Choosing the Right Appliances For Your Holiday Let or AirBnB Property

Considering letting out your property to holidaymakers for the first time? There’s a lot to consider before you take the leap, from meeting legal and regulatory requirements to taking high-quality photos and working out pricing.

Also on that long list of requirements are kitchen appliances. Whether you’re refitting your kitchen from scratch or simply upgrading it in readiness for the arrival of your first guests, choosing the right appliances can make all the difference. Worn out, faulty or unintuitive white goods can have a dramatic impact on the experience a guest has in your property, leading to hassle, frustration and, quite possibly, a negative review.

Negative reviews are bad news, so choosing the right kitchen appliances for your holiday home is key. That’s where we come in. In this comprehensive guide, we’re going to cover the key considerations you should keep in mind when shopping for white goods. From value for money to aesthetics, we’ll touch on the aspects that matter most to holidaymakers.

What do holidaymakers expect?

Before we dive into the buying guide portion of this blog, let’s remind ourselves of the expectations of a typical holidaymaker. If someone books your holiday home, what will they be looking for when it comes to kitchen appliances?

Naturally, a guest’s expectations will vary depending on the kind of place they’re booking and how much they’re paying; if you pitch your property as a high-end, luxury choice, expectations are always going to be high.

But as a bare minimum, guests will expect kitchen appliances to be reliable and easy to use. They’re going on holiday, after all: they don’t want unnecessary stress and hassle. They want familiarity and simplicity – something that does exactly what they expect it to.

With that in mind, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when you’re choosing white goods for a holiday let. Stray away from confusing or unconventional appliances and instead opt for robust, easy to use models that anyone can get to grips with.

Ease of use and reliability aside, safety is of the utmost importance. Always opt for brand-new appliances and ensure they’re safety tested regularly.

What to consider when buying

Now we’re clear on what the average guest expects from their holiday home’s appliances, how do we apply these expectations during the buying process? To help you track down the perfect appliances for your kitchen, we’ve outlined a number of key considerations below.

Brand

Some kitchen appliance brands have a good reputation, others don’t – and when you’re searching for products that you can depend on, reputation matters. So, before you buy, do a little research to find out which suppliers can be trusted and which can’t. It’s always worth taking a look at independent review sites like Trustpilot; if a brand has an excellent score, you know it has plenty of happy customers.

Price and value

Sure, the price tag of an appliance is important – you don’t want to pay over the odds. But what matters most is value. How much are you getting for your money? Sometimes, choosing the outright cheapest product isn’t the best way to go, so try to compare different appliances from a value perspective. If one cooker is slightly more expensive than another but has a number of additional features and better reviews, for instance, it’s wise to shell out a little more cash.

Quality and durability

This is a big one. As we mentioned earlier, the durability of your white goods is absolutely critical. No holidaymaker wants to rock up to their accommodation only to find that their oven or microwave doesn’t work, so look out for appliances with a proven track record and a solid reputation.

Warranty and customer support

Sometimes, even the most well-made appliances will go wrong. It’s inevitable. What really matters is how any issues are dealt with; if you have to wait around for weeks to get a replacement product or later find out that your warranty doesn’t cover very much, you’ll end up wishing you’d gone somewhere else. So, look out for companies with a good reputation for customer service (particularly those that offer customer support live chats to resolve issues quickly) and only buy appliances that come with a comprehensive 12-month warranty.

Features

Although there’s typically no need to choose appliances with an array of high-tech features, better appliances can act as a selling point for your holiday home. Opting for a combi microwave instead of a regular one could prove to be a solid choice, for instance, as it’s a handy way for guests to prepare tasty meals quickly and easily. Air fryers are also a popular option nowadays, so choosing a versatile dual-zone model could help entice guests to choose your holiday home over another.

Ease of use

We’ve touched on this already, but intuitive appliances are an absolute must. You’ve got to remember that guests will be using these appliances for the first time, and it’s highly unlikely that they’ll have the exact same ones at home. So, whichever appliance you choose, make sure it’s simple and straightforward to use – your guests shouldn’t have to consult Google or an instruction manual in order to cook their food!

Energy efficiency

This one doesn’t need much explaining: the cheaper your appliances are to run, the lower your energy bills will be. That’s good news for your bottom line and for the environment. Win-win.

Aesthetics

Although looks aren’t everything in the world of kitchen appliances, they certainly matter. A stylish, modern oven and hob combo, for instance, will impress guests and help create a positive first impression as soon as they walk into the home or apartment. If you really want to wow guests, coordinate your appliances so that they all have the same finish and make sure they pair well with the colour palette of your kitchen. An attractive kitchen could help you pull in more bookings – and might even allow you to charge more too.

Sign up for a trade account today

Now you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to start shopping for white goods that tick all your boxes. Here at Cookology, we think you’ll find plenty of products that do exactly that. And what’s more, if you sign up for a trade account with us you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive discounts that you won’t find anywhere else.

To take advantage of our trade-only discounts and kit your holiday let out with quality appliances, sign up for a trade account online today.