1. What does SmartChoice Stays do? We provide fully managed holiday letting, including marketing, pricing, bookings, guest communication, housekeeping and property care. We also offer guaranteed monthly income for suitable properties.

2. Where do you operate? Our local, family-run team is based in St Ives, Cornwall. We manage holiday lets in St Ives, Carbis Bay, Hayle and Lelant.

3. Who are your typical guests? Our holiday homes welcome couples, families, friends and guests travelling with dogs for coastal breaks in St Ives and the surrounding area. We also welcome business travellers seeking comfortable, well-equipped accommodation.

4. Do you offer fully managed holiday letting in St Ives? Yes. Our local, family-run team provides fully managed holiday letting in St Ives, Carbis Bay, Hayle and Lelant. We handle marketing, pricing, bookings, guest communication, housekeeping and day-to-day property care, giving owners one team to oversee their holiday let.

5. How do you determine how much my property can earn? We conduct a thorough assessment of your property and use local market data to provide an estimate of its potential income. A detailed pricing estimate is provided after a full evaluation during the onboarding stage.

6. How do you maximise revenue? We use sophisticated revenue management strategies, including dynamic pricing software that analyses market data, occupancy rates, and travel trends. Additionally, we list your property across various booking platforms, including our direct booking website, to drive consistent bookings and maximise your return on investment.

7. My holiday let income is unpredictable. Can you help? Yes. For suitable properties, our guaranteed-income model provides an agreed monthly owner income regardless of fluctuations in guest bookings, subject to the agreement. We handle marketing, bookings, guest communication, housekeeping and day-to-day property care. Start with a free, no-obligation property review to see whether this approach could suit your holiday let.

8. How do you market my property? We list your property on multiple online platforms, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, SilverDoor, Trade Stays, and Comfy Workers. We also feature your property on our direct booking website to help reduce commission fees and increase occupancy.

9. How does your fee structure work? We offer two management models. Under our guaranteed-income model, owners receive an agreed monthly income regardless of guest bookings, subject to the agreement. Under our management-fee model, our fee is a percentage of booking revenue. We explain the services included, owner responsibilities and any setup costs before you commit.

10. Do I need to handle maintenance? Our dedicated maintenance team handles minor maintenance issues to ensure your property stays in excellent condition. If there are any larger repairs required, we will communicate with you and coordinate the work as efficiently as possible. We respond immediately to any issues and aim to attend within 24 hours to resolve maintenance needs.

11. How do you protect my property? We take several steps to ensure your property is well cared for. Our cleaning team inspects the property after each stay, and we conduct routine quality checks. We also vet guests thoroughly, verifying IDs, taking deposits, and checking previous reviews to ensure only responsible guests stay at your property.

12. Are you insured? Yes, we provide comprehensive insurance for each property we manage, including public liability, indemnity, and contents insurance. All properties are health and safety checked, fire safety certified, and undergo regular inspections to ensure compliance. Our commitment to maintaining the highest standards ensures your property is always in safe hands.

13. Do I need special insurance? Listing your property on major platforms like Airbnb means you’re automatically covered by their insurance, such as 'AirCover'. For additional coverage, we use third-party insurance and recommend providers like 'Pikl' for extra peace of mind.

14. What is serviced accommodation? Serviced accommodation is a fully furnished property available for short stays, with all utilities, cleaning services, and amenities included. It’s an ideal alternative to traditional hotels, providing guests with a more homely and flexible option.

15. What if my property isn't furnished? Absolutely! If your property has basic white goods, we can manage everything else. We also offer an optional service to help with buying and setting up furniture, decorating, and ensuring the property is fully guest-ready.

16. Do I need to be involved? Not at all. Our management service is designed to be entirely hands-off for property owners. We handle all aspects of property management and simply transfer the rental income to you each month.

17. Who pays for utilities? Utility bills remain the responsibility of the landlord, as they are included in the guest's stay. We recommend setting these up in advance and opting for smart meters for better control over energy use.