Beautiful Autumn is here, with Winter just around the corner!
Winter is a very popular season for visitors in the Lakes as people flock to see the snow covered mountains and enjoy a festive break. Read through our Winter guide to ensure your lodge is ready for these guests.
Lake District Lodge Holidays Winter Checklist:
1. System Checks:
During the colder, Winter period one of our most frequent complaints from guests is that the lodge was cold on arrival or the heating wasn’t working. We understand that appliances may break, however yearly maintenance of your systems should help to prevent a breakdown and result in happier guests.
By law you are required to have your gas appliances checked every 10-12 months, if these aren’t up to date, then it can be illegal to let the property.
Consider checking your appliances in the quieter months such as the beginning of the year so they are ready for the year ahead and also do another check in Autumn in advance for when these appliances will be used most.
2. A Warm Welcome:
Consider leaving the heating on in advance for when the guests are due to arrive. You can do this remotely via a home heating kit such as Hive and adjust accordingly for the guests estimated arrival time. A nice warm welcome is the perfect way to start a holiday, especially on a cold, Winters evening! Why not consider keeping it on a timer too, so the lodge stays warm even when empty, and of course this reduces the risk of pipes freezing and damp forming in the lodge.
Our Happy Place
3. Compliance:
Ensuring your public liability insurance, fire risk assessments and all electrical and gas safety compliances are up to date is very important. Make yourself a note in your diary each year when this is due. Lake District Lodge Holidays have a dedicated Quality and Compliance team based in Windermere, please get in touch if you need any help or advice.
4. Decking and Exterior:
Although the weather may not be as warm guests will still be looking to spend time outside and in the lodge surroundings. Ensure windows are clean and sweep the decking ready for Winter guests. Ensure that the decking is not worn and slippy, as rain and ice will be more likely in Winter. You can add netting over your decking to reduce the risk of slips and trips.
18 Crake Valley
5. General Maintenance:
With Winter months generally being quieter, take time to consider what maintenance work needs doing following a busy holiday season, perhaps some paint touch-ups are needed or a full repaint, even re-decorating a room, or power-washing of the outside areas. Consider an upgrade of appliances, furniture and bed linen is required if worn or tired.
6. A Deep Clean:
A thorough deep clean is essential at least once or twice a year, especially for kitchen appliances such as oven, fridge and freezer, windows, and paintwork. Make a note for a good time to book this in. It’s good practice to check the bed linen and towels too and replace if needed. Guests will be expecting high quality all year round.
High Rigg Shepherd’s Sunset
7. Welcome Pack and Supplies:
Many of our lodges supply guests with a welcome pack, i.e some bread, milk, juice or a cake and even some wine will make visitors feel welcome on a dark winter’s evening. Also ensure you leave instructions for appliances, how to work the heating and WiFi code.
8. Ensure Your Photography Is Up To Date:
Images sell properties! If anything has changed, please let us know and we can arrange for some new photos to be taken, so guests know what they are booking and your property looks refreshed and welcoming. If you have a new sofa or throws ready for Winter we can update your lodge listing for this also.
The Badgers Shack
9. Dark Nights:
Please check with us that we have the correct arrival times and travel directions to your lodge. As guests will be arriving in the dark throughout Winter, it’s helpful if all the information we have is up to date to make things easy for your visitors if they don’t know your property or the area well. We recommend they bring a torch too.
Tips:
We suggest having an inventory of what is in your property, and reviewing this once a year, so guests have everything they could possibly need (a good way of reducing complaints). Also ensure you are keeping up with trends, such as music streaming systems and the latest in coffee machines.
We hope our Winter checklist helps you get your lodge Winter ready. Request your FREE owner pack here or call us on 01539 761514 to get in touch. You can also drop us an email at newowners@lakedistrictlodgeholidays.co.uk.
** This blog has been adapted based on original content written by Jane Watson Dec 2021
