Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Handpicked Holiday Homes select the properties that go on the site?
- Every property on the site is carefully selected by the team at Handpicked Holiday Homes, against our own criteria and brand values. Each property is chosen for its special quality and on the attention to detail that makes it stand out from the crowd. All of our holiday-rental homes are individual, original and welcoming and furnished with style, by owners that care about their properties, and care about their guests. They know it's the little things that make a big difference.
- What are the special things that you look for?
- We look for all kinds of differentiating factors and all of our properties will have some, or all of them. We particularly like homely touches – things that make it a home from home, rather than just a basic holiday rental.
- In general terms:
- The interior of the property, however big or small, grand or simple, should be tastefully decorated, furnished and presented to a high standard, in whatever style that might be – traditional, ornate, simple but stylish, chic and contemporary, rustic, quirky, charming, etc.
- The exterior of the building could be an interesting architectural style, in the local vernacular style, unique, or it could be modern, brand new but with particular appeal.
- Properties, for example, could be in a beautiful setting, be near a beach, have fabulous views, a lovely garden terrace, private pool, etc. Apartments in a great central city location are equally appealing!
- It's the little things that mean so much. Owners that care about their properties and their guests often go the extra mile to make sure that all the little luxuries of life are catered for. Extras that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a holiday-rental home might include, daily breakfast, welcome pack, babysitting, cooks, etc.
- Family friendly properties where there are lots of extras for the kids to do and enjoy – from a great, safe pool, feeding the animals on a farm, to a purpose built play area in a garden!
- Some properties also offer courses/special interest activities such as writing, art, cookery, horseriding, sailing, etc.
- We also request that owners submit three guests testimonials – a personal endorsement by someone who's stayed at the property is the best recommendation!
- How can I book my holiday through Handpicked Holiday Homes?
- Handpicked Holiday Homes is not a travel agency so you cannot book your holiday accommodation directly with us. Each property on our site must be booked direct with the owner. Please click on the contact owner link on each property page to enquire about or book that property. Handpicked Holiday Homes receives NO commission on your booking from the owner.
- How do I check availability of a property that I'm interested in?
- We do not have an availability calendar on the site for the simple reason (we have learnt over many years of experience!) that owners do not update their calendars as frequently as you, the guest, might hope or require. To check availability, simply click on the 'Contact Owner' form and send it direct to them.
- Can I give you feedback about any holiday home I've stayed in?
- We would love to hear about any properties that you have enjoyed staying in, and especially what made them really individual, original and welcoming! Please send us your comments or simply contact us.
- If you have stayed in, or know of, a property that you feel is worthy of becoming a Handpicked Holiday Home then do please ask the owners to contact us, quoting you as a referee. Alternatively, please send us contact details for the property and we will get in touch with the owners direct.
- How do you promote the Handpicked Holidays Website?
- We carefully target our advertising and PR at discerning holiday makers who seek to rent only high quality holiday homes, something a bit different or special, somewhere that's more a home from home than merely a place to dump the suitcases! We advertise in quality magazines, national press, targeted holiday home magazines, targeted tactical advertising and have a nationwide UK PR campaign.
- We also invest in Google advertising and search engine optimisation – all of which ensure that we appear high in the search rankings.
- We already advertise with an on-line holiday-rental company that has thousands of properties on its website. Why should we advertise with you?
- Our guiding philosophies are 'Special made Simple' and 'Less is More'!
- The premise behind Handpicked Holiday Homes is simple: fewer holiday homes on the site, but all of a high calibre, will help to reduce the level of competition between properties, generate more enquires, improve your enquiry to booking ratio, and help to maximise your advertising spend!
- Websites with thousands of advertisers, while providing massive choice for holidaymakers, however also have some important disadvantages for both owners and potential guests. If your property in Majorca is one of 1,368 others, the chances of you receiving regular enquiries and achieving maximum bookings may be reduced because guests have too much choice and too much information to sift through.
- While there is a massive choice in terms of quantity for guests, there is no quality filter, which means that the holiday maker has to sift through the hundreds of properties even more carefully to find the best ones.
- Handpicked Holiday Homes carefully chooses which properties appear on the site, based on quality criteria which differentiate the property, making it special and stand out from the crowd as one of the best. Visitors to the site can then feel assured that all properties on the site are quality properties which offer something extra special or a little different.
- By making the site stylish, high quality but uncomplicated and simple to use, the experience of finding the perfect holiday home should be a simpler, quicker and more pleasurable task for potential guests.
- We have our own website for our holiday home on the web, so why should we also join Handpicked Holiday Homes?
- It's widely agreed that the most popular search engine on the web is Google; a Google search for e.g. a holiday rental property in Spain, would produce 488,000 results. The only way your individual property will get close to the top of that search is if you spend massive amounts of money on sponsored links, when you will be charged for every click on your site.
- Handpicked Holiday Homes is investing in advertising in quality magazines and national newspapers, a UK PR campaign, direct mail, targeted tactical advertising, Google advertising and search engine optimisation – all of which ensure that we appear high in the search rankings.
- Becoming a member of Handpicked Holiday Homes is, we believe, one of the best ways for you to expose your property to the most potential guests.
- Does Handpicked Holiday Homes handle bookings for us?
- No. Guests who are interested in booking your property will contact you direct via an e-mail form from your page on our site. To achieve maximum bookings we recommend that you reply to enquiries as quickly as possible with availability, price and full information about your property, answering any specific questions. A reassuring, friendly and professional response gives potential guests confidence in making a booking with you.
- What is included in your membership?
- When you join Handpicked Holiday Homes we welcome you with a membership pack which includes a beautiful guest book for your property, membership certificate and membership card.
- How much is my membership?
- £128 plus VAT (VAT is subject to status and country of business address.)
- Is there a minimum time to advertise my property?
- Yes: 12 months from the entry date which is the date your advert appears on the site.
- Do I get a reduction if advertising more than one property?
- Please contact us to discuss.
- How do I pay for the advert?
- Credit/Debit Card, Paypal, Cheque.
- How and when do I pay?
- When your application has been accepted, payment can be made through our secure payment site accessed through the Membership page, or click here.
- Will I receive a VAT invoice?
- Yes you will where relevant VAT is applied.
- How do you create an advert?
- Fill in the form on our Membership Page and we take care of the rest.
- Why do I have to submit three guest recommendations?
- We request that owners submit at least three guest testimonials, one of which we will select to use on your page. Potential guests are reassured and positively influenced by good reviews from people who have actually stayed in your property. A genuine 'word of mouth' recommendation is the best form of advertising you can get!
- What photos should I send?
- Please submit 7 photographs, which show your property at its best!
- How should my photos be configured?
- We need your photos in JPEG, GIF or PNG format.
- How can amendments be made to my advert?
- Simply e-mail us with your unique property reference and any amendments -we will do the rest for you!
- What if Handpicked Holiday Homes does not accept my property?
- We believe that, once you have looked through our website, you will be the kind of owner whose property would make a fabulous Handpicked Holiday Home. So do PLEASE apply!
- Handpicked Holiday Homes aims to achieve high standards, so please don't be disappointed in the unlikely event that your property doesn't quite make the list.
- We do reserve the right to refuse properties if, in our opinion, they do not meet the minimum requirements to become a member of Handpicked Holiday Homes.
- Handpicked Holiday Homes require all owners to adhere to the terms and conditions outlined.
For Owners:
Becoming a Member of Handpicked Holiday Homes