Edinburgh Festival : 8 Expert Tips You Need To Know about Letting

Dickins have been successfully letting accommodation for the Edinburgh Festival since 1998. In that time, we’ve seen it all, so we know how to avoid the potential pitfalls to make sure that the experience is a success for you and your guests. Following these 8 tips can make all the difference.

1. Location. Location. Location.

It might be an old adage but when it comes to the Edinburgh Festival, having the right location is key to success. With performers and audience members often coming out of shows in the wee hours when there are no taxis to be found, living within walking distance of the action becomes crucial. The most popular areas are Southside and Pleasance, Lauriston, The Old Town, Marchmont and Bruntsfield, The New Town and Tollcross. The hottest ticket in town for the stars is Quartermile as it’s right next to George Square and has great quality apartments. Our new addition, Rock House is also proving to be very popular indeed – not surprising given it’s stunning location and history.

2. Quality guests come with quality agents.

If you want to secure a quality guest, you’re far more likely to achieve that by using a reputable festival letting agent rather than trying to let your property yourself. Just as you are looking to safeguard your home by letting it to someone trustworthy, remember that guests want security too. Employing the right agent will save you money, time and hassle.

Agents can provide you with the following services:

• Find the right guests for your flat
• Secure damage deposits
• Take payments
• Handle keys
• Schedule housekeeping
• Deal with any issues which arise during the let
• Manage the changeover of guests

At Dickins, we are still looking after many of the same clients that have been booking with us since our opening in 1998. Find out more about some of our clients here…

3. Match your property to the right person.

Ultimately, successful Edinburgh festival lets are created by matching the right person with the right property. With our experience and long-standing relationship with many of our guests, we are skilled at matching the right people to the right property. (If we don’t say so ourselves!!)

4. The price is right.

A reputable agent will advise owners not only of a suitable rental price but offer advice on which properties tend to let for the entire festival and which properties are more suitable for weekly lets. We work with both performers and audience members and know which flats work for them. Generally speaking, our most central properties are available for month-long bookings while those a little further out of the city centre are more suited to weekly bookings. Our minimum stay over the Edinburgh Festival is one week and lets run Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday, generally speaking.

5. Start marketing after Hogmanay.

Ideally, we recommend owners start marketing properties as soon after Hogmanay as possible. In the old days, festival bookings were more laid back and last minute, however, guests these days like to get their accommodation booked earlier and feel more organised. The early bird does catch the worm so it is worth being organised!

6. The big clear up.

If you decide to rent your home out for the Festival, it’s important that all personal possessions are removed.  In fact, one owner a few years ago told us that her decision to rent out her flat wasn’t to do with the money, it just forced her to have an annual clear out!

If you are letting your own flat or house, guests understand that they have booked a home but they don’t necessarily want to wake up to your wedding picture on the bedside table or toothbrush in the bathroom! Our tip? Lock away your personal possessions, and don’t forget to tidy up and lock away you personal papers.

At Dickins, we love to use some marvellous stuff called ‘tamper tape’ which allows owners to lock drawers and cupboards which don’t have inbuilt locks. It is important that your home is immaculate when guests move in and this involves cleaning your home to a 5 star, hotel standard. (Few of us do this in our own homes, but guests should walk into a flat and feel like they are the first ones ever to step foot in it!)

Photo Credit: Chris Watt

7. Be prepared for issues.

Don’t panic, but from time to time, problems occur during lets. Particularly during the festival, it’s important that problems are solved quickly, and having the right agent can make all the difference. We pride ourselves on being good problems solvers. We don’t take no for an answer!

“We’ve been using Dickins to find Festival accommodation for years. They always find us great apartments but the thing I really value is that when a problem crops up, they are straight onto getting it sorted. That gives me peace of mind.”

Lisa White, Glorious Management

8. Take photos.

The perfect situation is coming back home and finding it exactly as you left it – and in the most part, this is exactly what happens. However, on those rare occasions when guests have left a bit of a mess, phone your agent to come and have a look before you start to clear it up. Remember to take photos of any damage – photos can make all the difference!

Forth Street, Edinburgh

By following these 8 tips, letting your property for the Edinburgh Festival should be a great success.

Want to find out more about listing your property for the Edinburgh Festival with Dickins?

You can call Dickins on 0131 558 1108 or email us at [email protected]