| It may seem obvious, but many villa owners new | | | | when put on a boil wash and are more hygienic. |
| to the holiday rentals market in Murcia forget the | | | | Extra hand towels are desirable for each |
| simplest rules and therefore run into problems | | | | bathroom. Bath mats on the floor are also a good |
| later down the line. Getting the basics right, before | | | | way to ensure people don't slip when getting out |
| you open your doors to the holiday lettings | | | | of the bath/shower. We recommend guests bring |
| market, means once you have taken the | | | | their own pool/beach towels, but of course you |
| bookings, the day to day running of your rental | | | | can provide these if necessary. A few tea towels |
| villa should be a lot easier. | | | | are also needed for the kitchen. The comfort of |
| To begin with your villa in Murcia needs to be | | | | your Murcia villa guests is paramount. |
| safe, fully self-contained; preferably decorated to | | | | 9. Your villa bathrooms |
| a high standard; have enough beds, chairs, sofas | | | | Each bathroom should be equipped with a bath or |
| and sun loungers to seat your maximum number | | | | bath/shower unit, complete with a non-slip mat |
| of villa rental guests; have a fully equipped kitchen; | | | | and plain white shower curtain (washable) or |
| and, of course, the all essential pool. To help you | | | | splash guard, wc, toilet roll holder, sink, mirror, |
| along the way to having a successful rental villa in | | | | shaver socket (not essential), lockable door and a |
| Murcia, please refer to our detailed list below: | | | | plastic/metal bin with cover. A hairdryer is also |
| 1. Villa Photography: get it rightRemember first | | | | usually expected, but not essential. Most decent |
| impressions are very important. Taking great | | | | hairdryers can be purchased form local stores in |
| photos of your villa in Murcia that correctly | | | | Murcia such as Los Alcazares, San Javier or |
| represent it and show it in it's best light is the | | | | Cartegena. |
| most important thing you can due with regards to | | | | 10. Make the most of your villa Kitchen |
| your marketing. | | | | A rental kitchen requires a kettle, toaster, hob |
| If you don't hire a professional photographer, try | | | | (electric or gas) oven, fridge/freezer and |
| to ensure you use a camera with a wide angel | | | | sufficient crockery (bowls and plates), cups, |
| lens while taking pictures. Ensure there is plenty of | | | | glasses and cutlery. Also needed are plastic |
| light by putting lamps and lights on, as well as set | | | | tumblers/glasses for outside/pool use as well as |
| up the shots so they look as appealing as possible. | | | | some plastic plates and cups for children, |
| For example: make up the internal and external | | | | adequate pots, pans, ovenware, sieve/colander, |
| dining tables with glasses, crockery, flowers and a | | | | chopping board/knives, wooden spoons, a bottle |
| bottle of wine, place folded towels on neatly | | | | opener, tin opener, jug, ice tray, trays and a salad |
| made beds and rolled towels on sunloungers and | | | | bowl. A dishwasher, microwave, extractor fan, |
| generally make the villa look as inviting, airy and | | | | tea pot, cafetiere, washing machine, dryer, wine |
| light as possible. Remember, it is worth putting a | | | | rack and clothes horse are also highly desirable. |
| lot of effort into your villa photo shoot and | | | | Again, most villas in Murcia have separate utility |
| description, which should last for years unless you | | | | areas ideal for storing irons and washing machines. |
| make radical changes to your property, as it will | | | | 11. A lockable cupboard/area for the villa owner |
| encourage potential clients looking for holiday | | | | Is also handy for storing linen and towels so that |
| rentals in Murcia to click on your property link. | | | | they don't get used. Remember, if you leave it in |
| Also, always ensure that the sun in on the pool | | | | the property, guests will use it! Some guests may |
| area and the pool pump turned off while taking | | | | request to use toys for children if they are |
| photos, so that it looks calm and relaxing and | | | | available, make sure your key holder has access |
| very inviting for rental clients. A clean pool and | | | | to this storage area (they should have at least 2 |
| sunshine always sells! | | | | full sets of keys) as some items can be great |
| 2. Get your villa paperwork & insurance in | | | | selling points. |
| order | | | | 12. Outdoor furniture for alfresco living |
| Public liability insurance is essential when renting | | | | Where possible, a quality outdoor table with chairs |
| your villa in Murcia, make sure you check and | | | | for the correct number of people allowed to stay |
| double check your building and contents insurance | | | | at the villa is required. The same applies for the |
