As low season begins, luxury private villa owners may want to consider using the downtime between bookings to upgrade the property. The benefits of renovations and upgrades come down to returns on investment (ROI) once the high season starts. But is there a way for homeowners to decide on where and how to start before upgrading their villa?
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Deciding to implement renovations on a luxury private villa will require considerable planning, but it doesn’t have to be too complicated. We’ve come up with five considerations to ponder before implementing a renovation.
1. Have Solid Goals for Renovation
Deciding on a renovation or upgrade depends mostly on what the villa owners want to achieve with the improvements. Do they want to make the villa more attractive to the rental market? Is there a niche they’re trying to attract? Are they looking to perform basic maintenance for wear and tear? Are they planning to upgrade facilities for comfort?
One way to determine goals is to look at comments and reviews from guests on issues that have emerged during their stay, especially those that have gotten in the way of enjoying the villa. Legitimate and constructive complaints are a good starting point for addressing guest needs that can be remedied through renovation.
2. Reconcile Design, Functionality, and Comfort
Not even the most fantastic design can cancel out an uncomfortable guest experience, so it’s important to reconcile aesthetics with functionality and comfort. A villa that’s “child-friendly,” for example, must strive to have child-safe features that will also ensure comfort, such as soft furniture edges and shallow swimming pools.
Improving the comfort levels of guests, especially with regard to issues such as accessibility and safety, can ensure positive impressions. And with current design trends leaning away from aesthetics without comfort or function, it’s best to maintain a balance of all three to take a guest’s villa stay from okay to spectacular.
3. Keep Renovations Climate-Appropriate
In line with the emphasis on functionality and comfort with design, renovations should also take into account the impact of the local climate on the villa itself. Taking inspiration from tropical design, especially for villas in Asia, should point owners toward climate-appropriate solutions that can improve guest experience.
These include villa improvements for preventing floods and leaks, as well as replacing high-maintenance furniture and fixtures with those made from sturdier native materials. Even a change in fans and air conditioning can influence the guest experience as long as they can maintain acceptable comfort levels.
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4. Execute Proper Planning and Timing
There’s a reason why many villa owners schedule their major renovations on the lowest of the three major seasons for renting a villa. Low season provides villa owners with the perfect opportunity for improving facilities, with the hope of earning back their ROI once guests come back. It’s a better use of their time than letting the villa sit idle on the market.
With that said, villa owners should still practice good judgment in planning a renovation, especially when the renovation is held up by forces beyond control. The more proactive an owner is in planning and managing renovations, the faster they will push through and finish.
5. Work with Experts and Professionals
Villa renovations should not be taken lightly, especially when potential revenue is on the line. That’s why it is important to work with high-quality contractors and other professional renovation experts to execute improvements that guarantee the best ROI.
Every professional working on a villa renovation should show demonstrate their capacity for high-caliber work to avoid complications and delays in the renovation process. Anything that gets in the way of a timely renovation or upgrade could cost a villa owner thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
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Upgrade Your Villa to the Next Level
While villa renovations and upgrades can seem intimidating at first, the returns on investment can make a difference, both in revenue and guest experience. Not only will you have an attractive luxury private villa on the market, but you will also have guests who appreciate the thoughtful effort in making their villa stay as comfortable as possible.
The payoff to upgrading your private villa for utmost luxury and comfort is so great that you may even forget the challenge and effort it took to get your villa to the most exacting standards. Start with the decision to upgrade and watch the improvements pay for themselves.
Get more insight on the luxury private villa business with the Villa Owners’ Guide.
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Featured Image: Villa Zai
The Luxury Signature represents and manages reservations of the finest villa rentals in Southeast Asia, specializing in some of the most stunning destinations including the islands of Phuket and Samui in Thailand, and Bali, Indonesia.
