627 Info > Rates & Reservations
This page includes the following sections:
Booking and checking into a self-service vacation rental home is not that much more complex than booking and checking into a hotel, and if you are moderately proficient using email, viewing web pages, and following written directions, this process should be a 'piece of cake' !
If you are not email/internet proficient please ask someone more technologically oriented to handle the inquiry and booking process for you, and please keep email strings going so all of our dialogue can be found in one or a few strings. (translation -- please do not chop off prior email dialogue and please do not send a new email with each new question).
- Rates
- Booking Methods
- Occupancy Limits
- The Reservation Process
- Comments about securing your reservation
- Cancellation Policy
- Damage Deposit Refund
- 'Groups of Friends' Additional Screening
Booking and checking into a self-service vacation rental home is not that much more complex than booking and checking into a hotel, and if you are moderately proficient using email, viewing web pages, and following written directions, this process should be a 'piece of cake' !
If you are not email/internet proficient please ask someone more technologically oriented to handle the inquiry and booking process for you, and please keep email strings going so all of our dialogue can be found in one or a few strings. (translation -- please do not chop off prior email dialogue and please do not send a new email with each new question).
1) Rates |
2) Booking Methods |
Rates are based on number of occupants, length of stay, season, and local events during requested dates.
Nightly Rate Ranges -- $300-450/night with a 2 to 3 night minimum* -- $250-325/night for 5-7 nights -- $200-275/night for 12-14 nights -- 15 nights+ receive a custom quote ** Cleaning and Damage Deposit -- $175 cleaning fee and $350 refundable security deposit *- I typically have a 3 night minimum. I will occasionally quote 2 night stays if the request is within a month of the stay and/or if the reservation happens to 'fit' between two other reservations. I do NOT quote 1 night stays. **- January thru March is my slower season, and I'm very interested in booking stays of 2-8 weeks during that time. My rates for longer stays during that time are exceptional. April thru December is my busy season, and oftentimes I cannot quote a reasonable rate for stays longer than 14 days because the shorter stays are so much more lucrative, but it doesn't hurt to ask. |
Book Directly with Me -- As indicated on the home page, I prefer to book individuals directly with the pricing and process outlined on this page. This will provide us with the most efficient and the least expensive reservation for you. Please use my Contact page for requesting a quote.
Book via one of my advertising channels -- If you contact me via AirBNB.com I will be required to book you through that website and you will incur a booking fee for that site operator. If you contact me via Homeaway.com or VRBO.com after February 1, 2018, I will be required to book you through that websites and you will incur a booking fee of 10% paid to that site operator. In theory, if you contact me through VRBO.com prior to February 1, 2018, your email should come directly to me and I'd book you directly as I've done for the past 10 years, but VRBO.com / Homeaway.com has become a relatively unstable platform as of August 2018 for those of us not participating in their online booking, so best to just reach me directly via the information on the contact page on this website. |
3) Occupancy Limits
I typically cap my guest count at 8 adults or a total of 10 with children. Specific info about sleeping arrangements is found in the property details for each property.
4) The Reservation Process
I prefer to handle all booking questions and correspondence via email (versus phone) for communication tracking purposes. If you have questions please put them in email as written correspondence truly benefits both of us. If we need to have a phone conversation we will but it is very rare that I've found that to be necessary. If you are not someone who reads details or if you are someone who feels this process is best for you by phone then please have someone else handle this process for you.
- You'll inquire via email to [email protected] (or use the form on the Contact page)
- I'll respond with availability, pricing, and a link to this website for reference
- You'll review review my quote and this website and email questions
- I'll email answers to questions or refer you to this website for answers
- You'll email me telling me you are "ready to book"
- I'll email you a contract that is about 2 pages long with all the details specified.
- You'll review contract and digitally sign (how to details in contract)
- You'll make payment online with a credit card, or your paypal account, or mail me a check (how-to details in contract). 50% of total reservation amount is due at time of booking and 50% is due 30 days prior to arrival. Full amount is due if booking is within 30 days of arrival.
- I'll email you confirmation receipts for contract receipt and payment receipt, and once both are received I'll indicate 'you are on the books'.
- 30 days prior to arrival -- if payment in full wasn't made at time of booking, you'll make final payment 30 days prior to arrival. 30 days prior to arrival I'll email you a packet of documents including: (a) Directions to home with photos (b) Check-in Doc (c) Check-out doc (d) a map to grocery stores. And If we got to this point without many hiccups, the rest is a piece of cake!
- You've arrived!! -- You'll use the docs to get the the rear of the home for your self check in process!! The home is accessed from the rear via a lock boxes. All relevant instructions and info is in the documents that will be sent to you 30 days prior. The documents have been used hundreds of times, so they are very well 'worked' and I haven't had any arrival confusion related to the documents in many years.
5) Comments about securing your reservation
When you're ready to book send me an email stating ~ " I'm ready to book! ". If you have serious interest but are still in the planning/decision making process, please don't request a contract; just let me know you are in the decision making process and I will try to keep you in the loop of conflicting requests.
Upon receipt of contract you have about 24 hours to secure your reservation with a payment.
If a signed contract comes before payment that's great, but 'payment' is what secures your booking. If you don't wrap up payment in ~24 hours the contract offer is still good, but if someone else inquires and is ready to book they may be given first priority for booking. If you have a contract that is more than 24 hours old I will notify you via email of conflicting requests and/or loss of priority for your dates.
