How do you politely ask your vacationers to leave?

Short-Term & Vacation Rental Discussions

How do you politely ask your vacationers to leave?

BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes

I am traveling this week and next. I was working in a hotel room yesterday (wow, that sounds bad) and checkout was noon. I ended up leaving at 12:06, not a huge deal, but I can see people still in the room at 12:15, 12:45 or even 2:00. Not cool.

As a vacation renter, I try really hard to be on time with my departure, because that isn't a hotel, they don't have extra rooms, etc.

We've got a stay coming up at an AirBnB, and just received this note:

Checking out: 10 AM - Our cleaners often come right at 10:00 am, so please be timely with your check-out. We appreciate it!

How do you convey your checkout time with your short term renters? Does it work, did you have issues prior to implementing this language?

[email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #261

3 Reply

223 views

Most Popular Reply

Chris MasonPro Member

Moderator

Lender · CA · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 10k+ votes

I know one guy who uses google wifi in all his units, in addition to digital keypads he can control remotely (each guest-set has their own code). Gives you a few additional tools in the tool belt to get imaginative. If I knew that wifi will cut off at 9:45 and that at 10 sharp the door locks will stop working, I for one would be pretty darned sure to have all my stuff out beforehand.

Pretext for the locks no longer working could be that it switches over to the cleaner's access code. And of course your primary stated goal if questioned isn't to have them out, it's to ensure there is no possibility that they still have stuff in there when the cleaner shows up, you want to ensure nothing could possibly be stolen. You're doing this "primarily" to look out for your guests, you see.

17 Reply

See this reply in the discussion

31 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Bonnie Williams
Rental Property Investor · Nashville, TN · Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 17 votes
7y
@Mindy Jensen Before the people are trying to get their work done, packing, and traveling (so a 3-5 in advance of arrival) I say:
'We are excited for your arrival and know you will have a great stay. Everything will be ready for you at (specific check in time) on your check in day. The space is yours until (specific check out time) the day of check out. If you know you have an early flight out that day we'd love to know so we can get to cleaning but, take the time you need up to (specific check out time).'
Also, we have instructions for them to text a word (in our case the name of street) when they leave... 'Please text Main Street to ***-***-**** upon check out.' This works about 90% of the time and allows us in ASAP, great when you've got 3 quick turns in a day.
1 Reply
Account Closed
Member since 2018 · 175 posts · 103 votes
7y
"I ended up leaving at 12:06, not a huge deal". Why is leaving at 1206 not a huge deal and 1215 is not cool?
0 Reply
Mindy JensenPro Member
OP
BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
7y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
"I ended up leaving at 12:06, not a huge deal". Why is leaving at 1206 not a huge deal and 1215 is not cool?

This is a great question. When checkout is 12, that doesn't mean 12:06. You're totally right. The cleaning crew had started at the other end of the hallway, and had not yet gotten to my room, so I wasn't holding them up by leaving at 12:06. But what if they HAD gotten to my room? You're 100% correct.
[email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #261
0 Reply
Account Closed
Member since 2018 · 175 posts · 103 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Mindy Jensen:
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
"I ended up leaving at 12:06, not a huge deal". Why is leaving at 1206 not a huge deal and 1215 is not cool?

This is a great question. When checkout is 12, that doesn't mean 12:06. You're totally right. The cleaning crew had started at the other end of the hallway, and had not yet gotten to my room, so I wasn't holding them up by leaving at 12:06. But what if they HAD gotten to my room? You're 100% correct.

I respect your answer @Mindy Jensen.
1 Reply
Brian Tustin
Rental Property Investor · Ocean City, MD · Member since 2019 · 22 posts · 11 votes
7y
Yeah. I'd say that you have a couple things to lean on :

1) "Policy" states check out time is "x". That was agreed upon when the space was booked. Any late check out results in additional fees of "X".
2) Communicating time is needed to reset and clean the space. We tell our short term renters to let us know when they leave so we can hop in and clean it. We have cleaners but so far most everyone let's us know when they leave. It also keeps everyone accountable. We usually send that message the night prior stating we hope they had a wonderful stay and a friendly reminder that check out is at 10am the next day and to let us know when they leave.
We've only had someone stay late but it was only a half hour. If they stayed later, the cleaners would naturally show up while they're here and they'd have the awkward interaction haha. But if there was ever an issue, "Policies" and "house rules" help remove emotional communication and make it easy to say, "Sorry, these were agreed upon booking. etc."
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.