I'm new to B.com this month and have just discovered a helpful answer that suits my circumstances regarding Security Deposits. I expect you may have worked it out by now!
I'm motivated to post this answer as my second guest this week (stayed 7 days), ignored my policy of 'no smoking' - needs fumigation, left ash all over balcony, rearranged my entire lounge room, removed all bed linen and took off the mattress protectors, used/ emptied all and every cleaning/ clothes washing/ bathroom products, ignored 'fire hazard' alert to clear dryer filter after every cycle (it was bulging with lint) and they stole my bathroom towels!
And in case you're wondering, No, I didn't have a Security Deposit set up as the only advice I was able to find was to 'take cash on arrival' - unable to do this in my case and not an acceptable client experience, in my view.
Here's the Recommended Approach... A very helpful Partner support guy ('John') today advised me to:
a) write a policy advising that before check in/ key access confirmation, that a security deposit for $x is required. He suggested, in my case, to have it paid into a bank account as I am remote from the property so unable to receive payment upon check in.
b) set up an auto-responder (schedule to send upon booking confirmation) reminder about the Security Deposit policy and provide payment advice details for receipt 'prior to check in'
c) set up another auto-responder (schedule upon receipt of Security Deposit payment) advising payment received and will be refunded on date X if room left in condition upon arrival and send through the check in/ key collection details
d) set up another auto-responder (schedule upon check out/ 24hr after) advising that either all well and deposit refunded or not all well and deposit kept as compensation for damages/ theft, etc
This is the answer I was looking for but only one of the B.com team advised this approach.
I hope this helps others as it's taken me about 10days to work it out and after (what could have been compensatible) bitter 'Guest Misconduct' experience. Regards, Lisa
Hello Eric
I'm new to B.com this month and have just discovered a helpful answer that suits my circumstances regarding Security Deposits. I expect you may have worked it out by now!
I'm motivated to post this answer as my second guest this week (stayed 7 days), ignored my policy of 'no smoking' - needs fumigation, left ash all over balcony, rearranged my entire lounge room, removed all bed linen and took off the mattress protectors, used/ emptied all and every cleaning/ clothes washing/ bathroom products, ignored 'fire hazard' alert to clear dryer filter after every cycle (it was bulging with lint) and they stole my bathroom towels!
And in case you're wondering, No, I didn't have a Security Deposit set up as the only advice I was able to find was to 'take cash on arrival' - unable to do this in my case and not an acceptable client experience, in my view.
Here's the Recommended Approach... A very helpful Partner support guy ('John') today advised me to:
a) write a policy advising that before check in/ key access confirmation, that a security deposit for $x is required. He suggested, in my case, to have it paid into a bank account as I am remote from the property so unable to receive payment upon check in.
b) set up an auto-responder (schedule to send upon booking confirmation) reminder about the Security Deposit policy and provide payment advice details for receipt 'prior to check in'
c) set up another auto-responder (schedule upon receipt of Security Deposit payment) advising payment received and will be refunded on date X if room left in condition upon arrival and send through the check in/ key collection details
d) set up another auto-responder (schedule upon check out/ 24hr after) advising that either all well and deposit refunded or not all well and deposit kept as compensation for damages/ theft, etc
This is the answer I was looking for but only one of the B.com team advised this approach.
I hope this helps others as it's taken me about 10days to work it out and after (what could have been compensatible) bitter 'Guest Misconduct' experience. Regards, Lisa
Really helpful list Thanks M! Appreciate you taking the time