As a vacation rental owner, your check in policy is one of the most important things you will create.  Without a check in policy, you will not have ground rules established, which means you could end up with negative guest reviews.  Thus, take some time to create a policy that will protect you, your business and your guests. 

Your check in policy, along with other important information, will be included in your pre arrival packet and the welcome binder you leave at the rental.  That way, your guests can easily access the information.  They will have it on hand at all times in case they have any questions, so there will not be any confusion regarding your policies.

Before you can create the pre arrival package and welcome binder, you will need to establish your check in policy.  You can brainstorm for ideas, and also take some of the information from your contract and spell it out again in your policy.

While each check in policy will differ, there are three things you want to include in every policy, which are:

• Check in times
• Inspection rules
• Important phone numbers

Check Ins

Be sure to include the date and time the travelers can check in.  An early check in can be devastating, as the properly may not be cleaned and prepared for guests who check in early.  Explain that you do not accept early check ins under any circumstances.

Arrival Inspection

Tell your guests they are required to inspect the home upon arrival and report any problems immediately.  They should let you know if something is not working or if the home is not clean.  That way, you can rectify the problem. By taking care of the problem immediately, you are less likely to end up with a negative guest review.

Important Phone Numbers

Lastly, include any important phone numbers in your welcome letter and binder. Guests should receive your number, as well as the number for the housekeeper and maintenance person.  That way, they can reach someone if the need arises.

Create your check in policy today so you can protect yourself from dissatisfied customers and negative reviews. The policy is simple to make, and will save you a headache down the road.