Creating a good first impression with your guests is important and will set the tone for their stay. Many guests have come to expect a small welcome hamper and we recommend that you provide one. It doesn’t need to be expensive but a selection of basic items, along with a few treats and a welcome note is a great way to greet your guests and make them feel welcome in your home.

Along with your welcome hamper, it’s a good idea to provide some cooking staples such as salt, pepper, olive oil and a selection of herbs and spices. Similarly, providing a basic supply of kitchen essentials is a small gesture which makes a big difference.

We suggest you provide an initial supply of the following items;
• washing up liquid
• washing up sponge / cloth
• dishwasher tablets
• kitchen roll
• tin foil 
• rubbish bags 
• hand soap / handwash
• toilet roll

Your guests have booked a self catering holiday, they won’t expect a full week’s supply of essentials, however an initial supply of these items will be much appreciated by guests who may not have a chance to shop on the day of their arrival.

A well put together guest information folder provides an easy and effective way for guests to access useful information about your property and the local area. 

When putting together your folder, remember that while you are familiar with your home, guests are not, so consider what you would find useful if you were a visitor. Provide detailed information about your home along with information about your local area and any relevant health and safety documentation.

Yes. A standard home insurance policy does not cover holiday let properties. Holiday let insurance is a specialist policy which covers homes that may be rented to paying guests. A specialist holiday let insurance policy should also include public liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance. 

NFU Mutual are a well known name who provide specialist insurance and are used by a number of our owners; Schofields Insurance is a specialist holiday let insurer.

A Guide to Making Your Guest Accommodation Safe From Fire.

This useful resource includes a fire risk assessment template and plenty of information to help you ensure your home complies with current regulations.

We suggest you read through the document, however key points to note are that,
• A fire risk assessment is required by law (you can arrange for someone to complete this for you, or you can choose to complete it yourself).
• You must make efforts to identify any potential fire hazards
• You must ensure adequate measures have been taken to prevent fires starting
• You must provide adequate fire protection measures for guests and employees

The risk assessment template can be found on page 28, we suggest keeping a copy of your completed assessment in your welcome folder to reassure guests that you have taken all necessary measures. 

It is also advisable to check with your insurer whether they have any specific stipulations, for example, some insurers may require chimneys to be swept more than once a year, or prohibit charging of electric vehicles unless through an EV charge point.

We highly recommend that all our cottage owners be as flexible as possible in taking short breaks. This will increase occupancy and create more revenue.

We offer varying levels of flexibility to allow you to choose the periods you wish to accept short breaks.

We are happy to take on properties already listed with other agents, however it is important that our booking calendar is kept up to date to avoid double bookings. Our system will allow us to synchronise with another online calendar so any bookings taken by your other agent will be automatically added to our calendar, and vice versa. 

Yes, you will be provided with login details to our Owner Portal which will allow you to add, edit or remove any owner bookings, check your Dioni bookings as well as access your agreed rates and payment statements.

No, we do not place a limit on the number of owner weeks, nor do we restrict the time of year which you can use your own property. We do ask that you let us know your expected usage before signing our contract.

A security deposit can be automatically applied to bookings, however these do have limitations. The payment is only held for 30 days and any charge can be reclaimed via the credit card chargeback policy. Security deposits are also off putting to some guests.

Most properties rely on our booking conditions instead – please see the CARE OF SELECTED PROPERTY section. 

General wear and tear is to be expected and regular maintenance should be factored into the running costs of your property. However, occasionally accidents do happen and there may be more significant damage. If guests do cause damage to your property you can request reimbursement to cover unexpected cleaning / repair / replacement costs by following our Damage Reimbursement Procedure.

No, Dioni are a letting agent only, we will market your property and take care of your guests up until the point of arrival. We do however have a wide range of contacts and can put you in touch with housekeeping and caretaker/maintenance services who will help you to run your holiday let smoothly.

No. Arrival instructions are sent out 30 days prior to arrival when the guest pays their balance. These include directions and any specific arrival instructions required, along with some local area information.

We usually recommend a 4pm arrival time and a 10 am departure time.

Yes. Installing an EV charge point can attract more guests, especially as EV ownership increases.

We pay property owners on the first of the month following the guest’s stay. We go by arrival date, so on the 1st of September owners will be paid for all the bookings that arrived in August.

The simple answer is “Yes!”. ‘Pet Friendly’ is our most searched-for amenity.

Our agents will happily provide you with a revenue forecast for your individual property. We can do this before you buy the property, before you renovate the property or when it’s up and running.