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Sleeps: 6
First letting through The Travel Chapter: 2019
Being employed in the yacht insurance industry means that Lev and his partner Loreen love being close to the sea, which made buying a property on the coast of the Isle of Wight, “a dream come true.”
Ocean View, on the western tip of the island near the famous Needles rocks, is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The unspoilt surroundings and the sea vistas – “It’s called Ocean View for a very good reason," says Lev – are undoubtedly the property’s big selling points.
The couple’s motivation for entering the holiday letting market was mainly financial, as they were looking for ways to supplement income in their later years. After buying Ocean View, they researched a number of different letting agents before settling on The Travel Chapter in March 2019.
“A furnished holiday let is significantly more attractive than a buy to let in the current environment.”
They were confident that the area they were investing in would be attractive to potential guests. As well as the stunning scenery, with nearby walks over Tennyson Downs and to the famous Needles and Alum Bay, there are cycle routes and the spectacularly situated Freshwater Golf Course.
The sea is, of course, the main attraction. Guests can be on the water in under a minute from the house, exploring coves and caves on a paddleboard or kayak, or pulling up on a beach. Lev says, "When they see my photographs of the crystal-clear water, people often think they were taken in the Caribbean."
While guests almost always identify the property’s location and views as its key features, the accommodation itself is a critical part of the appeal, being spacious and boasting three large bedrooms and two bathrooms. While some owners choose to furnish their holiday let in a neutral style, the couple have added their own touch, which has clearly gone down well with visitors. There is ample outdoor space as well. The front garden enjoys spectacular views of the bay and provides outdoor living and dining options, as well as a private and secure area for children to play in.
“We have furnished it to a high standard and decorated it as our home. Guests enjoy that.”
While it is still early days for the property, their approach appears to be paying dividends in terms of high occupancy levels. As Loreen says, “All I can say is follow the advice of The Travel Chapter. This was our first year and we’re pretty much sold out with bookings into next year already.”
The comments from satisfied guests, left online and in their own visitors’ book, are the most satisfying part of the letting experience so far, spurring them on, “inspiring us to continually improve and upgrade," says Lev.
There are challenges as well, of course. For the couple, the main one was trusting other people to look after their home. Loreen admits that this was unnerving at first, but now they no longer worry about it, “as the guests booking via The Travel Chapter have been fantastic.” On a recent visit to Ocean View, she said they were pleased to see it was in the same condition as they had left it “many months and guests later”.
As far as advice for others thinking about starting a holiday let, Lev emphasises the need to “do your homework on all the requirements needed for a property to be let." The couple was pleased with the support offered by The Travel Chapter. Amongst a range of resources made available to all prospective letters, is an owner’s manual - a comprehensive guide, covering legal and regulatory issues.
Another simple test when considering how to make a property attractive to prospective guests is to put yourselves in their shoes.
“Always ask the question: ‘Would I wish to have my holiday here’ and ‘why is this property better than others available in the area?’”
On a very practical note, Loreen stresses the importance of finding a good cleaner, as cleanliness when the guests arrive is critical. First impressions count for a lot.
The couple has been very pleased with the working relationship they have established with The Travel Chapter so far: “They have differentiated themselves with professionalism, breadth of resource and marketing strategy.” Lev also feels that having a dedicated property manager on the island is very comforting and say that she takes a very keen interest in helping them get prepared and in making lettings successful.
Looking to the future, the couple hopes to extend the property into the loft, creating another bedroom and a balcony with even more elevated views into the bay. Further additions and improvements will be made over time and they would also have “no hesitation” if an opportunity arose to purchase another property on the island. All this will certainly be done in partnership with The Travel Chapter.
“We have agreed a rolling contract with The Travel Chapter, which is the clearest indicator of just how highly we regard its services.”