2004
A part of the property was run as a ‘Gite’ (a week-by-week self catering holiday home) during the summer season between the years 2004 and 2015. Bed & Breakfast was only a small part of the business, not for the lack of demand, but for the lack of vacant accommodation
Consequently there is now a database of over 400 clients who have either stayed at the property since 2004 or enquired about renting the property, but not followed up on the request.
The building was renovated with summer rentals in mind. It is a family home, a cohesive unit, but with the locking of just two doors it can be converted into two separate and fully independent spaces.
Three quarters
Three quarters of the property becomes the Gite. It comprises of the ground floor kitchen and dinning / living room, 5 bedrooms each with their walk in shower rooms, plus the garden, courtyard, two terraces and pool. This part of the property accommodates 10 people in luxury.
Whilst clients are in residence, the proprietor can stay in the remaining one quarter of the property on the first floor: the salon (lounge), the sixth bedroom and two bathrooms. The salon has a discreet, compact and fully equipped corner kitchen designed to blend in with the rest of the room.
Access to this independent apartment is by a ‘secret’ staircase which runs from behind the internal garage, through the linen stock area, and up to a corridor which stretches between the salon (lounge) and bedroom. This separate access allows both proprietor and clients total privacy.
Turnover
The average turnover of the Gîte business has been €35,000. The usual marketing spend is €1,000 per year.The charge for the rental of the Gite is €3,950 per week. Clients have originated from all parts of the world and are often accompanied by children, young and old.
Clients have often expressed their appreciation of having a place to holiday ‘in authentic Provence’, They love the fact that there are (relatively) so few other tourists in the village and they have often commented on how convenient it is to be able to ‘pop to the shops’ on foot rather than have to take the car to buy the morning croissant. Parents accompanied by adolescents like it that their children can find things to do locally and they don’t have to be ‘ferried’ to various activities.
Clients often book well in advance and on reserving the property pay a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the rental fee. The balance and refundable Security Deposit of €1000 is paid two months before their arrival.
There is a professionally prepared set of Terms and Conditions which govern the temporary residence of all clients.
There is an established cleaning team of three ladies who live in the village. During the summer season they work with the proprietor for four hours on Saturdays to clean and generally prepare the property for the following clients.
Linen
The linen stock consists of :
– Sheets: Double (15) and Single (22)
– Pillow cases: Large (42) and Small (20)
– Duvet covers: Large (13) and Single (19)
– Mattress Protectors: Single (10)
– Baby: Sheets (2), Mattress protectors (4), Blankets (2), Pillow cases (2), and Pillows (2)
– Towels: Bath (26), Hand (22) and Face (24)
– Bath floor mats (18)
– Store boxes (18)