The first plan of action for any property owner who decides they would like to reap the gains of summer holiday renting in Cyprus is to take a very critical look throughout their home. Paying guests have saved long and hard for their main two weeks holiday in Paphos and they are looking for facilities and standards that match the price they are paying. Look at your facilities and decide if anything is lacking or whether a little TLC with the paint work or a little colour could freshen up the look and make the property shine. Once you feel you are ready for the first paying guests, I suggest you be the first to take a holiday there and ask yourself and your family members what improvements could be made. Your holiday guests have decided to ditch the hotel experience for a private home and are looking for comfort and some luxury. Add some sparkle and a little style and your paying guests will return year after year.

Top 7 Essentials:

1) Basic first aid kit - No medicines or drugs. Emergency No's for Police, Fire, Ambulance and Hospital displayed on Fridge.

2) Check that everything is working propertly including all utilities and household fittings i.e. shower heads, kitchen appliances, BBQ, umbrellas and sun beds.

3) Your guests have chosen a home environment so supply them with the home comforts and items they do not have to pack. They will expect to find an iron, ironing board and hair dryer.

4) If they are a family, Mum or Dad will want to cook at home so make sure they have what is required. Provide a good variety of kitchen equipment, utensils and pans. One plate and cup per person is not sufficient - accidents do happen as we know.

5) A nicely presented welcome pack is always a good start to anyones holiday and does not have to break the bank. As a minimum guests should be provided with sufficient supplies to provide a drink and breakfast if they are arriving at an unsociable hour. Tea, coffee, milk, water, fruit juice, bread, sugar, butter, cereal or eggs and fruits of the season. A nice bottle of wine or a six pack of beers never goes amiss either.

6) If you wish your property to be looked after properly then leave some cleaning supplies and replacement items to encourage your guests. Washing up liquid, cloths, washing powder, salt for the dish washer, a sink plunger, replacement batteries for air-con controls and light bulbs.

7) A telephone number for guests to call 24 hours a day to deal with breakages or property maintenance and keep a guest book for comments. Ask for honest feedback - it's the only way to improve your facilities and stay ahead of the crowd!

Top 7 Extras to make your property stand out:

1) An information book supplying details of local restaurants, shops, beaches, attractions and places to go.

2) A water cooler in the kitchen and a coffee perculator or filter machine.

3) Activities to entertain the whole family on an evening or rainy day. DVD's, CD's, board games, cards, jigsaws, books and a few children's toys. Second hand items are more than acceptable as long as in working order.

4) Well maintained and colorful garden. Hammocks and a good BBQ.

5) Beach towels, buckets and spades, pool toys second hand push bikes.

6) How about placing a disposable camera in the welcome pack.

7) Make some postcards using a high resolution picture of your villa or a spectacular view or sunset taken from the villa.

Advertising is the backbone of successfully marketing your property. Use the internet as your shop window. In our current climate of computer surfing, the internet is the ideal place to advertise. With a large number of people worldwide using the internet search tools every day, choosing a company with a well proven visitor rate enables you to reach a wider market. In order to get the most from your advertising you'll need to have good clear information on the property and location, great photos and a sensible, realistic price structure in mind. Incorporate your air-conditioning expenses into your advertised price. Holiday makers do not appreciate having to pay out extra on arrival.

Following the above advice will assist you to compete well in the holiday market and to encourage the type of guests that will respect your property as they would their own.