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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Vacation Rentals Maximum Occupancy Limits and Rules

Setting Maximum Occupancy Limits and Rules for your vacation rentals is very important!
A sitting roomIt’s important to keep in mind the number of occupants you will allow to stay in your vacation rental home at any given time. This is especially essential when furnishing the bedrooms of your home. For example, you can expand the number by adding two single (twin) beds or even bunk beds in one of the rooms. You can also include a sleeper sofa in the living room to add room for a couple more guests.

Be sure that once you have the house set up for a certain amount of people, you stick to this maximum limit. Communicate the limit to any potential guests so that the vacation rental maximum occupancy rule is never broken, which could mean an overcrowded. Sure, it will be included in your listing, but it’s easy for future renters to overlook, or simply forget, the detail of maximum occupancy, so you need to reiterate the policy when you speak to them.

Adding a section discussing the maximum vacation rental occupancy is another excellent way to provide that information to your guests. Include something along these lines:

“MAXIMUM OCCUPANY – The maximum number of guests in the home is six (6) people. An additional fee of $10 per person per night will be charged if more than six (6) will be occupying the home.”

You don’t need anything long and drawn out…just a simple statement that lets your renters know there is a vacation rental maximum occupancy limit , and they will be charged if they overstep that policy. At times, however, it would be very beneficial if you overlook the rule. It shouldn’t always be overlooked, but, depending on the circumstances, it may be helpful to secure a booking.

For example, if your maximum vacation rentals occupancy is six, and you have 5 adults and two small children wishing to rent your rental property, it would be advisable to let them go ahead and rent from you, especially because the children are likely to be sleeping with together or with an adult. However, if there are 8 adults seeking to rent your 6 person rental, then do not feel bad charging them for the extra guests.

Most of your renters will be truthful as to how many people will be staying in your vacation rental, but you may run into the occasional dishonest guest that will have more people sleeping in the home than you expected…and sometimes, the number may exceed your limit. It would be hard to find out such information without paying them a visit, but if you do happen to be notified about the rule breaking, there are a couple of ways you may want to handle the situation. You can either decide to let it slide, especially if there are just 1-2 extra people. However, if they have more than that, you may want to discuss the problem, and either ask for extra rental fees or withhold some of their deposit.

August 27th, 2008 Posted by mmatchev | Vacation Rentals | no comments

Vacation Rentals Accepting Various Payment Methods

vacation rentalsSince you will be dealing with many different types of people, it is helpful to offer different ways of handling vacation rental payments. Finances can be scary to some rental home owners, but once everything is set up and put into place, you are ready for the fun part: sitting back and accepting the money!

Keep in mind that by the time a renter has decided to book your location, they have probably spent hours, if not days, researching different lodging options. Even though they are sure your home is the best, they may still be a bit hesitant about sending their hard earned money to a stranger. That’s why it is important to have very clear payment and money related policies are so important. They will limit the worry and frustration felt by your guests, and quite possibly, by you.

Be sure you inquirers have been sent all the important information concerning your vacation rentals. All documents need to be printed, signed, and returned, either before you accept any money or along with the initial deposit. You should highly suggest to your guests that they print a copy of the all rules and policies for themselves.

Once your potential renters have agreed to your terms by submitting the required paperwork, you may cover the methods of payment that are available to them. Accepting multiple forms of payment will make it easier on your guests, depending on how they like to pay for things. Below are the most common ways to receive payments for your booking.

  • Credit Cards – Simply the safest and easiest way to accept and make payments in the world today. If you choose to only accept one payment method (which, in my opinion, would be crazy!), choose to accept credit cards. It will definitely hurt your business if you refuse their use. With credit cards, everything can be handled online, and you get the funds immediately. No more waiting for checks to reach your mailbox, or to clear the bank!
  • Personal Check – This is the most convenient method for your guests, but it can present a risk for you. Make sure that once you receive the check, you cash it immediately. Wait for it to clear before moving further with the transaction.
  • PayPal – This is similar to accepting credit cards, only holiday homesit is taken one step further. Your guests can also link their PayPal account to their checking account, which enables them to pay for things online money straight from their bank accounts. As the receiver, you can also link your accounts so the money can be deposited into your checking account once you receive it.
  • Money Orders and Cashier’s check – These are not very convenient for anyone. For the guests, these can only be obtained at certain locations (banks, post offices, etc.), which adds time and money into the equation of sending off their payment. Scammers use these forms of payment often to get money out of unknowing victims.

August 9th, 2008 Posted by admin | Vacation Rentals | 2 comments

San Diego Vacation Rentals: The Dog Is Welcome

san diego vacation rentalsImage via Wikipedia

San Diego Vacation Rentals: The Dog Is Welcome

The San Diego vacation rentals area is a wonderful place for pet owners who would like to have their dogs with them while on vacation. While there are always some restrictions while traveling with a pet, the San Diego vacation rentals area is extremely pooch friendly.

Lodging: In the San Diego vacation rentals area there are quite a few motels that will allow your dog to stay with you, often for an extra fee, and sometimes with a high negotiable or non-negotiable cleaning or damage deposit. Motels are often not the best places to stay while you are traveling with a dog; a better choice of San Diego vacation rentals property for a dog is a fully-furnished vacation house for about the same price.

Privately owned vacation rental homes are rented through ads placed on the internet at vacation planning Web sites. These San Diego vacation rentals homes are fully furnished, with a completely equipped kitchen; they often have locking garages for a car or rented gear, and they are priced at about the same price that a motel will charge per bedroom. Finding a fenced yard is often possible, but be sure to check it for holes before letting your dog outside.

House Rules: When dogs are allowed into a motel or a rental house, there are some traveling rules that you must follow for the safety of your pet and others. Never leave your dog alone; this is the biggest safety rule of all. All San Diego vacation rentals motels or homes have staff or owners who may open your door and accidentally allow your dog to escape.

Travel with a kennel, and keep your dog inside of the kennel whenever you are not in plain sight. Tag the outside of the kennel with the San Diego vacation rentals address that you are at, and also with emergency contact information on how to be reached if you and your dog become separated. Some establishments will allow you to leave your dog alone while off on a day trip, and others will not; ask for complete pet rules when signing into your rentals unit.

Inside of the San Diego vacation rentals area, all dogs are required to be on a leash that is less than six-feet long. Retractable leashes are frowned upon, and they are also normally longer than six-feet in length. Owners should always carry a copy of the dog’s registration papers, vet health certification papers, and shot records. Another copy of these documents should be placed in plastic sealed to the dog’s traveling kennel.

Check for example this:

San Diego 1Br

Happy Little Cottage

Vintage Sol Bed and Breakfast

Dog Fun: The San Diego vacation rentals area has run free dog beaches available and dog friendly restaurants and cafes that can be a nice experience if your dog is well-mannered and socializes well. These specialized eating places will allow your dog to stay with you at your table, but do not always provide food or water dishes; bring your own doggie supper dishes with you into the restaurant, and a fun chew toy to keep the dog happy.

San Diego is California’s second largest city, and it is filled with vet’s, groomers, doggie shopping options, doggie bakeries, and everything that you need to enjoy your stay with your dog in San Diego, California.

July 31st, 2008 Posted by Catherine | United States | one comment