Fitting out a holiday property

When fitting out a holiday property it's important to keep one thing top of mind - your target market.

If you are looking to appeal to an older market, perhaps out of season walkers and dog lovers, the sort of property you buy and the way you furnish it should reflect that. If you are looking for a younger, more style-conscious crowd clearly your goals should be different. That's not to say that you cannot combine a classic property with a modern, stylish finish and not be very successful.

For bedrooms I'd normally advise a mix of bed types. For a single bed property a double, but for properties with more bedrooms i'd go for doubles and twins - perhaps using zip and link beds (which can be made up as singles or a double) to maximise flexibility. Bedside cabinets should go either side of a double or, if you have twins, one in between.

Kitchens should have modern appliances and clean, modern units and worktops - unless you are going for a classic cottage feel. A dishwasher and washer dryer, plus fridge/freezer, are now high on people's priority lists. Make sure there are 2 sets of crockery, glasses and cutlery for the maximum number of guests - and buy spares to easily replace broken items.

Living areas should be comfortably furnished with new tables, chairs and sofas - don't use second hand. You need to provide lounge and dining seating for the maximum number of occupants. Also look to include a modern flatscreen TV, DVD player and freeview.

If you have a garden or balcony then ensure plants are easy to maintain. If space allows provide a good quality patio table and chairs.

For details on the full inventory requirements for meeting VisitBritain's star rating criteria read the handbook.