Hi everyone,

It never fails, I open my big mouth and then it all backfires in my face...it was only last week that I blogged, “I hope your summer rentals are running smoothly…all-in-all this summer has been pretty much smooth sailing for me.” Well, no sooner did I write that, that everything started to crumble.

First, I got a message from a renter who had already stayed in my place, saying that she noticed her check bounced. I tried all week to get ahold of her to no avail. Thankfully, I did have her credit card number and yesterday I charged it. Then I called her and left a message telling her I had charged her card, and sure enough within minutes she called me back.

Then in the middle of week I got a call from a renter—they had locked themselves out. Of course my housekeeper was no where to be found. So we had to call a locksmith. Actually this even in the end turned out to be a bit comical (for me—I don't think they ever laughed). Apparently what had happened was Mom and Dad were at the beach and their teenager was inside the condo. The teenager came out, locked the door and forgot the key inside. Let's just say dad was not very happy with his son. I had to laugh because having a teenager myself; I know how I would react and yea, I would have been really mad, too. But when I talked with dad, I feel I was able to ease the tension…telling them it's no big deal. No use ruining the vacation over it.

Then once I got a handle on that issue, doesn't another renter call! They're in one of my cabins and they claim there are fleas inside the cabin. Not being able to prove it or disprove it, I have to take action. I had to call the exterminator and have them bomb the cabin (as a side note the exterminator said that he didn't think there were fleas.) Thankfully the renters were good-spirited about it, acknowledging, “Hey-it's a cabin in the woods.” I offered them another night (I had one night open) but they declined as they had flights to catch.

Then lastly, Saturday, I grab the mail and I got a delinquency letter from the Florida Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Division. The letter stated that on my sales tax remission form, I made a “mathematical error” of $22.61. No biggie you say? Yea right! The PENALTIES: $90.00! I kid you not! Here's a scan of the letter I received. 

So no more bragging about everything smooth-sailing for me! I truly hope everything is much better for you…but if it is, you may not want to say so.

Happy Renting by Owner,

Christine Karpinski