I never really had a problem with early check-ins until the last few years. My housekeeper gets very annoyed with early check-ins and it is something of a personal safety issue for her. She does not like to have people walk in on her when she's inside the unit alone. Here's how I have solved the problem for my places. First off, tell people NO early check-ins. I write it on my reservation confirmation, rules document, and now even in my directions in BOLD letters. This will deter many, but there will still be the ones who will push the boundaries. To alleviate this problem, I have made an agreement with my housekeeper. I have the exiting guests leave the key on the kitchen table. When the housekeeper is inside, she locks herself in. This way, when the next guests arrive early, there is no key in the lockbox and thus no way for the guests to get in.

Now there are drawbacks to this:

1) What if you housekeeper forgets to put the key back inside the lockbox after she's done? My agreement with the housekeeper is that if she forgets to put the key back into the lockbox, she'll be responsible for driving over (at any hour) to give the incoming guests the key.

2) What if something happens to your housekeeper and she cannot show up? Then the keys are inside the unit and your arriving guests have no way to get in (even if your home has not been cleaned). You must have a backup plan in place for this instance. I have had this happen to me numerous times, but it has never affected my rentals, because I an extra lockbox coded with a different code and extra keys inside.

Both of these situations are easy to remedy with a little communication and preparation.

How do you avoid early arrivals at your vacation rental? "I tell renters very explicitly in the contract that early check-ins are acceptable only with advance notice and after a fee." --Sandra F., Arkansas.

Establishing Strict Check-in and Checkout Times for Your Vacation Rental Guests Avoid potential conflicts and problems for your housekeeper and vacation rental guests.   Sample Checkout Policy/Departure Information Checklist Communicate your checkout policies clearly to renters to avoid misunderstandings and delayed checkouts.   Checklist for Creating a Thorough Rental Agreement Use this checklist to sort through your own rental agreement and be sure you have all the necessary clauses.   Checklist for Responding to Vacation Rental Inquiries Be sure your email includes all the necessary information before clicking send.

© Christine Karpinski 2006. U.081218.AF