Surviving the Credit Crunch
Some say that occasionally opportunity arises from the effects of an economic downturn and having given that philosophy a little thought (not a lot, as big thinking is for owls only) I can see how that may apply to our industry. There will doubtless be scores of families both living in the UK and abroad, who own a second home that they use purely for family holidays. Maybe you are one of them? These homes are to you an extension of your own home, filled with family treasures, furniture and special mementos. Quite often however, these properties will sit for weeks, empty and unoccupied.
Well, now might just be the time to start thinking about making use of that property and opening it up to holiday letting. Self catering holidays are more than huge in the UK. They are incredibly popular, especially with families and particularly when things get a little dodgy on the stockmarket front. The self catering industry contributes considerably both to the local and national economy, so it could be considered a valuable commodity to the country as a whole.
So far our bookings are not being affected by the credit crunch, in fact they are up 20% on this time last year and we believe this is due to groups of families deciding to club together and holiday at home in one of the large self catering houses or self catering castles we have to offer.
So if anything, now is the time to think about letting out that extra asset you have knocking about. There’s no doubt in my mind that it is currently eating a little into your pocket lining as rates and other services inevitably have to be paid. Why not get it to pay for itself?
As a small business, Scotts Castle Holidays understands that this property we are suggesting you might consider marketing may be very special to you; an inherited family home perhaps with memories lining every nook and cranny. That’s fine we are aware of the special synergy required to blend practical matters involved with letting a family home with the emotional ones. We think we do it quite well.
If you would like to consider marketing your property for self catering holidays try looking us up and seeing for yourselves.
Make this credit crunch work for you!
H.
PS I was dying to mention the Borrowers throughout that whole piece - but couldn’t find an appropriate place to do so. PS’s are always good for that! Do you remember them?
As I was thinking about these big rambling holiday homes sitting empty whilst their families were busy bustling about their everyday business elsewhere, The Borrowers suddenly popped into my head - these tiny little people scaling the staircases with cotton reels and fish hooks, making great use of the families departure; scavenging for crumbs and buttons and matchsticks! If ONLY they were real, I would be SO excited. As it is, guess what bedtime stories I’ve got lined up for my eldest once we’ve finished the CS Lewis series? I’m not sure who is going to be more excited; mother or daughter!