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<channel><title><![CDATA[Blue Sea Marketing & Design - Blog]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog]]></link><description><![CDATA[Blog]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 02:02:19 -0700</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Book your 2015 Summer Holiday today!]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/book-your-2013-summer-holiday-today]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/book-your-2013-summer-holiday-today#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2015 07:31:44 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[child friendly holidays]]></category><category><![CDATA[holiday home devon]]></category><category><![CDATA[holiday home france]]></category><category><![CDATA[holiday home west wittering]]></category><category><![CDATA[holiday letting]]></category><category><![CDATA[self catering holidays]]></category><category><![CDATA[summer holiday]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/book-your-2013-summer-holiday-today</guid><description><![CDATA[ Here in the UK autumn quickly descended into winter and the big chill is really starting to bite. The cold, wind and rain can really get you down, so if you&rsquo;re feeling those end-of-year blues, why not banish them by booking your 2015 summer holiday. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about those long, sun-filled days, both home &amp; abroad.Not only will you cheer yourself up and have something to look forward to, you&rsquo;ll also guarantee the best possible selection of holiday h [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='display: table;z-index:10;width:auto;position:relative;float:left;max-width:100%;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/1941054.jpg?0" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px; max-width:100%" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder wsite-image" /></a><span style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;" class="wsite-caption"></span></span> <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:justify;display:block;">Here in the UK autumn quickly descended into winter and the big chill is really starting to bite. The cold, wind and rain can really get you down, so if you&rsquo;re feeling those end-of-year blues, why not banish them by booking your 2015 summer holiday. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about those long, sun-filled days, both home &amp; abroad.<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span>Not only will you cheer yourself up and have something to look forward to, you&rsquo;ll also guarantee the best possible selection of holiday homes with your&nbsp;first choice of dates, which is crucial if you have school-aged children and can only book fduring the school holidays. Or, if you are planning a holiday away with family and friends booking early is crucial when trying to co-ordinate dates, finding availability to suit everyone can be tricky if you leave it too late.<br /><br /><span style=""></span>Few (if any) other types of holiday accommodation can offer the same privacy, freedom and space at the same price as self catering holiday home. You&rsquo;ll be able to make the place your own while you&rsquo;re there, and enjoy all the comforts you have at home, from a fully equipped kitchen to a range of entertainment options e.g. DVDs, board games, and computer games for the kids. And a holiday home is ideal for young children, who will have plenty of room to run around safely and holiday homes usually offer cots and high chairs as well as toys and books so you don't need to pack the proverbial kitchen sink!<br /><br /><font color="#339999" size="3"><a href="http://www.blueseadevon.com/marketing-consultancy.html" target="_blank" title=""><strong>Blue Sea</strong></a></font> market a number of properties in the South Hams, Devon.<br /><br />The largest property we market in South Devon are&nbsp;the one and only&nbsp;<strong style=""><a href="http://www.kingsgrove-salcombe.com" target="_blank" title="" style=""><em style="">Kingsgrove</em></a></strong>, a beach-side cottage sleeping up to 9 people with its own boathouse and moorings, and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.paxdene.com" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em>Paxdene</em></strong></a>, a 4-bedroomed house in stylish <strong><a href="http://www.salcombeinformation.co.uk/" target="_blank" title="">Salcombe</a> </strong>which also sleeps up to 9 people. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.coastalretreatsdevon.com/waves.html" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em>Waves</em></strong></a> is a spacious duplex apartment near <strong><a href="http://www.discoverdartmouth.com" target="_blank" title="">Dartmouth</a></strong> with sea-views sleeping up to 5 people, and nearby <strong><a href="http://www.coastalretreatsdevon.com/top-deck.html" target="_blank" title=""><em>Top Deck</em></a></strong> is a fabulous 1-bedroom barn conversion in the heart of the coastal village of Stoke Fleming, which sleep 2 with another 2 on the sofabed. &nbsp;<br /><br /><span style=""></span>Renting your own holiday home can be also be a cost effective holiday option. Unlike a hotel or B&amp;B you can spend more time at your "home away from home", without having to go on costly days out. And with good kitchen facilities, including a good-sized fridge, you can buy all your own food and drinks, rather than having to dip into your wallet every time someone fancies a drink or quick bite to eat. &nbsp;Shop locally, take some of your own stuff, eat in, eat out, pack up a picnic grab a takeaway &ndash; the choice is yours!<br /><br /><span style=""></span>Wintry British skies and temperatures will be much easier to tolerate if you know you've got a lovely summer holiday planned in 2015, so get booking today!