anyone used cottages dot com for holiday letting?
anyone used cottages dot com for holiday letting?
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Insurancejon

Original Poster:

4,080 posts

262 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
quotequote all
Just about to list my holiday let, and came across cottages dot com.

Anyone used them, as its my first holiday let and as its a distance away (4 hr drive), so would prefer a more managed service that liaises with my local housekeeper up there.

its more I've never heard of them until this point, but would appreciate any others who've had experience of them at this point.

MOMACC

521 posts

53 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
quotequote all
Think you'll be ok Jon

We are Awaze Vacation Rentals Ltd ("we" or "us"), part of the Awaze group, details of which can be found here https://www.awaze.com/. We operate under a number of brands including Hoseasons, Cottages.com, Cottages4you, Blue Chip Holidays, Mulberry Cottages, Cumbrian Cottages, Scottish Cottages, Northumbrian Cottages, Derbyshire Cottages, Wales Cottages, Yorkshire Cottages, English Country Cottages, Scottish Country Cottages, Welsh Country Cottages, The Arran Team, Salcombe Holiday Homes, Dartmouth Holiday Homes, Welcome Cottages, Cottages Direct, Chez Nous, Amberley House and Portscatho Holidays.

akirk

5,775 posts

130 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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yes - check their legals carefully, and read the owners group on facebook…

Pistom

5,971 posts

175 months

Friday 21st January 2022
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They're OK if you want good coverage and reasonable sales prices but commission can be high. We negotiated down to 15% but started at 25 several years ago.

They pay promptly but watch out for them keeping deposits if customers cancel.

They are pain if you need anything changing as their systems generate a lot of "computer says no" responses.

We found the best way to manage them is to threaten to leave if they don't tow the line. That works every time and gets the desired response.

They are much better than the likes of Sykes but speak to other agents covering your area. Some of the independents can offer a more personal service.

blueg33

42,059 posts

240 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
We use Classic Cottages, much more flexible than many and the service is ok. We live 3 hours from our place.

Make sure you interview the proposed housekeeper. The housekeeper is the single most important person if you are 4 hours away.

bennno

14,098 posts

285 months

Friday 21st January 2022
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We use Sykes, 18% commission, house is already booked for 29 weeks this year.

Just need to be really firm, after all it’s your capital and property etc, you set rates don’t let agent undersell property.

I did put property on Airbnb but only a single enquiry in same time period.

Insurancejon

Original Poster:

4,080 posts

262 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
We use Classic Cottages, much more flexible than many and the service is ok. We live 3 hours from our place.

Make sure you interview the proposed housekeeper. The housekeeper is the single most important person if you are 4 hours away.
That’s the easy but, she’s my sister in law….and looked after the property and others previously

blueg33

42,059 posts

240 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
In that case all the agency are doing is managing bookings. Save yourself some money and use Airbnb.

No we have a good housekeeper, that’s my mid term plan.

Insurancejon

Original Poster:

4,080 posts

262 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
I looked at air bnb, but it would still need a fair bit of management and coms with punters, and I’ll be time poor from June onwards as starting another insurance brokers