John Lewis Launches Free Letting Home Advice Service In Time for London 2012

April 11, 2012 - PRLog -- John Lewis is helping customers maximise the rental potential of their homes during London 2012 with a free consultation service. The 2012 Lettings Consultation will help customers take advantage of lucrative short term letting opportunities.

The complimentary service will give customers essential advice on how to prepare their homes and maximise rental potential in time for tenants during the London 2012 Games.

From practical advice on how to protect mattresses and safely store away personal belongings in a locked room, to advice around swapping fine china for basic crockery and enhancing the home with mood lighting and scented candles - the consultations will ensure customers are fully prepared for what might be their first ever let.

Available in John Lewis Stratford City, John Lewis Oxford Street and Peter Jones, customers will have an in-depth consultation in the Home Design Advice suite, where John Lewis’s skilled advisors will ask questions to ascertain what bespoke guidance is required, customers will be taken through the department store with a 2012 Lettings checklist. This will include on it everything from basic glassware, linen and lightweight duvets to storage trunks and hangers. Five star hotel style accessories such as designer soaps and towels will also feature for those who want to really maximise their rental appeal.

Katherine Sadek, manager, product services at John Lewis, said; “The key to a successful let is ensuring your home appeals to all tastes. This means clearing the decks to create a fresh and neutral space that will charm. Guests may also want to dine alfresco some evenings, so if you have an outdoor space, think about transforming it into a mid-summer haven with mirrors, mosaics and decorative lanterns.”

Katherine Sadek, manager, product services at John Lewis gives her Top London 2012 Lettings Tips:

1.   Preparation and decoration: Clear surfaces and pack away personal belongings to create a neutral space that will appeal to all tastes.  
2.   Quilts: Goose down and feather duvets are a luxury you’ll want to reserve for yourself. Replace with a John Lewis Peach-soft Washable Duvet, with prices starting from £35 for a single. Stay clear of coloured sheets and stick to white for a crisp hotel feel.
3.   Kitchenware: To prevent accidents with your best china, have a second set of crockery for guests to use. The John Lewis Value Porcelain Range has a smart selection of inexpensive essentials like mugs, plates and cutlery.
If you want guests to keep your home clean, make sure you provide them with a cupboard full of products including new cloths, tea towels and bleach.
4.   Guest gadgets: TV, radio and internet access are frequently found in hotels. It’s a good idea to have these facilities set up. The Linsar 16-inch TV, £129, fits neatly on top of a bedroom dresser and is HD ready so your guests can watch the highlights of London 2012 in perfect definition.
5.   Storage: Fill wardrobes with plenty of hangers for clothes and provide a sufficient number of drawers for other items. It’s a good idea to have extra blankets and spare pillows available too. The John Lewis Bamboo Blanket bags slide easily under the bed so create discreet storage for larger items and prices start from just £9.

Stock up on tontarelli clear plastic lidded storage boxes so that you can safely put away any personal belongings such as clothing and items in bedside drawers. These are best locked in a spare room or put in the attic.

The complimentary John Lewis 2012 Lettings Consultations are by appointment only and can be booked by emailing events_london@johnlewis.co.uk. Consultations are available at John Lewis Oxford Street, Peter Jones and John Lewis Stratford City from 1st March 2012.

PRESS ENQUIRIES: Stephanie Murray or Lucy Hemelryk at Rain Communications
T: 020 7828 0118
E: name.surname@raincommunications.co.uk


ENDS
The John Lewis Partnership - The John Lewis Partnership operates 35 John Lewis shops across the UK (29 department stores and six John Lewis at home), johnlewis.com and 266 Waitrose supermarkets. The business has an annual turnover of nearly £7.4bn. It is the UK's largest example of worker co-ownership where all 76,500 staff are Partners in the business.
John Lewis - John Lewis, 'Britain's favourite retailer 2010'* and 'Multiple Department Store of the Year 2010' ** typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores.

The website stocks over 150,000 products focused on the best of fashion, beauty, home and giftware and electrical items including online exclusives. johnlewis.com is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK (www.johnlewis.com ). John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products - home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover - delivering the usual values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.

John Lewis is proud to be the official department store provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

John Lewis and London 2012 - As part of this partnership with LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) John Lewis operates official London 2012 shops within its Oxford Street and Stratford City shops. John Lewis is helping to furnish lounge and reception areas at key Games-time venues as well as offering Partners (staff) the opportunity to support LOCOG in the operation and build-up to the Games. Further to the sponsorship with LOCOG, John Lewis Partnership has developed 'Partners in Sport' an initiative to put something back into the community through sport which includes sponsoring several London 2012 hopefuls as well as funding sports coaches.

* Verdict consumer satisfaction index, January 2011
** The Drapers Awards for fashion retail, November 2010
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