The owner of this property in York reveals the secret of a successful holiday let

It was also the catalyst for Charlotte to launch two new businesses after her followers on Instagram bombarded her with questions about where she sourced her furniture and accessories from.

She realised there was a market for glamorous furnishings and finishing touches that were better than those found on the high street but which offered value for money

With her background as a former interiors buyer for Wilko, she had all the skills and contacts needed to launch her own online store, www.myglamorousplace.com, selling mirrors, lighting, home accessories, soft furnishings and furniture.

A second business, The Yorkshire Design House, soon followed after a customer asked her if she could dress her apartment in Marylebone, London.

Charlotte now sells furniture packages and fits out everything from rental properties and student accommodation to show homes and holiday lets.

In a classic case of “one thing leads to another” she has recently added another income stream.

After helping landlords and AirBnB owners with furniture and furnishings, she decided to invest in a rental property.

“I could see it would be a good, long-term investment asset that should, over time, increase in value,” she says.

While undeniably pricey, she opted to buy a three-bedroom house on Grosvenor Terrace, which is a five to ten minute walk from York Minster.

“The estate agent worked out that I could double the income if I let it for holidays and stays, rather than having it tenanted so that’s what I did,” says Charlotte.

“York was the obvious place to buy because demand is high and it’s easy to get to from where we live plus my children are at school there.”

After collecting the keys one Tuesday, she listed the property on AirBnB thinking she would have at least a week or two to get the three bedroom property dressed, kitted out and perfect for guests.

“We got a booking immediately, which I never thought would happen, so it left me with just two days to get the house ready,” says Charlotte, who rose to the challenge thanks to her other two businesses and a lot of hard work.

The property, which sleeps six, has a kitchen diner and sitting room with a wood-burning stove, plus three king size bedrooms, a bathroom and an ensuite.

It had been well looked after, which helped, so Charlotte’s mission was to add the furniture, including three comfortable king size beds and the accessories and essentials that make a house homely and enjoyable for paying guests.

The walls are in largely neutral colours including Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone in the kitchen. The sitting area has a comfy but hard-wearing grey sofa brightened by yellow cushions and colourful artwork, along with the fun plaques she sells.

The cost of a stay is £200 per night if booked direct through Charlotte’s website and more if booked through AirBnB and Booking.com to take account of the fees. No parties, pets or smoking are allowed.

For those who might want to follow her lead. Here are some of Charlotte’s tips:

*She has her own website, www.35grosvenorterraceyork.com, which cost to set up but bookings from there don’t attract fees and so it is well worth having. However, visibility online in a crowded marketplace is an issue so she also lists the property on AirBnB and Booking.com though their fees are between 15 and 20 per cent commission on the booking price.

*Presentation is absolutely key to getting bookings and a good income. She says: “That’s why our holiday let has done so well. The property looks good and that shows on the pictures that were taken by a professional photographer.”

*Professional photography is a must as is regularly updating and making sure everything works. Charlotte suggests taking pictures of the rooms on your phone and examining them to see if there is anything missing or if there is anything in there that is letting them down.

*A largely neutral palette is a good idea as it appeals to everyone and doesn’t date, though there is some Mulberry wallpaper in the sitting area, which makes it feel more premium. You can also can bring some colour in with accessories.

*Staying in the property for a couple of nights yourself before you let it is a good idea as you will see if everything works and if anything is missing.

*Having a key safe for visitors is vital but a top tip is to have a second key safe with a different code for emergencies, which includes guests leaving the keys in the house and locking themselves out.

*I have a Nespresso machine and leave coffee pods, milk and biscuits for guests and I also leave a list of “inside info.” including favourite restaurants to try, details of supermarkets and bakeries and so on and I leave kitchen spray, dishwasher tablets and the vacuum cleaner out.

*I also leave an email address so guests can tell me if there is anything they would’ve liked to have had. That has led to me adding a full-length mirror, more coat hangers and a cafetiere.

*Pictures: CRB Photography. Contacts: www.35grosvenorterraceyork.com; My Glamorous Place, www.myglamorousplace.com; The Yorkshire Design House, theyorkshiredesignhouse.co.uk.