Setting house rules is crucial to responsibly operating any vacation rental. Effectively communicating those rules holds equal importance but requires a little more social finesse. How do you come across as hospitable even as you tell your guests what they may and may not do in your home?
Here are some quick templates for charming your guests to take as good care of your home as you would yourself.
Rule: Pool/spa hours are from X:00 to X:00. Don’t put any chemicals in the pool. No glass near pool. Rinse off prior to entering pool/spa.
Reframe: We are delighted to offer you the amenity of a pool and/or hot tub. Please enjoy them between the hours of [insert pool hours]. We have provided an outdoor shower and ask that you rinse off any sunscreen residue before using the pool/spa.
Both the pool and spa are professionally serviced on a [insert service schedule] basis, so please do not put any chemicals in the pool or spa.
The home is stocked with a set of pool-safe drinkware and tableware specifically for the pool area. Please use these for poolside meals and drinks. For everyone’s safety, we ask that you keep all glass away from the pool.
Rule: No Pets
Reframe: We love pets! Unfortunately, due to the severe allergies of family members, we are unable to host your furry family members.
Rule: Pets Allowed. Use the provided throws for furniture and no pets in pool/spa.
Reframe: We love pets, but our furniture doesn’t. Since some pets are insulted if they’re not invited on the furniture, we’ve supplied you with comfy throws especially for them!
Pet fur can wreak havoc on pool and spa filters, so please keep them out so you don’t incur a repair charge. Instead, we invite them to enjoy the backyard from the grass or patio.
Rule: If you break something, report it to the management office.
Reframe: We understand that accidents happen sometimes. If anything becomes damaged or broken during your stay, please let the management company know as soon as you can. There’s no need to replace it yourself – they’ll be happy to take care of everything.
Rule: Quiet hours between X:00 and X:00.
Reframe: We appreciate the peaceful quality of our neighborhood and neighbors. One of the things that makes it so great is that everyone, including guests, respect the quiet hours of [insert quiet hours]. We’re confident that you’ll appreciate getting a good night’s sleep, too (not to mention no noise citations from [City]).
Rule: Number of guests may not exceed maximum occupancy of the home.
Reframe: While we would like to welcome friendly get-togethers at the house, we are restricted by law and insurance requirements to only the maximum number of people our home accommodates: [insert maximum occupancy]. We are happy to recommend options for great event venues and additional accommodations around [Location] – just ask!
Rule: No more than [X] number of vehicles permitted.
Reframe: Our driveway can accommodate up to [X] vehicles. If you need more parking space, public parking is conveniently located [parking location].
Rule: No smoking anywhere on the property
Reframe: For the health and safety of all our guests, our home and property are 100% smoke-free. Thank you for your cooperation.
Rule: Don’t rearrange the furniture.
Reframe: We have specifically arranged the furniture to complement family gatherings without risk of accidental damage to furniture and floors! Please enjoy them in their current configurations.
Rule: Don’t download any other apps to the smart TV
Reframe: We are pleased to offer our guests the latest in electronic entertainment! Please feel free to log into your [insert approved apps] accounts and enjoy your favorite shows and movies. These are the only apps we offer at this time, and cannot currently accommodate others.
Rule: Ventilate after strong-smelling food. Please put only food in the garbage disposal and make sure it completely processes. Please recycle.
Reframe: Since all of our guests have different tastes and tolerances, please take advantage of the kitchen vent after any particularly robust and/or fragrant meals (such as fish or strong spices).
Our garbage disposal works great for organic material only. Please be patient as it sometimes needs an extra second or two to finish its work.
Also, we try to do our part in having a low impact on the environment. Please join us by placing your recyclables in the marked bin [insert bin location].