ought to be lovely!
Once you're up and running, it is the simple touches that add value to guests, recommendations of walks, local pubs and restaurants, shops etc, which cost very little to you but enhance their experience, given the often lack of knowledge of the area they no doubt want to make the most of.
My wife's aunt is now a full on pro at getting bedsheets changed multiple times per week, which is probably my least favourite of the household jobs.
You'll want a decent quality washing machine if you want to save on the cost of having the laundry done offsite, and somewhere for it all to dry nicely, plus a love for ironing sheets, duvets, pillowcases etc.
You ought not to have any trouble with bookings either.
My wife's aunt and uncle have a small farm in South Devon, with a courtyard surrounded on 3 sides by barns. They have converted one of the parts of the barn so far into a one bedroom holiday let with a small lounge area, and despite what I consider the high cost of renting the place, they have been booked solid throughout most of the year.
They also let out their Airstream caravan which is parked in the courtyard and that gets taken up quite quickly as well even though it does mean mostly having to dash over to the main barn area where they have built a bathroom.
A hot tub has now been built at the top of their old water tower which I'm looking forward to next time we visit as the views ought to be lovely!
Once you're up and running, it is the simple touches that add value to guests, recommendations of walks, local pubs and restaurants, shops etc, which cost very little to you but enhance their experience, given the often lack of knowledge of the area they no doubt want to make the most of.
My wife's aunt is now a full on pro at getting bedsheets changed multiple times per week, which is probably my least favourite of the household jobs.
You'll want a decent quality washing machine if you want to save on the cost of having the laundry done offsite, and somewhere for it all to dry nicely, plus a love for ironing sheets, duvets, pillowcases etc.
Shakermaker said:
As per the other thread, I love this plan and wish you the very best.
You ought not to have any trouble with bookings either.
Once you're up and running, it is the simple touches that add value to guests, recommendations of walks, local pubs and restaurants, shops etc, which cost very little to you but enhance their experience, given the often lack of knowledge of the area they no doubt want to make the most of.
My wife's aunt is now a full on pro at getting bedsheets changed multiple times per week, which is probably my least favourite of the household jobs.
You'll want a decent quality washing machine if you want to save on the cost of having the laundry done offsite, and somewhere for it all to dry nicely, plus a love for ironing sheets, duvets, pillowcases etc.
Thanks very much, hopefully you are right You ought not to have any trouble with bookings either.
Once you're up and running, it is the simple touches that add value to guests, recommendations of walks, local pubs and restaurants, shops etc, which cost very little to you but enhance their experience, given the often lack of knowledge of the area they no doubt want to make the most of.
My wife's aunt is now a full on pro at getting bedsheets changed multiple times per week, which is probably my least favourite of the household jobs.
You'll want a decent quality washing machine if you want to save on the cost of having the laundry done offsite, and somewhere for it all to dry nicely, plus a love for ironing sheets, duvets, pillowcases etc.
Yes, local produce and local attractions etc are something we are really going to pride ourselves on, we are lucky to have a great pub and tearoom/restaurant walking distance, and lots of walks and rides to do, then there are the local towns and things like off roading and clay shooting i can suggest/book for people.
I’m also going to build a very close relationship with my local butcher, greengrocer and fishmonger, and offer some fantastic "hampers" that I can deliver to the doors of the pods when requested.
Hey, just seen this thread.
We run a campsite, and 2 years ago finished a barn conversion into a cottage. We would like to have done pods/glamping/yurts type arrangement, but the campsite floods, so we close it winter time. CAn't be arsed with the construction/deconstruction.
Anwyay! As mentioned, the cleaning takes a long time and has to be up to scratch - this translates into 2-3 hours (depending on customer) every week for a 2 bed cottage. We are dog friendly, and have been since the start, and do not suffer with dog smells. We show the customers around when they arrive, and are told that the dogs should not go on the furniture, which so far people seem to have abided by. Dogs are only allowed downstairs too.
I haven't seen any hot tub talk, but a local place to me does this type of thing https://www.woodenhottubsale.co.uk/ and by all accounts they are very successful. You just need to supply wood, and it might fit in with your aesthetic. Been thinking of adding one to ours.
Good luck, it's bloody hard work, and you will get sick of the phone ringing at all hours.
We run a campsite, and 2 years ago finished a barn conversion into a cottage. We would like to have done pods/glamping/yurts type arrangement, but the campsite floods, so we close it winter time. CAn't be arsed with the construction/deconstruction.
