The most important tips for successful property management

When renting an apartment, you face many challenges such as how to attract quality guests, how to maintain the quality and price of accommodation, how to achieve guest satisfaction, how to comply with all laws and regulations, etc. Read our tips that will allow you to become successful in renting your accommodations which will result in apartments full of guests who will be happy to come back and recommend you to others.

1. Be competitive and follow trends

There is more and more accommodation for rent on our market. This means that there is an increased supply, and with it, the price also decreases. In addition, the competition is increasingly demanding, and the owners of apartments and holiday homes invest more and more in the quality of accommodation, renovate them, arrange them stylishly, build swimming pools, and so on. Accordingly, you should also think about how to be competitive. You can achieve this in two ways: by reducing the prices if they are unrealistically high, and by always investing part of the rental income in the renovation and improvement of your accommodation. In this way, you will remain competitive in the long term. In addition, it is very important to follow the trends in the tourist accommodation rental market. So, for example, you can look at the offers of successful renters in your city and see what they all include in their offers and what their reviews are like. Then you too can apply some of their services and methods to improve your quality.

2.  Make sure your guests are satisfied

A satisfied guest will recommend you to others and bring you, new guests, leave you a good review and rating, and maybe even give you extra money as a kind of tip and reward because he was satisfied with the service. That’s why you always take care to do everything you can to make the guests in your apartments happy. Don’t hesitate to do them a small favor (for free if necessary): take them to the airport, take them to the beach, show them local sights, restaurants, and so on. Also, of course, the impeccable cleanliness of the apartments and rooms you rent is very important. Do not be superficial and careless in arranging and cleaning the apartment. Do everything to make the guests in your apartments feel satisfied, happy, and welcome. It is true that every host attracts the kind of guests he deserves.

3. Do business legally

If you want to be a successful apartment renter, you will not achieve this if you rent apartments illegally. The penalties for illegally renting an apartment are many times higher than the potential profit, and it is definitely not worth it.

If you want to find out what services we offer for renters, feel free to contact us for a free consultation at info@rentalsdubrovnik.com

How to encourage guests to leave a positive review?

There are many ways to ask for a guest review, whether it’s a formal automated message or an indirect verbal note at check-out, in any case, the point is to encourage your satisfied guests to leave positive reviews for your apartment. Read the following ways to encourage them to do so.

1. Create a personal approach
Asking for reviews usually seems like an automated message, but try to take the time to send personalized messages as well. Many people today lack that personal touch when using someone’s services. They will feel like you really care about their feedback and their suggestions to improve the service of the apartment.

2. Educate guests on how to leave a review
We’ve been inundated with ratings and reviews in the apartment rental industry for years, so it’s easy to forget that not everyone is in the habit of writing reviews. When asking a guest to review your apartment, be sure to tell them exactly where to click to write a review in the first place. You can write the steps on paper and print them out with an interesting illustration and stick the paper on the wall of the room in the apartment.

3. Use quick reminders
Take the opportunity to encourage a guest to leave a review when they are satisfied with your hospitality and approachability. When a guest asks you to bring something to the apartment, you can leave a card, i.e. a reminder to leave a review for the apartment on the product that requested you.

Over time, positive reviews can contribute, in addition to an increase in occupancy, to an increase in price compared to the market, so it pays to step out of your comfort zone and ask a satisfied guest indirectly for a review.

How to attract digital nomads to your apartment?

Digital nomads are workers who work “remotely”, i.e. from home, freelancers, or entrepreneurs who are independent of location and have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world. All they need is a laptop and good Wifi that allows them to move from one place to another whenever they want. They travel the world, and each new location they visit becomes their home for a few weeks or months, and then they move on to the next. Due to their long-stay reservations, these guests are preferred by homeowners. Read how to prepare your apartment to attract these desirable guests.

  1. Equip your apartment with accessories and furniture that resemble a home office

Digital nomads don’t travel in their spare time. For them, travel is a lifestyle that includes working in the places they visit. Because of this, it is likely that they will use your apartment as a home office and spend much more time in it than ordinary tourists would. How can you convince them that your apartment will meet all their needs?

