It often happens that a rural second home ends up being underutilized by the owner. This could be because the children have grown up, the initial enthusiasm has faded, or there’s a change in priorities. The fact is, many rural second homes see little use, only a few weekends and perhaps a week or two in the summer.
If this is your situation, you may have considered renting the house out on the days you’re not using it. We explain you, step by step, what you would need to do.
The first thing to do is check if the town where the house is located grants tourist licenses. Depending on whether it’s an isolated rural house, a village house, or an apartment within a house, the type of license required will differ.
If licenses are granted, the next step is to analyze whether the house meets the necessary conditions and has the appeal to be rented out as a tourist accommodation on a short-term basis. Holiday rental homes, and specifically rural holiday cottages, need to have a certain appeal, with original, restored features that preserve the characteristics of the rural environment.
Maybe the rural house will require some adjustments, whether a complete renovation or less impactful interventions, known as a restyling.
With a renovation, in addition to updating the installations and modernizing the house’s features, you can redefine the structure and interior layout: how many bedrooms are needed, whether the kitchen can be opened up to the living room, whether a bathroom can be added on the ground floor, whether the terrace or balcony can be enlarged, whether the top floor can be better utilized, or even whether it can be raised. All these questions and others should be considered when renovating a rural house. It’s important not to forget the outdoor spaces, which are often overlooked. Outdoor spaces become a fundamental element, especially during the warmer months. It’s possible that a complete renovation won’t be necessary and that a restyling will suffice. With updates to decor, paint, furniture, and bedding (bedspreads), you can achieve amazing results.
The next step would be to take all the photos and videos of the house. Photos are essential for selling well and getting bookings. Good photos of your rural house will make it stand out from the rest, demonstrating attention to detail and quality service. If the house is located in a stunning natural setting, it’s also advisable to take aerial photos and videos. This type of material makes all the difference and positions your rural house above the competition.
Once we have the material, we can start deciding where to list the house and which portals are most suitable. There are general booking portals (Booking.com, airbnb.com, etc.) and websites specializing in rural tourism (Escapadarural.com, etc.). Depending on the type of house (size, quality of finishes, etc.) and the geographical area where it’s located, we should define the target audience we want to reach and promote the house to. Based on all of this, we’ll choose where to list the house.
Setting the asking price and updating it regularly based on market trends is another key factor that will determine the listing’s success and the income level we want to achieve. With all this in place, the house will be ready and on the market, waiting to receive the first inquiries and bookings!