Each week we take you behind the scenes, looking at some of the resort based businesses that well and truly make things happen. Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz are very popular with British second home owners and the team at Total Chalet Services look after a huge chunk of these properties.
Here’s Lisa from Total Chalet Services to tell us about her business..
“We’re a small family business that’s grown from looking after one chalet in our first year in Morzine to affording over 100 owners peace of mind while their chalets are being rented to guests, or laying empty while they are away. Three of our four adult children are actively involved in the business and this provides great reassurance to owners that we are all passionate about maintaining high standards of customer service however large or small a property is. This year we’re being joined by a fantastic couple who are taking on the roles of resort managers to ensure we can continue to grow our business. We also offer a range of services to guests that help owners to market their properties more favourably.
“Our service is totally bespoke. Clients can opt for whichever services suit them – some just have an occasional clean and others have a full management package. Owners can rely on us for changeovers, meet and greets, linen hire, hot tub maintenance or just having an eye on their property when they are not using it. In the summer we are busy with gardens, pest control (the dreaded wasps) and clearing up after muddy bikers! Every year we provide guests with a range of services from babysitting to shopping deliveries; this summer dog sitting has been extremely popular as it has been too hot for dogs to sit in the car or walk for too long. Living in Morzine year round and having somebody on call at all times means that we can react quickly to our clients needs and ensure their holiday is fabulous.”
“There has been lots of new building in the local area since we started our business – which is obviously good for us! I hope it doesn’t get out of control as it would be a pity if Morzine lost its small town charm. The Mairie and the Tourist Office reacted brilliantly last Christmas when there was not much snow and laid on lots of activities for disappointed skiers, some of our guests said they had the best ‘non skiing’ ski holiday ever. It would be great if everybody could put that much effort into marketing the town as it’s a great place for walkers and road bikers. Maybe they could open up the summer season just a couple of weeks each side of the official season. This is a potential market that could make a great difference to the summer season.”
“As a family business we have the best interest of each and every client at heart. Our business has grown by word of mouth and it is our commitment and reliability that people love about us. Having worked in a client service based business in London for many years, I know how important it is to aim for complete client satisfaction every time. Of course we are human and very occasionally mistakes do happen, but as a professional company we do our best to rectify them immediately. Providing 24/7 cover proved invaluable to some of our owners during the recent flooding. We managed to visit all of our chalets and apartments and reported back quickly to owners to ensure they knew the exact state of play regarding their chalet or apartment.”
“We have two German Shorthaired Pointers – affectionately known as The Pointer Sisters (they are sisters but there is a 3 year age gap!) so when we’re not looking after other people’s homes, we like to spend time walking them. We have just bought bikes and are planning an epic bike ride from the Atlantic to the Med along the Canal de Garonne and Canal du Midi, and we are members of the local beginners bridge club which is a great game. Our sons both love skiing and travel, and our daughter has just got married at the Domaine du Baron at Lac Montriond so that has kept us all busy for the past few months!”
You’ll find more information on the services provided by Total Chalet Services on their website – www.totalchaletservices.com
