Whichever part of the country your holiday let is located in the UK, there is a strong chance there will be planet of local accommodation in competition. The supply and demand of self-catering property in any given area can have result in downwards pressure on the weekly prices charged and achieved, especially so in the current tough economic times.

In response, the easy action is to undercut the accommodation, taking the something is better than nothing approach. But is it possible to maintain and increase occupancy levels with above average prices?

One approach could be to make the property stand out from the crowd by investing in ‘stand-out’ extras for guests to enjoy at the property. Quirky and original items, whether they have practical benefit or novelty value. Here are 8 ideas to make you stand out in the crowd.

Giant Jenga

If there is a garden at the property, a giant Jenga set offers fun for children and adults. Include the tower set up in a garden photograph for the property so potential guests can see it ready to use.

Make Your Own Holiday Food

Your guests deserve a holiday treat, so provide some kitchen appliances to indulge them. An Ice Cream maker, starting at around £30 will allow them to experiment with different flavours, while a candy floss maker is equally cheap to buy. Be sure that instruction manuals are too hand for guests and leave advice on where you can locally buy the ingredients to make the most of these devices.

A Patio Heater

The British summer can be erratic at best, so a patio heater is a good way for guests to enjoy the lighter evenings in comfort. Think about how to provide the gas canisters for fuelling the heater, providing guests a way of buying the refills from a local supplier. Including fuel within the cost of the stay may be more attractive to the guests, but is open to abuse and problematic if they run out during a stay.

A Signature Furniture Piece

A recognisable or unique piece of furniture in the property photographs will catch the eye of potential guests. An original Charles Eames recliner chair costs in excess of £5,000, but replicas can be acquired for a tenth of that. Similarly Le Corbusier designed his recliner chair in 1928 as the ultimate in comfort and it remains a design classic today. Replicas can be picked up for less than £1,000.

Boys Toys

If there is room in the property, a pool table will keep bored children occupied if it is raining outside. Professional standard tables will be durable enough to withstand the wears and tears of a holiday let and can be picked up on Ebay from around £500. Similarly a retro games machine will appeal to dads, which can take the form of a coffee table of freestanding unit and a number of games pre-loaded. Best not to charge guests 10p a play though!

Remote Control Curtains

If the property has a impressive view, adding a electric blinds or curtains, will add the ‘wow’ factor, especially in the master bedroom where guests can wake up to a sea view.

A Conversation Piece

This could be something unusual that guests have never seen or experienced before, but will be something they will talk about on their return home. It could be something simple like unusual designer light shades, a toaster with transparent sides or a kitchen tap with a led light turning blue and red depending on the temperature of the water.

A Good Investment?

Some of the ideas above require little investment and some are more significant. The way to approach any purchase is to consider not the outlay, but the return on investment. After all, a £1,000 purchase will only need to generate a few extra bookings to pay for itself. Re-investing earned income back into a holiday let is a good long term way to grow income year on year.

Making the Most of an Investment

Whatever purchases you are considering, it is important to ensure they are used to help generate bookings. This is especially important in photographs which are a more powerful tool than text for generating bookings, so whether it is a garden, living room, kitchen or games room, make sure any new additions are included in online or printed marketing material.