I do accept payment via credit card processed via paypal (no paypal account required) and I do accept personal checks. In the case of checks, I expect to get notice that the check is in the mail within ~ 24 hours of contract receipt and I give checks approximately 3 business days to arrive.
NOTE: I can not accept credit cards by phone or credit card numbers by email. My online payment process via an invoice request via paypal must be used for mutual protection for both of us.
Upon receipt of contract you have about 24 hours to secure your reservation with a payment.
If a signed contract comes before payment that's great, but 'payment' is what secures your booking. If you don't wrap up payment in ~24 hours the contract offer is still good, but if someone else inquires and is ready to book they may be given first priority for booking. If you have a contract that is more than 24 hours old I will notify you via email of conflicting requests and/or loss of priority for your dates.
I do accept payment via credit card processed via paypal (no paypal account required) and I do accept personal checks. In the case of checks, I expect to get notice that the check is in the mail within ~ 24 hours of contract receipt and I give checks approximately 3 business days to arrive.
NOTE: I can not accept credit cards by phone or credit card numbers by email. My online payment process via an invoice request via paypal must be used for mutual protection for both of us.
6) Cancellation Policy
Cancellation within 30 days of arrival forfeits cleaning fee and security deposit and only returns rental fees for nights which are re-rented. Cancellation more than 30 days from arrival receives refund less $450. I've found cancellations to be infrequent. This is my posted policy and this is the minimum you can expect. I handle each cancellation on a case by case basis and will do everything I can to help mitigate cancellation expenses for my clients.
7) Damage Deposit Refund
You are provided with a check-out document which clearly states the requirements to receive your damage deposit back in full. Within 72 hours of your departure Chrissy, the owner of my cleaning company, will walk the home to be sure basics like keys, parking pass, furniture and remotes are all where they should be, and she gives me a preliminary status, and then she cleans the home. Upon completion, she gives me a final report. Assuming no problems, I will return your damage deposit in full. Method of refund depends on your final payment method. If your final payment method was via credit card or paypal, I can return your deposit to one of those accounts or mail you a check. If your final payment method was with a check, I will send you a check. I do not 'hold' checks for the deposit nor 'hold' credit card numbers to be charged in the event of problems. You pay the funds upfront, and I then return the funds to you.
I have yet to have a situation were expenses exceed the $350 damage deposit. About 1 in 10 guests lose some amount of their deposit, but the deduction is $75 or less in 80% of those cases. Deductions are typically due to accidents involving children and accidents from carelessness.
The groups I have the most consistent problems with are employees/contractors of larger corporations. I can only assume it's because those folks are use to staying in hotels, which have a lower threshold for property care. If this applies to your group, please put extra effort in to making sure the guests care for the home and follow the check-out guidelines or there will be deductions from the damage deposit.
Like all cleaning crews Chrissy and her crew have accidents from time to time during cleaning. We have an agreement that she is exempt from any charges caused for damages by her crew. If they mess up I pay for it and we move on so she has no reason to ever imply that issues caused during cleaning were the result of a guest.
I have yet to have a situation were expenses exceed the $350 damage deposit. About 1 in 10 guests lose some amount of their deposit, but the deduction is $75 or less in 80% of those cases. Deductions are typically due to accidents involving children and accidents from carelessness.
The groups I have the most consistent problems with are employees/contractors of larger corporations. I can only assume it's because those folks are use to staying in hotels, which have a lower threshold for property care. If this applies to your group, please put extra effort in to making sure the guests care for the home and follow the check-out guidelines or there will be deductions from the damage deposit.
Like all cleaning crews Chrissy and her crew have accidents from time to time during cleaning. We have an agreement that she is exempt from any charges caused for damages by her crew. If they mess up I pay for it and we move on so she has no reason to ever imply that issues caused during cleaning were the result of a guest.
8) 'Group of Friends' Additional Screening
My homes can be a great home base for groups of friends to get together for birthday celebration weekends, bachelor and bachelorette weekends, golf weekends, reunions, etc. Most folks intuitively understand the need to care for my homes but being conscious of behavior entering and leaving the neighborhood (especially late at night) and extending an exceptional level of respect to any residents in the neighborhood is equally as important and when I have problems with this type of thing it's always been with this type of group.
Prior problems have been with groups self-described as professionals in their 20-40s so from experience that description does not guarantee respectful nor responsible behavior. If you have even one person in your group which trouble follows (sober or otherwise) please consider a hotel as opposed to a home (mine or others), as that is much more respectful to a homeowner who's neighborhood reputation and business can be severely damaged from even one problematic group.
I don't decline bookings from groups solely because they are in town for these type of events...but please remember that you, personally, are responsible for the behavior of everyone in your group (with regards to my home and my neighborhood). If you are comfortable vouching for 'each' of your guests at all times I will likely be comfortable renting to you. I may ask for links to Facebook pages or Linked-In pages as part of the screening process.
Prior problems have been with groups self-described as professionals in their 20-40s so from experience that description does not guarantee respectful nor responsible behavior. If you have even one person in your group which trouble follows (sober or otherwise) please consider a hotel as opposed to a home (mine or others), as that is much more respectful to a homeowner who's neighborhood reputation and business can be severely damaged from even one problematic group.
I don't decline bookings from groups solely because they are in town for these type of events...but please remember that you, personally, are responsible for the behavior of everyone in your group (with regards to my home and my neighborhood). If you are comfortable vouching for 'each' of your guests at all times I will likely be comfortable renting to you. I may ask for links to Facebook pages or Linked-In pages as part of the screening process.