Anwyay! As mentioned, the cleaning takes a long time and has to be up to scratch - this translates into 2-3 hours (depending on customer) every week for a 2 bed cottage. We are dog friendly, and have been since the start, and do not suffer with dog smells. We show the customers around when they arrive, and are told that the dogs should not go on the furniture, which so far people seem to have abided by. Dogs are only allowed downstairs too.
I haven't seen any hot tub talk, but a local place to me does this type of thing https://www.woodenhottubsale.co.uk/ and by all accounts they are very successful. You just need to supply wood, and it might fit in with your aesthetic. Been thinking of adding one to ours.
Good luck, it's bloody hard work, and you will get sick of the phone ringing at all hours.
Thanks Tonsko, and good luck to you too!
Yes we have looked at the wooden hot tubs, they look great and do match with our "style", the only issue with them is the 2+ hour warm up times, by which time the moment may have passed.
Well the planning application is in, meeting with the planning case officer at ours for a site visit this week.
Can I please get a collective fingercrossing?
Yes we have looked at the wooden hot tubs, they look great and do match with our "style", the only issue with them is the 2+ hour warm up times, by which time the moment may have passed.
Well the planning application is in, meeting with the planning case officer at ours for a site visit this week.
Can I please get a collective fingercrossing?
Edited by sidekickdmr on Tuesday 21st February 16:04
sidekickdmr said:
Thanks Tonsko, and good luck to you too!
Yes we have looked at the wooden hot tubs, they look great and do match with our "style", the only issue with them is the 2+ hour warm up times, by which time the moment may have passed.
Well the planning application is in, meeting with the planning case officer at ours for a site visit this week.
Can I please get a collective fingercrossing?
Good luck.Yes we have looked at the wooden hot tubs, they look great and do match with our "style", the only issue with them is the 2+ hour warm up times, by which time the moment may have passed.
Well the planning application is in, meeting with the planning case officer at ours for a site visit this week.
Can I please get a collective fingercrossing?
Edited by sidekickdmr on Tuesday 21st February 16:04
In the off-chance that planning is not completely straightforward, get as much as possible written down, and if not possible confirm your understanding back to them in email immediately after any meetings. Turn around any fixes or alterations as quickly as you can, and repeat the context ("you asked me to do this, so here is the result"). Planners often have to deal with many and varied cases at the same time, so individual projects like yours can get confused or forgotten and decisions can become contradictory.
Just got off the phone to our planning officer and she has told us that planning is being approved!!!!!!!!!
Can't belive we actually pulled it off, but somehow we have, and time to start getting the ball rolling and builders booked in
The planning is for the hobbit home by the stream and pond, and the treehouse in the woods with views of the valley and sea.
Can't belive we actually pulled it off, but somehow we have, and time to start getting the ball rolling and builders booked in
The planning is for the hobbit home by the stream and pond, and the treehouse in the woods with views of the valley and sea.
sidekickdmr said:
Just got off the phone to our planning officer and she has told us that planning is being approved!!!!!!!!!
Can't belive we actually pulled it off, but somehow we have, and time to start getting the ball rolling and builders booked in
The planning is for the hobbit home by the stream and pond, and the treehouse in the woods with views of the valley and sea.
Many congrats sidekick! Great news. Please be aware, however, that building control is not the same as planning permission. You probably are already aware of this but I have heard it so often ' well of course I can do that with the drains/log fire etc...I have planning permission! It's on my plans and they are approved.!'. Use an approved inspector rather than the local building control officer. You may find he is a little more 'understanding'. Fees shouldnt differ too much, if at all.Can't belive we actually pulled it off, but somehow we have, and time to start getting the ball rolling and builders booked in
The planning is for the hobbit home by the stream and pond, and the treehouse in the woods with views of the valley and sea.
JM
Johnniem said:
Many congrats sidekick! Great news. Please be aware, however, that building control is not the same as planning permission. You probably are already aware of this but I have heard it so often ' well of course I can do that with the drains/log fire etc...I have planning permission! It's on my plans and they are approved.!'. Use an approved inspector rather than the local building control officer. You may find he is a little more 'understanding'. Fees shouldnt differ too much, if at all.
JM
Approved inspector, rather than council, defo.JM
Thankyou4calling said:
Are there any further updates?
I'm ready to take advantage of the PH mates rates.
Heya I'm ready to take advantage of the PH mates rates.
Yes, all systems go here, I’ve had video production companies flying drones around, interior designers doing their thing, website being built and most importantly, the treehouse build starts in the next week or two, can’t wait to see it take shape!
It’s a quick build, Hoping to launch for Valentine’s Day!
We are aiming to do a big website and social media launch at the beginning of December, and we will have the booking software live at this time to take prebookings!
For people willing to take the leap of faith and pre book, will get a discount, plus the PH discount of course
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