Cottage Owner FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

If you haven't quite made your mind up yet, or still have a few questions to ask, take a read through the questions that we frequently get asked. Or, give us a call on 01474 816660.

How do I join?

Simply contact us on 01474 81660 or email sarah@independentcottages.co.uk and we'll do the rest!

Do I have to write all the words in my advert?

No - we draft your advert for you. This is to ensure that all cottage adverts on our site have a consistent style and tone. We only publish your advert once you are happy with it. You can, if you wish, draft your own advert and we will work with you to ensure that it is suitable.

Do I need my own website?

Not at all - if you don't have a website don't worry. Potential holiday makers using Independent Cottages should be able to get all the information that they need from your cottage advert. If you decide to have a website built at a later stage, we can put a link from your advert to your website at any time.

What if I don’t have any photos yet?

You will need at least one photo of the property, preferably the outside. However, the more that you have and the better the quality, the more appealing the advert will look; and therefore more likely to generate enquiries. Each advert can have up to 9 photos. If you do not have decent photos to start with, do not worry, you can update your photos yourself at any time. You can also email us new photos and we will happily replace them for you. There is no extra charge for this service.

What is included in the price?

For a full break down see our 'add a cottage' page. Our adverting fee includes inclusive use of our booking management system, late availability / last minute offers and availability calendar (which can easily be embedded into your own website).

Do you charge for updates and changes?

No - cottage owners can update a lot of information on their own adverts, such as photos, facilities, housekeepers email and, of course, booking details. We are also happy to make ad hoc changes to your advert on your behalf. In fact, we strive to work with you to make your advert as appealing as possible and this can sometimes take a number of iterations.

How do I pay for my advert?

We can take credit / debit card payments, cheque or bank transfers.

Do you handle the enquiries for me?

No - we provide the enquirer with the owner's phone number and provide an enquiry form. Owners handle their own enquiries. This allows owners to build rapport with guests and allows owners to 'qualify' enquirers to ensure suitability.

Do I need to be star rated?

Not at all. Some owners choose to become members of a rating scheme, but others feel that holiday makers can determine the quality of a cottage from the photos alone. We cannot over emphasize the importance of photo's as these really do sell the property.

Will I receive lots of 'scam' enquiries?

No, you should not receive any scam enquires. Firstly, we do not disclose your email address directly on the site. Secondly, enquiries that are made via the site are scanned against a list of known scammers. We also employ other methods that, for obvious reasons, we won't disclose here!

Can I display your calendar on my website ?

Yes, this is really straight forward. Just ask us and we will provide you with the HTML to do so. Or put us in contact with your web developer and we will sort it out between us. Many owners do this so that they have fewer calendars to update.

Can we integrate our calendar from another website?

Yes - We are very pleased to have relationships with Holiday Bookings Online and Super Control. So, if you use either of those online booking management services, then let us know and we can activate the calendar integration service for you.

Do you offer a discount for multiple cottages?

Yes - please contact us for details.

Do I have to use your calendar system?

No - use of the calendar / booking system is optional. However, we have found that most potential holiday makers prefer to search using specific dates. For these searches your advert will appear higher up in the search results if you use the calendar.

Can you take guest payments for me?

No - unfortunately we cannot process payments for guest bookings. For guest bookings, we recommend that you accept bank transfers, 3rd party payment services (such as Paypal) or payment via cheques. Many of todays holiday-makers use online banking and can easily make bank transfers; essential if you are going to offer last minute bookings. Alternatively, SuperControl or Holiday Bookings Online may be worth considering as they offer excellent online booking management and payment solutions.

Can holiday makers make online bookings?

No - as cottage owners ourselves we prefer to speak to our guests during the booking process. This helps to establish that the booking is genuine, that the guests meet our criteria, and to make sure that we answer any questions that the holiday maker might have.

If you have any further questions or would like to advertise with us - email us at: sarah@independentcottages.co.uk

Alternatively you can contact us on:

Please read our Advertising Terms and Conditions.

Independent Cottages is a subsidiary of Altameric Ltd., registered in England No. 4194702.