When photographing your apartments for booking channels, be sure to furnish and display them in a way that can serve as an inspiring workspace. Equip the apartment with a table and a comfortable office chair and, if possible, try to place them in the part where there is the most natural light. Add a photo of a coffee machine or other amenities that can often be found in the office. Don’t forget to mention that in the description of the apartment. This will make your accommodation much more attractive to digital nomads.

  1. Equip the apartment with maximum digitalization

It may sound obvious, but WiFi speed matters to digital nomads. More than half (52%) rated finding fast and reliable internet as one of the biggest challenges of a nomadic lifestyle, and WiFi needs vary by profession. Streaming YouTube videos is not the same as uploading, not to mention the hours spent in video chat, where the lag can be frustrating. A strong Wifi connection is something that home workers will look for wherever they are. In addition to WiFi, other digital amenities can attract digital nomads, such as plug adapters, high-end hair dryers, USB charging ports, in-room iPads, and similar.

  1. Offer discounts to popular places nearby

They may spend much of the day working from home, but they won’t be locked inside all day. Digital nomads love to explore local restaurants, coffee shops, yoga studios, gyms, and coworking spaces. Establish partnerships with nearby venues and offer your nomadic guests discounts at these attractive venues. The more networking and meeting opportunities you can offer, the better.

The digital nomad lifestyle has become so popular in recent years that it is predicted that there will be 1 billion of them worldwide by 2035. Therefore, equipping the apartment in order to adapt to their needs can be very important for the successful occupancy of your apartment throughout the season.

The 5 best beaches in Croatia

Croatia offers unspoiled bays, hidden caves, untouched islands, and amazing beaches. What you see is what has been here for centuries, a long, indented coastline fringed by more than a thousand beautiful islands. The difference between beaches is astounding: some are pure serenity, some attract families with children while others are hide and rocky, the natural oasis of privacy.

To help you plan your travel, here are 5 of the best beaches in Croatia:

1. Zlatni rat, Brač

This gorgeous beach will fascinate you with its shape. Located on the sunny south coast of Brac Island, Zlatni rat beach can usually be seen on photos, posters, and calendars. Often called the Golden Cape because of its extraordinary shape, a glamorous golden stretch of pebbles that reaches out into the sea, the beach is ideal for windsurfers.

2. Stiniva, the island of Vis

Stiniva Beach is a small hidden beach on the beautiful island of Vis, the farthest inhabited island in Croatia. This beach is in fact cove known for its unique natural beauty surrounded by high cliffs that form small sea entrances to beautiful pebble beaches. Thousands of travelers rewarded Stiniva Beach as the most beautiful beach in Europe.

3. Sakarun, Dugi Otok

The beach of Sakarun is located on the island of Dugi Otok. With its enchanting beauty, crystalline sea, and fine sand, count as one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. As the day progresses, the colors of the sea change from turquoise to emerald blue at this wide bay. It is perfect for children, because of the sandy seabed and shallow water. The beach is surrounded by untouched nature and scented pine trees.

4. Proizd, island of Korcula

Islet of Proizd is actually composed of bathing areas, every few minutes walk away from the next, and each tiled with hot slabs of stone. They are connected by a well-maintained footpath, which makes it easy to get from one to another, and there isn’t much shade. This islet fascinates everyone with its charming, natural beauty, crystal clear, turquoise sea, and the scent of salty freshness.

5. Pasjača, Konavle

Located at the cliff’s foot, this fascinating beach is a real wonder of nature. In the past, locals created a tunnel from the fields to the sea, and the remaining rocks were left on the seaside. Years and years after, the sea and waves transformed rocks into pebbles and into sand. That is how the most beautiful European beach, Pasjača Beach, was created. This wild and isolated rocky and pebbled beach will amaze you with its beauty.

Things to do in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a town of rich history and tradition, amazing landmarks and palaces, and narrow cobbled streets. Often called the Pearl of Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of those places in the world you should visit once in a lifetime. When planning to travel to Dubrovnik, travelers often dream of City Walls, spots where filmed HBO serial Game of Thrones, and swimming in the crystal clear Adriatic sea.  But often the most amazing and memorable moments of travel are things you do when taking part in local activities instead of just sightseeing. Explore this magnificent town from a different point of view with our list of things to do in Dubrovnik.

