How to Make the Most of Your Ski Property over Summer

Ski resorts are no longer strictly for skiing. In fact, recent years have seen a massive increase in the number of visitors to ski resorts in the summer, and why not?! Once the snow has gone, the mountains become a fantastic playground for everyone. Hiking holidays have become hugely popular and many ski resorts are home to some of the worlds most beautiful golf courses. Mountain (and road) biking are long-time alpine favourites and the beautiful alpine lakes mean watersports aren’t only for the seaside! So what can you do to make the most of your ski property over the summer?

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Do a home swap!

Whilst no money changes hands, home-swapping is an excellent way to see more of the world. You will be surprised at the unique homes you can find on websites such as Love Home Swap and Luxury Home Exchange. Your mountain home could be the dream holiday destination for another traveller, and you could find yourself staying in an exceptional home somewhere you have always wanted to visit. You’ll experience a new place through the eyes of a local, and save on the cost of accommodation when you’re away.

What is involved?

Usually, you simply swap your property with another owner on the same dates. Whilst there are no costs associated with the actual swaps, the home swap websites usually have a small annual subscription fee which takes care of admin costs and insurance.

How should you prepare?

What would you like to find in the home you are going to? Things like welcome packs really make it a special experience for your visitors, and basics like towels and linen make the whole travelling experience much easier so guests don’t have to bring their own. If you have time, write down your favourite things to do and leave them a map so they know how to get around. If you have valuables or things you would like to keep safe, consider storing them in a locked room.

Rent out your holiday home!

Websites like Airbnb have become so popular in recent years, that this seems like the most obvious route to take if you are looking to make a bit of rental return. Bookings aren’t guaranteed, and you will make the most at peak holiday periods, but it is a great way for ski home owners to be flexible about when you want to use your home as you have full control over what dates you make available.

What is involved?

The biggest aspect of renting out your home short term is managing your account, responding to guests promptly and preparing the property. Luckily, ski resorts are filled with management companies who can look after all of this for you. From chatting to guests to organising cleaners, if you live far away from your holiday home (or just don’t have the time!), a management company definitely the way to go.

How Should You Prepare?

As a host, your property will be rated on the quality of the stay and the feedback you receive is made public on your profile. As holiday rentals in ski resorts can be so competitive, it is important for you to go the extra mile to make sure your ski home stands out above the rest. A folder containing information about the area, toiletries, basic kitchen supplies and any extra touches you can think of (such as a welcome pack of local goods) will make the experience for guests a much warmer one.

Renovate!

If you have been thinking about renovating or undertaking any kind of building work on your home, summer is the time to do it! It is an excellent way to add value to your ski home particularly if you plan to rent it out or sell it in the near future.

What is involved?

It depends on what you are hoping to do! Minor cosmetic work such as sanding floors or painting the walls can be done in a few short days yet can completely change the ambiance of your ski home. Bigger jobs such as extensions, removing walls, changing bathrooms & kitchens or knocking it down completely and starting from scratch require much more planning (and funding) but can increase the value of your ski home by a significant amount.

How Should You Prepare?

If you are looking to really overhaul your ski home, the best thing you can do is find a reputable and reliable team to work with. From the design to the actual construction, building plans can take months to get through approval in ski resorts, and you may need to re-visit the plans a couple of times to make sure everything is just right. Knowing you have a good team behind you is key to making the renovation process work.