The initial piece of advice for any owner wishing to put their property into the Cyprus holiday market is to look at your property critically. If you were the potential paying guest who has just arrived for your main two weeks holiday in Paphos, what would your expectations be for the price you have paid. What essentials are lacking and is a bit of TLC required to make the property shine? If you have spent well earned money on your investment, once you feel you are ready for paying guests I suggest you take the first holiday there yourself and ask your family members what improvements could be made, because it comes down to the fact that you cannot expect to achieve high holiday rates if your furnishings are second rate. Your holiday guests are paying to stay in a private home and are looking for comfort and a welcoming atmosphere. Add a little style, the familiar home necessities and your paying guests will return again next 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. kitchen appliances, umbrellas and sunbeds, shower heads and BBQ.

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) Guests should be supplied with a telephone number for 24 hour contact to deal with property maintenance issues and 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) Things to do for all the 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) Try creating some postcards using a quality picture of your villa or an outstanding sunset or view taken from the villa balcony.

Advertising is the backbone of successfully marketing your property. The internet has a very large audience and can be used 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.