New Zealand is a nation of dog-lovers. In most cases, the furry friends are considered part of the family, and go everywhere with their owners – including on family holidays. The alternative is to send the dog to a kennel, which is both costly and leaves owners feeling guilty!
New Zealand is a nation of dog-lovers. In most cases, the furry friends are considered part of the family, and go everywhere with their owners – including on family holidays. The alternative is to send the dog to a kennel, which is both costly and leaves owners feeling guilty!
Holiday homeowners can help by making their home pet-friendly and inviting guests to bring them along. There is the added opportunity of being able to charge an additional pets fee. Keep reading for three more reasons to rent your property to holidaymakers (and their pets) with Bachcare.
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According to our data, when you welcome guests' four-legged friends into your home, you can increase your occupancy by up to 13%!
You also increase searches for your property by 11% given “pet-friendly” is one of the most popular filters on the Bachcare website.
This is partly because your home will appeal to a wider audience, who won’t need to pay costly kennel fees on top of their holiday budget and can enjoy the trip with their dog in tow.
When building your listing, Bachcare can draw attention to the scenery nearby which can appeal to dog owners. Then, once your guests have booked, our local Holiday Managers will be able to point them in the direction of the top dog-friendly attractions.
If you want to go the extra mile, try creating your own list of local coastal walks, parks, and beaches to give to your guests on arrival. Their furry family member will thank you for it.
More occupants mean more rental income. Having an empty holiday home for some weeks through the year means you bring in less cash, whereas allowing pets could change this.
Some holiday rental owners refuse pets because they're worried about damage, but this is actually rare. In fact, we've found that Bachcare pet-friendly homes incur 10% fewer damage claims than home that don’t allow pets. You can also set rules to minimize damages to your home. Some popular rules in pet-friendly rentals include:
· No pets allowed on furniture or in bedrooms.
· Pets should sleep in designated beds or areas.
· Pets allowed outside of the home only.
If you list with Bachcare, when guests bring their pet along you’re able to charge a $20 + GST pet fee, enabling you to earn additional rental income.
Guests appreciate it when it is clear the holiday homeowner has gone the extra mile, and the whole group is considered during their stay. One thing you can do to ensure all your guests have a great stay is to provide a few pet-friendly amenities. Something as small as having a water bowl goes a long way to make both dogs and pet owners happy – which leads to positive reviews and of course, more bookings!
We also find that given the lack of pet-friendly accommodation options out there and how easy Bachcare makes it to bring the whole family, guests will keep coming back!
Here are a few more tips to satisfy pet owners while keeping your rental safe:
Protect Your Furniture. You can always invest in couch covers for your furniture, or you can consider having areas where pets are not allowed. In any case, you should protect your furniture to avoid spending extra time and money on cleaning. Another idea is to provide a dog bed to designate an area where the pets will sleep.
Lock Your Cabinets. Some pets can be curious or sneaky. Be sure to lock your kitchen cabinets so dangerous chemicals are kept away from the animals. Child-proof locks work great for lower cabinet doors, and you can have peace of mind knowing pets won't be where they aren't supposed to be.
Provide Dog Treats, Toys, and Chews. Visit your local pet store and pick out some treats for your canine visitors. This will make your guests feel welcome while keeping their pet entertained. It is also a great way to help new furry visitors get settled into their temporary home!
Secure Outside Gardens. If you have a beautiful garden area complete with prized roses, you probably don't want your visitor's pets running riot. To avoid this, try putting up a small gate or fence to protect the area from muddy paws. Pet owners will still be able to appreciate the view without their dog chewing up your greenery!
By going above and beyond for each visitor, you'll increase your chances of getting repeat bookings
