Search Go
   Home       Travelers       Homeowners       Property Managers       Travel Deals   
   
Search Community
Go
Browse
HomeAway Sites
Getting Started Links
Services & Tools
Rent by Owner FAQs
Top 10 Articles
Downloadable Forms
  Getting Started , Problem Solving: The Key to Smoothly Renting Your Vacation Home  
 
     
Problem Solving: The Key to Smoothly Renting Your Vacation Home

When considering whether or not to rent their home, a lot of vacation home owners worry about how to handle the problems that may arise. Here are a few tips on vacation home ownership.
 

When considering whether or not to rent their home, a lot of vacation homeowners worry about how to handle the problems that may arise. Here are a few pointers:

Cleanliness Problems
By far the most common complaint heard by vacation rental owners pertains to the cleanliness of the home. To avoid cleanliness complaints, establish a clear check-in policy. The policy should instruct renters to check for cleanliness upon their arrival and to report any dissatisfaction to the housekeeper immediately. Make your policy clear to your renters: they must notify you or the housekeeper right away to rectify the problem.

Handling Complaints
Sometimes no matter how hard we try, there are just some times when something out of our control goes wrong and our renters will complain. Whether the complaint is about something in our home that breaks down, something we messed up, or a ridiculous complaint, it's always in our (and our home's) best interest to attempt to appease the renters. In lieu of giving a renter a refund, consider offering your renters an extended stay, a free or discounted future stay, or items like gift certificates, bottles of wine, or event tickets.

Cancellations
To help you to avoid and deal with cancellations, your cancellation policy needs to be clearly defined in your rental rules. Keep in mind that your chances of re-renting a week grow exponentially lower as the date draws nearer. Considering encouraging your renters to buy travel insurance (InsureMyTrip.com).

Evictions
Thankfully, evictions are extremely rare, especially with by owner rentals, because homeowners screen guests themselves. The most common evictions occur as a result of miscommunication about the check-out time or date. Do your research now, while you are clear-headed and remember to take notes. Research the local policies on eviction for short-term renters.



Related Tips
Why You Shouldn't Hold Time for Vacation Renters  
 Your vacation rental property is a hot commodity. Why hold it for an uncertain renter's tentative dates?
How to Check Your Spam Filter and Make Sure You're Getting Your Inquiries  
 Tips for making sure that you don't miss valuable inquiries due to spam filters.
Christine's Blog: Responding to Swine Flu Worries (4/28/09)  
 Christine advises vacation home owners on how to deal with possible cancellations from travelers worried about swine flu.
Christine's Blog: Getting My Mistakes Out of the Way (2/10/09)  
 Christine is relieved to have made a couple of minor mistakes early in the year.
Christine's Blog: Panic with the Power Company (3/11/2009)  
 Christine shares a recent experience where her online banking failed her and the utility company almost turned off the power at one of her vacation rentals.