Watch the sunset from the Srdj Hill

Watching the sunset is always a romantic and beautiful moment, but watching the sunset in Dubrovnik is for sure an unforgettable experience. The best place for watching the sun going down is Srdj hill. This hill is situated above Dubrovnik and from here fascinating views of the Old town and nearby island are provided.

Stroll the main street with ice cream in the hands

The local’s favorite custom on the hot summer days is to take ice cream and walk down the main street. Stradun or as it is often called Placa is the main street in Old Town and the center of all events in the summer. Don’t miss taking ice cream to freshen up a bit and stroll the main street to see what is happening.

Discover the charming botanical garden in Trsteno

The botanical garden in Trsteno or Arboretum Trsteno is just 20 minutes away from Dubrovnik. It is the oldest Renaissance garden in Dalmatia and represents a peaceful natural oasis where you will see interesting plants and herbs. The palm trees, eucalyptus, different types of exotic trees, and more than 300 other plants are preserved to this day.

Visit local’s favorite island

Lokrum Island, just 15 minutes away from Dubrovnik Old Port, is a popular place for locals during the summer. Visit this enchanting oasis of beauty, peace, and untouched nature and enjoy an amazing landscape. You can walk and admire the pine and cypress trees, swim in the turquoise-blue Adriatic sea, or just chill in privacy.

Taste delicious food

Dubrovnik can boast of delightful food and fine wines. It is mainly known for fish food, oysters, and mussels you definitely need to try, but Dubrovnik also has a good offer for meat lovers. They will be fascinated with a lamb under an iron bell, a pesticide with gnocchi, pasta with beef meat or as locals called Sporki makaruli, prosciutto, and more. Don’t forget to sweeten up your taste buds with famous rozata (similar to flan), apple strudle, and exquisite wines.

Experience Dubrovnik Old Town in the early morning

There is nothing more beautiful and stunning than experiencing Dubrovnik in the early morning, watching its awakening, and how locals start their new day. Children are preparing for school or to go on the beach with grandparents, and parents for work, and fishermen are returning back with their catches. An indispensable ritual of locals is first-morning coffee, so don’t miss it and do the same.

Attend the Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Dubrovnik Summer Festival is the most representative cultural manifestation in Dubrovnik. It lasts from 10  July until  25 August every year and includes performances of theatre shows, classical and folk music, ballet, and dance. If you visit Dubrovnik during this part of the year and attend at least one show, you won’t regret it.

50 Shades of Croatia

Croatia is a country that is still undiscovered by most of tourists, but last past years it is on Bucket List for more and more of them.

A small country with a population of a little bit more than 4 million people, Croatia is a place that can boast beautiful landscapes, a rich and long history and tradition, untouched nature, turquoise blue Adriatic Sea, and excellent gastronomy. Divided into regions (Istria, Slavonia, Dalmatia, and Zagorje) where each part has its unique spots and things to be proud of.

With 8 National parks and a few nature parks, more than a thousand amazing islands, rocky mountains, rich flora and fauna, pebbled beaches, magnificent rivers, and crystal clear Adriatic sea, and with the listing we can go on indefinitely, the country is an ideal place for nature lovers and lover of peace and relaxation.

On the other hand, there are a lot of landmarks, rich and long history, cobbled streets, churches, palaces, fortresses, traditional dances, fascinating stories, and legends from the past, that will amaze you. A lot of monuments in Croatia are under UNESCO World Heritage protection, such as Old Town Dubrovnik, Diocletian’s palace in Split, Plitvice Lakes, the Cathedral in Sibenik, the town of Trogir and etc. Travelers who want to learn something new travel or history lovers will be thrilled with Croatia.

Also, we can say that Croatia is a gastronomic paradise. Here you will find excellent domestic food, indigenous dishes, and fine wines. Food from all over the world is prepared in Croatia and served in the restaurant, but our recommendation is local food like fish, oysters, dishes under the baking bell, cheese from Pag, Strukli, Soparnik, stuffed papers, kulen from Slavonia, olive oil, etc. Croatian food has been influenced by tastes and traditions from neighboring countries, and different nations that ruled Croatian territory throughout history. Don’t forget to accompany food with local, exquisite wines.
We can say that Croatia is a country for all kinds of travelers, each of you will find something that you like and you will enjoy it. We are sure that you will bring home fabulous photos, awesome stories, and unforgettable memories.