| Once inside the door... | | | | We suggest that you also include in your |
| The first thing you want your guest to do when | | | | pre-arrival folder (and/or house copy) your Rules |
| he closes that door behind him is to inspect the | | | | and Regulations, your FAQ and your Emergency |
| property for cleanliness and missing or broken | | | | Sheet. You can consult earlier issues of Tips & |
| items. He will appreciate your rigor and this avoids | | | | Tricks to see the contents we propose for these |
| future problems for you. It helps to provide a | | | | documents. |
| "Check-in Check-list". And of course a phone | | | | Settling in... |
| number to call in case of issues. | | | | Now that your guest can function and is starting |
| You'll want your guest to feel at home right | | | | to feel right at home, he and his family will want |
| away, so make sure he finds a thorough | | | | to get out and have some fun. They will also |
| "Property Instruction Guide" in his pre-arrival folder | | | | need to locate grocery stores, restaurants and |
| - a sort of "Everything you always wanted to | | | | may want to attend religious services. |
| know about this property but were afraid to ask". | | | | If you have established a comfortable relationship |
| The house copy of this folder should be placed in | | | | with your guest during the inquiry and rental |
| a prominent place such as the kitchen counter, | | | | agreement stage, you already have a pretty |
| next to the instructions manuals that originally | | | | good understanding of the family's vacation needs |
| came with your equipment - and next to your | | | | and dreams. So the pre-arrival folder and the |
| welcome gift - why not a flower in a vase or a | | | | house copy should contain lots of helpful |
| chocolate for each member of the family? | | | | information. Remember when providing driving |
| The Property Instruction Guide and the Check-in | | | | directions to these venues to advise your guest |
| Check-list can be a real help to your guest when | | | | which way to turn out of your driveway, which |
| he is packing because he can see up front what | | | | streets are one-way, speed limits and any unusual |
| your property provides and doesn't provide. So | | | | driving rules, the cost of traffic tickets, etc. |
| we suggest that you include in the guide a | | | | Add to your folder some tourist pamphlets (which |
| "Starter Kit" section - items you provide in small | | | | you should be able to obtain free of charge) and |
| quantities to get your guest going, such as paper | | | | or some Web addresses so your guest can go |
| towels, toilet paper, dish soap, bar of hand soap, | | | | online to get more information. Stayin' out of |
| garbage bags, etc. He will really appreciate it if you | | | | trouble |
| include a "What to Pack" section where you | | | | Your guest is far away from home and may be |
| recommend certain useful items that you don't | | | | unfamiliar with local risks that you automatically |
| provide - beach chairs, beach towels, beach toys, | | | | know how to manage. The last thing you or he |
| snow tire chains, laundry detergent, etc. | | | | wants is to have to experience an emergency or |
| We personally like to present information in | | | | waste precious time and energy managing one. |
| charts, because it will force you to be thorough in | | | | So your job as host is to help him with his risk |
| preparing them and because charts are easy to | | | | management. |
| reference and easy to maintain. There are | | | | Showing that you care |
| templates available for free download on the web, | | | | Remember to call your guest, at least once during |
| including some on my site, where you can find | | | | his stay and the day before his departure, to |
| templates of Check-In Check-List and Property | | | | show that you are sincerely interested in making |
| Instruction Guide. | | | | his vacation as pleasant and trouble-free as |
| Because nothing is more frustrating to a renter | | | | possible. He will appreciate your attention. And this |
| than having something go wrong and not being | | | | will give him the opportunity to ask you questions |
| able to reach anyone to fix it, remember to | | | | so you can resolve any problems on the spot, as |
| provide plenty of phone numbers. Since your | | | | opposed to the guest building up frustrations. This |
| Property Instruction Guide and your Emergency | | | | could save you discussions later that could have a |
| Sheet will contain many useful phone numbers - | | | | less-than-happy ending. |
| but also a lot of other information - it could be | | | | References |
| helpful to extract the most important numbers | | | | 1. |
| and post this list by the main telephone. | | | | |