Are You Sitting Comfortably?

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 21, 2009 – Along with beds, sofas are the most important items of furniture in a house and the ones we spend most time on. The combination of sleeping and sitting space within a sofa bed is an ideal solution for rentals since it increases the number of people your property caters for, thereby maximising your rental potential. “By incorporating a sofa bed into your furniture pack, you automatically cater for 2 extra tenants,” explains Lesley Watt, Director of Obelisk Interiors. “For example, a two-bedroom apartment with a sofa bed can sleep 6 people instead of just 4.”

As Lesley points out, when competition for holiday lets is high, the more you can do to make your property more attractive, the better. So, although sofa beds are more costly than an ordinary sofa, the initial investment can be well worth it in terms of increased rental income.

There is a wide choice of sofa beds on the market ranging from 2-seater standard sofas to 5-seater corner sofas. Bed sizes range from single bed to queen size. There is also plenty of variety in upholstery, although for rental purposes it is best to choose removable (and washable) covers or leather.

As with all major pieces of furniture, choosing good quality is vital when it comes to buying a sofa bed. Choose the highest quality you can afford. After all, this is an item of furniture where you or your tenants will be spending considerable time so make sure the cushions are comfortable and firm enough for a relaxing sit down and that the mattress is comfy enough for a good night’s sleep.

Choose the best quality mattress you can afford and bear in mind that it may be worth upgrading the mattress. Again, this is more expensive but a better mattress will last longer. Find out if the sofa bed has enough room for the bed to be left made up when closed. “Leaving sheets and possibly a light blanket on the bed is a great convenience feature for tenants,” says Lesley. “And don’t forget that you will need somewhere to store the pillows and quilt when the bed isn’t in use.”

As well as the mattress, the sofa bed mechanism is also important. Check the mechanism is easy to open. Lesley recommends a spring-loaded opening mechanism, a system known as the ‘Italian mechanism’, as the best and easiest, particularly if the bed is going to be frequently used.

A sofa bed offers the perfect way to increase the capacity of your rental property and means you can cater for larger groups of holidaymakers, e.g. golfers. However, as Lesley points out, increasing the number of beds you offer means you also have to increase other items by 2, for instance, towels, crockery and cutlery.

For more information on choosing a sofa bed and other ways of increasing your property’s rental potential, contact Obelisk Interiors on UK freephone 0808 160 0670, Ireland freephone 1800 932 514 or Spain 952 820 319.
Website: www.obeliskinteriors.eu Email: info@obeliskinteriors.eu