How to Prepare Your Somerset Home for Short-Term Rentals

To prepare your Somerset home for short-term rentals, you need to focus on presentation, safety, guest experience and compliance. From professional cleaning to creating a digital guidebook, careful preparation is what sets successful holiday lets apart.

1. Present your home at its best

First impressions matter. Guests scrolling through Airbnb or Booking.com listings will make snap decisions based on your photos. That means:

• Professional photography to show your home in the best light
• Decluttering and staging so rooms feel welcoming but not personal
• Seasonal touches to appeal to the time of year (cosy blankets in autumn, fresh flowers in spring)

2. Put systems in place for cleaning and maintenance

A short-term rental in Somerset will only succeed if it’s reliable for every guest. That means:

• Scheduling regular changeover cleans and seasonal deep cleans
• Logging appliance model and serial numbers so problems can be fixed quickly
• Keeping spare keys in a secure lockbox so contractors and guests can access the property if needed

This is where professional short-term rental management really makes a difference. A dedicated team will keep everything running smoothly without you needing to be on call.

3. Create a smooth guest experience

Happy guests leave five-star reviews, and reviews are the main driver of how visible your property is on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. To achieve this:

• Write a clear listing description with accurate amenities
• Use a digital guidebook so guests can find answers themselves, from Wi-Fi codes to heating instructions
• Set up automated guest messaging for check-in, check-out and FAQs

4. Think about compliance and safety

All holiday lets in Somerset should meet basic safety standards. Before you welcome guests, check that you have:

• Up-to-date smoke and CO alarms
• A valid gas safety certificate if applicable
• An electrical safety check

5. Plan for Somerset’s visitor seasons

Somerset attracts different types of guests throughout the year:

• Summer: coastal visitors, Exmoor explorers and festival-goers
• Autumn and winter: cosy countryside breaks and Christmas market trips
• Spring: walkers, food lovers and families exploring attractions like Cheddar Gorge and Wells Cathedral

That’s why autumn is such a smart time to launch. You can attract autumn countryside break guests now, build strong reviews in time for the lucrative Christmas period, and be fully up and running by spring and summer next year, putting your Somerset holiday let in the best position to capture bookings all year round.

6. Final thoughts

Preparing your Somerset home for short-term rentals takes time and attention to detail. From photography and cleaning to guest communication and safety, each step is essential for strong reviews and steady income.

👉 Want us to manage your Somerset holiday let? Get in touch.

FAQs

Is Somerset a good place to run a holiday let?
Yes. Somerset has year-round demand, from countryside and coastal breaks to events like Glastonbury Festival. Homes near Bath, Wells, Exmoor and Cheddar Gorge are particularly popular.

How much can I earn from a holiday let in Somerset?
Earnings vary by property type, location and season, but well-managed homes in Somerset consistently achieve strong occupancy. Working with a professional holiday home management company helps maximise nightly rates and reduce gaps in your calendar.

How long does it take to get a short-term rental set up in Somerset?
With the right team, you can have professional photography, listings, pricing and guest systems in place within 2–4 weeks. That means you can start earning quickly and be ready for key seasonal booking peaks.

Why use a holiday let management company in Somerset?
A management company takes care of everything for you: listings, guest messaging, cleaning, pricing and maintenance. This means higher occupancy, better reviews and less stress compared to doing it yourself.

Can I switch my existing Airbnb in Somerset to a management agency?
Yes. If you are already listed but not getting the results you want, a management company can take over, optimise your property and help you achieve better performance.

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