<br /><span style=""></span></div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Preparing your holiday home for letting.]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/preparing-your-holiday-home-for-letting]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/preparing-your-holiday-home-for-letting#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:11:33 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[furnishing holiday home]]></category><category><![CDATA[preparing your holiday home]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/preparing-your-holiday-home-for-letting</guid><description><![CDATA[ Essentials - Items&nbsp;such as toilet roll and soap are essential to provide your guests, but also&nbsp;provide cleaning products, so guests can keep your holiday home spic &amp; span throughout their stay. It's also a good idea to stay in your property for a a least a week just before you let it to&nbsp;make sure that you have all of the basic essentials&nbsp;in place.Facilities.&nbsp;Check that everything is working properly each changeover, e.g.&nbsp;kitchen appliances, shower heads, TV's,  [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='z-index:10;position:relative;float:left;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/2715580.jpg?237" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px;" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" /></a><div style="display: block; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"></div></span> <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;display:block;"><ul style=""><li style=""><strong>Essentials - </strong>Items&nbsp;such as toilet roll and soap are essential to provide your guests, but also&nbsp;provide cleaning products, so guests can keep your holiday home spic &amp; span throughout their stay. It's also a good idea to stay in your property for a a least a week just before you let it to&nbsp;make sure that you have all of the basic essentials&nbsp;in place.</li></ul><ul style=""><li style=""><strong>Facilities.</strong>&nbsp;Check that everything is working properly each changeover, e.g.&nbsp;kitchen appliances, shower heads, TV's, DVD, and barbecue.</li><li style=""><strong style="">Get to know the neighbours</strong>. Introduce yourself to your neighbours and let them know you are letting your property. They may be able to recommend local services or help with key holding, and genreally keep an eye on the place! Getting to know them now will help avoid problems in the future.<br><span style=""></span></li><li style=""><strong style="">Welcome hamper.</strong>&nbsp;A welcome hamper including milk, tea, coffee and sugar will really be appreciated. Some holiday home owners extend their warm welcome to include a sample of local produce or a bottle of wine. Either way, enough to get late-arriving guests through the night will go down a treat.<br><span style=""></span></li><li style=""><strong style="">Extras.&nbsp;</strong>Some extra touches your guests will appreciate are rainy day items such as board games, books, DVDs, a Wii etc. For sunny days beach toys, deckchairs and a windbreak are great additions.<br><span style=""></span></li><li style=""><strong style="">Emergency contacts</strong>. Compile a list of&nbsp;emergency contact details&nbsp;for your guests to refer to during their stay. Also make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit available (excluding any medicines/drugs).<br><span style=""></span></li><li style=""><strong style="">Local information</strong>. Create a file to leave in your holiday home containing a list of good restaurants and things to do (collect local attraction leaflets and guides).&nbsp;<br><span style=""></span></li><li><strong>Lock it up</strong>. Remove any irreplaceable and personal items that risk being damaged by guests - designate a closet or cupboard for storing your personal items and extra supplies.</li><li><strong>Ask for feedback</strong>. Leave a guestbook in the house so your guests can leave feedback comments as this will help you get an idea of what needs attention for improvement. For positive feedback ask guests to leave reviews on your advert online, e.g Trip Advisor</li></ul></div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Looks aren't everything... Not true!]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/looks-arent-everything-not-true]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/looks-arent-everything-not-true#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:40:09 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[decorating holiday home]]></category><category><![CDATA[furnishing holiday home]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/looks-arent-everything-not-true</guid><description><![CDATA[                                                 They say that looks aren't everything.... Sadly thats not true when it comes to Holiday Letting your home, as then looks ARE everything, and your potential guests want to see a light, spacious, clean and stylish home in the pictures they see when deciding where to book their holiday and in reality on arrival at the start of their holiday.The main DO's and DONT's are as follows:-DO&nbsp;keep decor neutral. A neutral colour scheme isn't likely to pu [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div class="wsite-multicol"><div class='wsite-multicol-table-wrap' style='margin:0 -15px'> <table class='wsite-multicol-table'> <tbody class='wsite-multicol-tbody'> <tr class='wsite-multicol-tr'> <td class='wsite-multicol-col' style='width:21.969696969697%;padding:0 15px'>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/2515421_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:100%;max-width:441px" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  </td> <td class='wsite-multicol-col' style='width:31.818181818182%;padding:0 15px'>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/4265771.jpg?96" alt="Picture" style="width:auto;max-width:100%" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  </td> <td class='wsite-multicol-col' style='width:19.778027185435%;padding:0 15px'>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/9464033_orig.png" alt="Picture" style="width:100%;max-width:303px" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  </td> <td class='wsite-multicol-col' style='width:26.434094026687%;padding:0 15px'>  <div><div class="wsite-image wsite-image-border-thin " style="padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;text-align:center"> <a> <img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/1627315_orig.jpg" alt="Picture" style="width:100%;max-width:550px" /> </a> <div style="display:block;font-size:90%"></div> </div></div>  </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div></div></div>  <div class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">They say that looks aren't everything.... Sadly thats not true when it comes to Holiday Letting your home, as then looks ARE everything, and your potential guests want to see a light, spacious, clean and stylish home in the pictures they see when deciding where to book their holiday and in reality on arrival at the start of their holiday.<br /><br /><br /><strong>The main DO's and DONT's are as follows:-</strong><br /><br /><strong style="">DO</strong>&nbsp;keep decor neutral. A neutral colour scheme isn't likely to put anyone off, while brightly painted walls may not be to everyone's taste. Ultimately you want your holiday home to have mass appeal.<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span><strong style="">DO</strong>&nbsp;accessorise and accentuate with colour. Use stronger colours on smaller items throughout the home, such as throws, rugs and cushions.<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span><strong style="">DO</strong>&nbsp;opt for quality, durable furnishings. Not only will these last longer, but they will look more attractive to holidaymakers than cheaper alternatives.<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span><strong style="">DO</strong>&nbsp;put yourself in the shoes of your guests. Think about what you would like to find on arrival at a holiday home and use that to guide you.&nbsp;<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span><strong style="">DON'T</strong>&nbsp;leave your own clutter lying about. Designate a lockable cupboard where you can store your personal belongings while you're letting your holiday home to guests.<br /><span style=""></span><br /><span style=""></span><strong style="">DON'T</strong>&nbsp;go over the top with cutting edge design. Unless you're targeting the top end of the market, stick to simple elegance and durable furnishings.<br /><br />The important thing is that your home is a "home from home" for your guests, somewhere they want to be come rain or shine! &nbsp; For more advice and assistance in updating your home email us today info@blueseadevon.com.</div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning enquiries into bookings....]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/turning-enquiries-into-bookings]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/turning-enquiries-into-bookings#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:20:40 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/turning-enquiries-into-bookings</guid><description><![CDATA[ Be the first one to reply Most people who are looking for a holiday home will email an enquiry to a number of property owners. If you are the first person to respond, you have the best chance to confirm the booking so make sure that you check your emails on a regular basis.Minimise time&nbsp;&nbsp;Create a template &nbsp;that covers the following:- First enquiry response email, a payment enquiry, terms &amp; conditions, booking form and directions. Then you just copy and paste or attach these t [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='z-index:10;position:relative;float:left;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/3284820.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px;" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" /></a><div style="display: block; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"></div></span> <div class="paragraph" style='text-align:right;display:block;'><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><a title="" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); "><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399"><strong>Be the first one to reply </strong>Most people who are looking for a holiday home will email an enquiry to a number of property owners. If you are the first person to respond, you have the best chance to confirm the booking so make sure that you check your emails on a regular basis.</font></li></ol></a><br /></li></ol><ol style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); display: inline !important; "><br /><li style="display: inline !important; "><strong>Minimise time&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</li></ol><br /><ol style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; ">Create a template &nbsp;that covers the following:- First enquiry response email, a payment enquiry, terms &amp; conditions, booking form and directions. Then you just copy and paste or attach these to a reply (amending where necessary) to save a lot of time.</li><br /></ol><br /><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399"><strong>Be clear who you are&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399">You're probably not the only person the client has emailed so make sure you state the name of your property, &amp; include their message in your reply. It's also a good idea to add your website to your email signature so that they can then click through to your website for more details on the property and the surrounding area.