Arks
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After YEARS of learning from this forum and others, from books, seminars, and personal experience, below is the list of policies I've come up with for the website of our soon-to-open vacation rental apartments.
Yes, I know they won't read all this, but I want it laid out in writing anyway, for cases where I have to enforce them. I'll only accept reservations made through the website, and, technically, they have to agree to these policies to make the reservation.
Much of it is my own wording, but some is taken directly from YOU! Thanks!
Thoughts? Suggestions? Too much? Too Draconian? I'm wondering if it's too risky to list cash as a payment option. I'd prefer to have a charge card on file, but I like cash, too!
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Policies[/h2]
Sorry, but to protect our business and our property, there just have to be some rules of the house!
Yes, I know they won't read all this, but I want it laid out in writing anyway, for cases where I have to enforce them. I'll only accept reservations made through the website, and, technically, they have to agree to these policies to make the reservation.
Much of it is my own wording, but some is taken directly from YOU! Thanks!
Thoughts? Suggestions? Too much? Too Draconian? I'm wondering if it's too risky to list cash as a payment option. I'd prefer to have a charge card on file, but I like cash, too!
______________________________
[h2]
Policies[/h2]
Sorry, but to protect our business and our property, there just have to be some rules of the house!
- Our Privacy Policy - Fear not! We will never reveal your contact information (not your name or your address or your e-mail address, or anything else we know about you) to ANYBODY! We hate spammers and junk mail even worse than you do!
- Each apartment sleeps 2 people in a king sized bed, with maximum occupancy of 4 per apartment, by using a fold-out futon.
- A two night minimum stay is required.
- We cannot allow pets in our apartments. Due to allergy problems suffered by some of our guests, even well-behaved pets cannot be allowed in our apartments. If you bring pets into our building we must charge you a deep cleaning fee of $300 or more to remove the odor from curtains, rugs, furniture, etc.
- Earliest check-in time: 2:00 p.m. If you arrive earlier your apartment will not be ready and your keypad entry code will not work.
- Latest check-out time: 11:00 a.m. You, and your personal possessions, must be out of the apartment by that time, so we can clean and re-set the apartment for the next guests, who may be arriving within a few hours of your departure.
If you stay in the apartment past the checkout time, we’ll have to charge you dearly for the delay you cause to our housekeeping staff and to the new guests who have paid for use of the apartment by their check-in time.
After your checkout time, your door entry code deactivates automatically. - This is a NON-SMOKING ACCOMMODATION. By state law, smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building. If you smoke, please do so outdoors only, and keep windows and exterior doors closed to help prevent smoke from entering the building. Also, please dispose of cigarette butts properly. Make sure they are completely extinguished and do not toss them on the city sidewalk, the ground, or place them into the planters. If you smoke in our building we must charge you a deep cleaning fee of $300 or more to remove the smoke odor from curtains, rugs, furniture, etc.
- Please do not burn any wax-dripping candles anywhere in the building. Exception: we do allow candles at the dining table, but if you drip wax that damages our furniture or facility, or that requires extra clean-up work, we must charge you for any additional expenses required to return the apartment to proper condition.
- Jetted (“whirlpool”) tubs: Please do not use bubble bath in the tub as it clogs the jets and may cause the tub to overflow! Herbal bath grains and fragrance packets are provided by the tub for your bathing enjoyment.
- Room Cleaning: We do not offer daily maid service. The apartment will only be cleaned and “reset” after you check out of our facility. If you stay more than a week with us, we’ll clean your apartment and bring fresh towels and linens at the end of each week you spend with us. Feel free to use the clothes washer and dryer in the apartment, if you wish.
- We accept payment by cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.
- Reservation Deposit: We charge your first night’s lodging at the time your reservation is made. This assures that the apartment will be held for the dates you have requested. At your arrival time, we will charge the balance due on your account to your credit card on file (or let us know in advance if you plan to pay with cash).
- We understand that accidents can happen, resulting in damage to our property. If one occurs, please notify us. Perhaps it can be rectified, though any damages beyond our ability to easily repair may be charged to your credit card. If we suffer loss of revenue because damages you caused prevent us from being able to rent out our property until repairs are made, we’ll have to charge you for that, too.
- Cancellation Policy: Once a reservation is made, you can cancel it and receive a refund of your reservation deposit, less a $25 cancellation fee, as long as the cancellation is made at least one week before your scheduled arrival date. As our property requires a two night minimum stay, if you cancel on shorter than one week’s notice, or if you do not show up for your reservation at all, we will charge you for two night’s lodging because we will not have time to rent, to someone else, the first two nights we had set aside for you (but we will issue a refund to you for any night(s) we are able to rent).
- Because we are a small property and unable to refund outside of our cancellation policy, we strongly encourage the purchase of trip insurance, especially if you think there’s a chance you may have to cancel on short notice after our cancellation deadline. One good travel insurance company is ”Insure My Trip,” which lets you compare insurance offers and fees from many different companies at once.
- At check-out time, please leave things as you found them (no need to make the beds…we’ll be changing them and the towels). All dishes should be washed and put away. Please remove any opened food from the refrigerator and cabinets and place it in the trash receptacle.
- More questions? See our FAQ Page, or contact us.