Studies show that recent reviews from other travelers are the third most important factor vacationers consider when booking accommodation. So, your guests must enjoy a comfortable, convenient, and safe stay if you want your bookings to increase via this form of word-of-mouth advertising.
Vacation rental rules and guidelines can affect how much your guests enjoy their stay in Lake of the Ozarks. Read on to find out why and how to set vacation rental policies to ensure smooth operations for your short-term rental property.
Why Set Vacation Rental Rules and Guidelines?
You can't guarantee that your guests will treat your vacation rental home with as much care and respect as you'd like. Setting rental compliance guidelines creates clear expectations and eliminates ignorance as an excuse for poor behavior.
Rental rules also help ensure your guests behave safely and appropriately while staying in your home. This helps preserve the value of your property and avoid falling foul of local laws.
While Lake of the Ozarks has a welcoming attitude toward short-term rentals, you could face serious consequences if your guests don't comply with the city's parking and noise regulations.
The more information your guests have about your property and how they're expected to behave, the more they'll enjoy their stay.
Categories of Short-Term Rental Rules
To understand how you can get started with setting up rules for your vacation rental, it's best to break these regulations down into categories. These are the most common types of vacation home rules to consider:
Guest Policies
Guest policies are closely tied to local regulations and are among the most important for preserving your property's value. They should include:
- Pet policies
- Smoking policies
- Noise policies and time limits
Property Usage
These rules involve aspects that impact your guests' convenience during their stay. They should include things like:
- An information folder about local activities
- Operational manuals for appliances
- Rules regarding the use of amenities, i.e., swimming pools
Cleanliness and Maintenance
Although it's important to hire a cleaning service to attend to your vacation home in between bookings, guests also need a little guidance about what's expected of them during their stay.
For instance, if you provide a cleaning service once a day, your guests need to know what time the cleaners will arrive and what their tasks include.
Check-in and Check-out Procedures
Without clear check-in and check-out procedures, your guests won't know when to arrive or leave the vacation home. This can wreak havoc with your preparation for the next arrivals.
Arrival and departure times must be stipulated on your booking forms to help you facilitate cleaning and any necessary repairs before new guests arrive.
Maximize Your Short-Term Rental in Lake of the Ozarks
Vacation rental rules help guests make the most of their stay by setting clear expectations and providing the information they need. In this way, they can help increase bookings while preserving the value of your rental home.
PMI Lake of the Ozarks is an established vacation home management company, dedicated to maximizing our property owners' profits. Our CEO has over 30 years of real estate experience and a background in hospitality management, so we're well-equipped to help you make the most of your vacation home.
We can help you set vacation rental rules and guidelines to protect your property without infringing on guests' enjoyment. Reach out for assistance with your vacation rental home in Lake of the Ozarks.