</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><br /></a><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399"><strong>Tell them something they don't know</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399">Try holding something back from your ad or website, which you can reveal when they enquire. Not something big like parking or garden, but something like 'We have a hairdryer in the bedroom so you don't have to pack one', 'We have a library of DVD's', 'We have lots of chidlrens toys and books'. These will not break a deal, but they may just make one, especially in a market of similar properties.</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><br /></a><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399"><strong>If you are already booked on date requested</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399">If you get an enquiry for dates when you are already fully booked then its a good idea to suggest some dates when you are free as some people may change their dates if they like your property enough.</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><br /></a><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399"><strong>Call to action</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></li></ol></a><br /><a style="" title=""><ol style="display: inline !important; "><li style="display: inline !important; "><font color="#333399">At the end of your email, make sure you state what you would like to happen next, e.g. 'Please let me know if you'd like to go ahead and book'. 'I can hold the dates for 2 days only'. Sometimes a little nudge is all that's needed.</font></li></ol></a></div> <hr style='width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;'></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The importance of Social Networking when letting your holiday home.]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/the-importance-of-social-networking-when-letting-your-holiday-home]]></link><comments><![CDATA[http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/the-importance-of-social-networking-when-letting-your-holiday-home#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:23:31 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blueseadevon.com/blog/the-importance-of-social-networking-when-letting-your-holiday-home</guid><description><![CDATA[ Everybody's doing it, doing it, doing it!Yes, Twitter is here, and here to stay and it really is a very simple and free way of marketing your holiday home.What is Twitter?Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news you may find interesting. People can search to find accounts related to things they they are interested in (e.g. holiday home, or holiday letting, Devon, watersports, etc). &nbsp;At the heart of Twitter are small bursts [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='float:left;z-index:10;position:relative;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a href='http://www.twitter.com/blueseadevon' target='_blank'><img src="http://www.blueseadevon.com/uploads/1/0/7/7/10776260/4462332.jpg?200" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px;" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder" /></a><div style="display: block; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"></div></span> <div class="paragraph" style='text-align:left;display:block;'><font size="3">Everybody's doing it, doing it, doing it!</font><br /><font size="3">Yes, Twitter is here, and here to stay and it really is a very simple and free way of marketing your holiday home.</font><br /><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; "><strong>What is Twitter?</strong></span><br /><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; ">Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news you may find interesting. People can search to find accounts related to things they they are interested in (e.g. holiday home, or holiday letting, Devon, watersports, etc). &nbsp;At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called&nbsp;<a href="http://support.twitter.com/articles/15367-how-to-post-a-twitter-update-or-tweet" style="" title=""><strong><em>Tweets</em></strong></a>. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but don&rsquo;t let the small size fool you&mdash;you can discover a lot in a little space. You can also upload and view photos, videos and conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a glance, and all in one place. Tweets made by the people you opt to &lsquo;follow&rsquo; will appear on your news feed/Twitter homepage. Once you have created an account you can browse for relevant or interesting people to <strong><em>&lsquo;follow&rsquo;</em></strong>, then you can start <strong><em>&lsquo;tweeting&rsquo;</em></strong> (your tweets can include links too), or start <strong><em>&lsquo;retweeting&rsquo;</em></strong> what other people say and start to grow your own network. To make Twitter work for you and your holiday home you can search for people you think may be interested in your property and that may help promote your holiday home. You can also offer late deals via Twitter or Special prices, and also tweet pictures and update people on new offerings at your property. Don't miss out on this great free advertising opportunity, and if you are unsure the next steps, just call us and we can set up your account for you and talk you through the whole process!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium; ">Its easy...Honest!</span></div> <hr style='clear:both;visibility:hidden;width:100%;'></hr>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>