| so that you are covered to rent your property. | | | | number of sunbeds. A barbecue in a well lit area |
| Villa owners also need to be able to provide rental | | | | with utensils and parasol/shaded area are also |
| clients with easy access to the property in the | | | | very important for holiday rentals in Murcia. |
| form of a local key holder who can meet and | | | | Remember, people are renting your villa to relax, |
| greet them and be on hand as an emergency | | | | barbecue, sunbathe and chill out. If the property |
| contact or secure key lock box (it is | | | | has a balcony or terrace all railings must be |
| recommended to change the code regularly). | | | | checked regularly and be very secure. |
| Of course, it is inevitable that you will run into | | | | 13. Villa with pools in Murcia |
| some operation difficulties, so having a reliable key | | | | Villa with pools in Murcia are highly sort after. If |
| holder and network of trusted and registered | | | | your villa has a private pool, either a child guardrail |
| handymen in Murcia for boiler, electrical or air | | | | or fenced garden is essential. Always ensure the |
| conditioning repairs is absolutely essential in order | | | | pool box with cleaning chemicals is kept locked at |
| to get any problems, should they arise, fixed and | | | | all times. It is handy to leave a pool net out so |
| dealt with as swiftly as possible. Ultimately this will | | | | guests can clean away leaves themselves. A |
| avoid rental guests complaining, so always act | | | | professional pool cleaner must attend to the pool |
| fast to resolve any issues; it is your reputation | | | | on a weekly basis in winter months and twice |
| after all. | | | | weekly in the summer, to ensure hygiene and |
| Last but not least s a standard rental contract is | | | | chemical levels are kept up to standard. Villas with |
| necessary for every booking and owners should | | | | a heated pools or hot tubs in Murcia, although |
| seek legal advice. | | | | expensive, really stand out from the crowd during |
| 3. Plan a comfortable villa living areas | | | | the late autumn, winter and early spring seasons, |
| As a minimum; a rental villa in Murcia will normally | | | | when traditionally it is too cold to swim. Make sure |
| need 2 sofas (as a rule, the property should have | | | | you keep an eye on ongoing maintenance cost |
| enough seating for 6 people if it sleeps 6 etc). | | | | for heated pools. |
| Dark sofa colours are preferred, as they do not | | | | 14. Child friendly gardens and villas in Murcia |
| show marks and bean bags can also be used for | | | | A garden should be landscaped, attractive and |
| extra seating A television (plasma desirable) with | | | | useable, people do not want a garden filled with |
| access to cable or satellite channels is highly sort | | | | junk or rubble, especially when they will probably |
| after, as is a DVD/CD player and/or radio. Most | | | | spend most of their holiday time outdoors. |
| Polaris World Resorts in Murcia offer a resort | | | | Remember parents on holiday need to be able to |
| cable TV system with international channels | | | | relax safe in the knowledge their little ones are in |
| Internet access and items such as PlayStations | | | | a save environment. |
| and iPod docking stations are also popular but not | | | | 15. Air conditioning for rental clients |
| essential. | | | | One main air-conditioning unit is necessary |
| An open fire or wood burner is very attractive | | | | (especially in the summer months as Murcia gets |
| for winter/Christmas bookings. If rugs are used | | | | so hot!) for your villa guests as are fans or |
| make sure they are hardwearing or dark in colour | | | | air-conditioning units in each room. Central heating |
| as stains show up very easily and can make a | | | | is needed for winter months. Air conditioning units |
| room look dirty. Simple canvasses, voiles and | | | | should be serviced on an annual basis, make sure |
| tasteful fake orchids/flowers are a good and | | | | you get personal recommendation for local |
| affordable way to dress a room without having | | | | tradesmen in Murcia. |
| to worry about plants having to be watered. | | | | 16. Safety and security for paying guests |
| 4. Plan your villa dining area | | | | A security alarm, internal safe and key lock box |
| 1 dining table is required along with the correct | | | | for securely storing house keys is very desirable. |
| number of seats for the guests staying, i.e. a 2 | | | | Villa owners in Murcia should be prepared to put |
| bedroom villa with pool sleeping 4 people must | | | | up safety/hazard notices around their property, |
| have at least 4 dining table chairs. An indoor dining | | | | i.e. no smoking, mind the step, slippery surface, no |
| area is attractive for winter/Christmas lettings. | | | | diving and visible stickers on glass patio doors etc. |
| Table coasters and runners are an affordable and | | | | A basic villa first aid kit, working fire alarm and fire |
