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.