The short-term rental market in France is growing all the time. And with it, the demands of travellers. To stay competitive without sacrificing your free time, the rental concierge service is the obvious choice. But with the market exploding, how can you make the right choice? We'll give you the keys.
1. The role of a concierge service :
You own a property that you want to rent out, but you don't have the time to deal with price fluctuations, check-ins and check-outs, cleaning and all the other tasks involved in managing a property. Then you can choose to delegate this task to a rental concierge service.
But what is a rental concierge service?
Introduced in 2010, it brings together all the services you need to optimise the rental of your residence. From advice on how to welcome travellers to monitoring reviews left on the internet, it meets the increasingly demanding expectations of travellers. So you can rent more and rent better!
2. Good reasons to use a concierge service
- You can't do everything!We understand that you love the feeling of preparing your property to welcome your guest in the best possible conditions. But unfortunately, as you know, there's more to rental management than that. You don't have the time to manage digital tools, administrative procedures and communication with travellers - that's normal, and the good news is that rental management services cover your needs.
- It's tailored to your needs!Depending on the number of properties you own and the time you have available, you can choose the services that meet your needs. That's the strength of concierge services like Olympe Serviceswho are there for you every day with a personal, hands-on approach.
- Peace of mind first and foremost: Whether it's 2pm or midnight, weekdays or Sundays, you know that a reactive team can intervene if a problem arises! Our experts will take care of all your rental needs.
3. How to choose your concierge :
1. Geographical proximity :
Firstly, we advise you to choose a concierge service close to your rental property. They will have a better understanding of the specific characteristics of your sector, such as the growth of competing rates, the dynamics of tourism and the adjustment of rates according to peaks in demand. What's more, the concierge will have a network of local craftsmen ready to intervene for urgent repairs.
2. Quality of reception and check-in :
70% is the impact that the first contact has on the final opinion left by your traveller. It's vital that this welcome is carefully thought out, whether in person or 100% digitally. If your property is upmarket, we recommend a human touch to ensure a good customer experience. However, for studios or mid-range flats, a digital solution may be more appropriate.
3. Communication :
In this environment, when travellers have a request during their holiday, they don't want to be bothered and are looking for responsiveness. The concierge service's response time is very important and must be as short as possible in order to satisfy your travellers' future requests. You can monitor this selection parameter using the concierge service reviews. You can also ask whether automatic messages are sent on a personalised basis via a communication channel.
4. Booking management
One of the most important criteria is the way in which the concierge will manage reservations. It is preferable that they have a system for handling special requests such as late arrivals or requests for equipment. You can also discuss the level of decision-making so that you only approve important decisions. Finally, it is recommended that the concierge has a clear process in place in the event of a major incident, to avoid any unnecessary stress!
5. Cross-platform synchronisation :
If your property is advertised on several platforms such as Airbnb, Booking or Abritel, the concierge service you choose must have an efficient synchronisation system. A calendar updated in real time helps to avoid double bookings, optimise the occupancy rate and centralise the management of traveller messages. Don't hesitate to ask the concierge service what technological tools it uses and how it secures multi-platform management.
6. A well-established deposit system :
If your property is not cleaned, if it is damaged... it is essential to have a structured deposit system so that you can rest easy 100%! Check that your concierge service uses an efficient solution, whether it's an Eftpos terminal, cheques or digital solution. Some specialist platforms, such as Swikly, allow you to make a digital 100% bank imprint without immediate debit.
The process should be simple for both you and the traveller. In addition, we advise you to adapt the amounts of your deposits to your property:
- 250 to 300€ for a studio
- 1000 to 1500€ for a villa
Also insist on a post-departure inspection within 24 hours, with time-stamped photos.
Conclusion
Investing in property can be the project of a lifetime, so entrusting your property to a concierge is never a trivial decision.
Take the time to meet the teams who will manage your property, ask your questions and clear up any doubts before making your decision.
Finally, the real difference lies in the commitment and availability of your concierge, so choose the one you feel you can trust!
About us
Are you looking for a trusted concierge service for your property?Olympe Servicessupports homeowners on a daily basis with a personal, human approach, strong local roots and high-performance digital tools. A team that is available and ready to listen that you can meet on the website to find out more!
The ultimate checklist of questions to ask your concierge
- Are you based locally and how far is your team from my property?
- How quickly can you respond to an emergency (leak, breakdown, passenger problem)?
- Do you work with a network of reliable local craftsmen who are available at short notice?
- Do you offer a physical, digital or hybrid reception service?
- Are you available 24/7 for travellers?
- What is your average message response time?
- How do you deal with negative reviews or disputes?
- What is your average response time to travellers?
- Are you available 24/7?
- Do you use personalised automatic messages?
- Who responds to messages: local team or outsourced centre?
- How do you validate bookings (automatically or manually)?
- To what level do you make decisions without consulting me?
- What is your protocol in the event of a major incident?
- Do you use a channel manager with real-time synchronisation?
- How do you avoid double bookings?
- Do you centralise all the messages from the different platforms in the same place?
- How do you collect and secure the deposit (Eftpos terminal, cheque, online bank transfer)?
- Do you carry out a post-departure inspection within 24 hours, with time-stamped photos?
