When you decide to rent out your property as a holiday home, you need to consider the logistics of handling enquiries. The easiest route is to use a good multilingual agency, such as Secret of Spain, who will deal with all the emails and calls on your behalf.

Sometimes potential renters will send us a dozen emails checking the suitability of a property before they finally book, as they try to determine the best holiday destination for the extended family and Fido the dog!

If you choose to handle your own enquiries, there a few simple rules to adhere to if you want to maximise your success in handling clients:
• Stay in touch! You need to be easy to reach, so make sure that you have a mobile AND check your voicemail regularly for messages. Likewise, your home phone should have an answering machine facility so that callers can leave enquiries when you are out.
• Check your emails daily, as most potential renters expect an answer to enquiries the same day, or certainly within 24 hours.
• Be polite and helpful, even if you can’t accept the booking. Try offering alternative dates if you are already booked, perhaps with a discount as an incentive.
• Be aware that if you place a “To Rent” board at the property, you may well get calls from guests who do not speak English, at all hours of the day and night. Your telephone manner may be key to securing a deal! Multi-lingual skills are a definite bonus.
• Make sure you have a contract ready to send out. You don’t have a confirmed booking until the client has paid a deposit and signed a suitable contract for the booking period.
It’s important to remember that these initial enquiries are the foundations of your income from your investment, so you need to convert as many enquiries as possible into bookings. Satisfied clients make repeat bookings, which means that your revenue will continue to grow year on year.