It is not uncommon for a holiday home to have a caretaker stationed at the property to look after the daily affairs of the property. There are many issues which the caretaker needs to handle, from handing over the keys to guests, to cleaning the property, to taking occasional requests from guests, and many more. The quality of the job done by the caretaker is probably the single most important factor when it comes to creating a good first impression.
It goes without saying that for a holiday home whose owner is not there to receive guests, the caretaker is nothing less than a brand ambassador of the property. So lot of importance should be given to how the caretaker handles the guests who come to stay in the property.
Here are some of the essentials that the holiday home owner should advise the caretaker:
1.Personality:
He should have a pleasant personality. He should greet guests with a smile and take care of things like offering welcome drinks when guests arrive at the property. If the property has the facility to serve food, the caretaker should check if the guests would like him to serve breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of their arrival. Your guests will be arriving, probably after a long and tiring journey. They will definitely want to find a warm welcome.
2. Cleanliness:
The caretaker should not be wearing soiled clothes, or worn out, unpolished shoes or sandals when he interacts with guests. Even if he is not wearing a uniform, he should ensure that whatever he is wearing is clean and ironed, as well as shoes or sandals polished and cleaned. He should at least maintain basic hygiene and should not come straight from the garden with mud and soil on his hands and feet.
3. Etiquette:
The caretaker should be aware of basic etiquette required when interacting with guests. For instance, if the guest asks for a glass of water, he should bring it on a tray and not by holding the glass by the rim. If he is serving a meal, he should not bring the food straight to the table in the pan. He should use the right utensils and ensure that there is enough cutlery on the table.
4. Taking requests:
Advise the caretaker to avoid saying ‘no’ to everything. Instead, advise him to give alternatives to guests if something is not possible. A small example: If the guests ask him to cook something he is unfamiliar with, he should be able to tell them that there is a restaurant nearby and if they would like, he can arrange it to be delivered to the property.
5. Location knowledge:
Guests generally ask the caretaker about sightseeing highlights in the locality. So the owner should make sure that the caretaker knows all the places of interest nearby. You can also keep some brochures from the tourism department with the caretaker to show to guests. These brochures are given free by the local tourism department, so that should not be a problem.
6. Handling emergencies:
There may be a pipe which has burst or a blocked washbasin, which will definitely inconvenience guests. So the caretaker should attend to it immediately. If the work is beyond his expertise, he should ensure that he calls up the right person and gets the problem fixed.
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