| easy way to protect villa surfaces from hot drink | | | | extinguisher or fire blanket are also necessary and |
| marks. Most villas in Murcia on the new golf | | | | must be placed in a visible area, normally the |
| developments, like Polaris World, have two villa | | | | kitchen. Gas safety checks must be carried out |
| dining areas. | | | | by a qualified technician on an annual basis on the |
| 5. Everyone likes modern villa furnishings | | | | property's boiler. Annual electrical safety tests are |
| A villa that looks modern and uncluttered is | | | | also recommended. Pool guards from children can |
| extremely sort after in Murcia's holiday rental | | | | be expensive, but are also highly sort after. Check |
| market. Contemporary or rural rustic styles are | | | | the rules and regulations with your community |
| very popular with holidaymakers. We would advise | | | | presidents on Polaris World resorts like Mar Menor |
| you to clear away all personal items such as | | | | Golf Resort, for up to date rules on pool safety. |
| photos, CDs, jewellery, clothes and toys, storing | | | | 17. Villa directions and local attractions in Murcia |
| them in a lockable cupboard. A rental property | | | | Guests staying at your villa in Murcia on a Polaris |
| should be completely de-personalised. Again Most | | | | World Resort need clear and precise directions on |
| of the villas on site like Murcia's La Torre Golf | | | | how to get there, which you need to send out at |
| Resort have a cupboard suitable for locking. | | | | least 1-2 weeks prior to their holiday along with |
| 6 Planning your villa bedrooms | | | | key instructions too. It is recommended that you |
| Make sure your villa in Murcia has as least 1 | | | | plan this route yourself from local airports such as |
| comfortable double/king size bed or 2 twin beds | | | | Murcia San Javier or Alicante. Having a drawer or |
| per room, with at least 1 bedside table and lamp | | | | booklet full of local tourist attractions in Murcia, |
| for reading, a mirror, bin, chest of drawers, | | | | such as bars, restaurants, golf courses, shopping |
| wardrobe with at least 5 hangers per person and | | | | malls, local beaches and theme parks is also a |
| curtains/blinds. A fan or air-conditioning unit (with | | | | great way to help your villa guests have a great |
| dual controls for cool and hot air) is also very | | | | time, and hopefully encourage them to return |
| desirable for the villa rentals market. Murcia also | | | | year after year to Murcia. |
| gets incredibly hot in the summer, so | | | | 18. Sufficient parking space at your villa |
| holidaymakers like to be able to cool down. | | | | Parking for 1 or two cars is desirable and the area |
| 7. Organizing your villa linen | | | | should be very accessible to the property as |
| Each bed in your villa will require as a minimum 2 | | | | many villas on golf resorts in Murcia like El Valle |
| sets of bedding, i.e. a single bed will need 4 pillow | | | | Golf Resort are approx. 20-25 minutes drive from |
| cases (2 pillows per guest), 2 under sheets, 2 bed | | | | Murcia San Javier Airport and the local beach at |
| sheets and 2 top blankets/throws, so one can | | | | Los Alcazares. |
| always be used while the other is in laundry. This | | | | 19. Website marketing for your villa in Murcia |
| also aids fast villa changeover days in peak | | | | Finally, It is essential you research the best |
| season! White linen is recommended, as it does | | | | websites for advertising your villa in Murcia, one |
| not fade when put on a boil wash and is more | | | | that will generate the most hits from |
| hygienic. A duvet with 2 sets of duvet covers for | | | | holidaymakers searching for villas in Murcia. We |
| each bed is desirable for winter months, unless of | | | | recommend a mixture of international holiday |
| course the property has heavier winter blankets. | | | | lettings sites as well as targeted websites that |
| Mattress covers are also recommended for | | | | deal only with holiday rentals in Murcia, so that you |
| hygiene. Try to decorate each bed with | | | | cover as many advertising angles as possible. Villa |
| colour-coordinated cushions/throws as this will help | | | | rentals in Murcia is an extremely competitive |
| sell your villa in the photography and stand out | | | | search term, so remember, you cannot be found |
| from the crowd. | | | | if you do not advertise and by keeping your |
| 8. Towels for your villa guests | | | | booking calendars and pricing up to date will help |
| As a minimum, we would recommend 2 sets of | | | | your villa move up the search tables on various |
| towels for each guest i.e. 1 bath towel and 1 hand | | | | sites. Contacting rental guests as soon as they |
| hair towel, per guest, per visit, so one can be | | | | enquire is also extremely effective in securing |
| used while the other is in laundry. White towels | | | | early bookings. |
| are again recommended, as they do not fade | | | | |