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All Forum Posts by: Lisa Graesser

Lisa Graesser has started 3 posts and replied 295 times.

Post: Best Way to Return Left Behind Items?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

If a guest leaves an item that they would like returned, my cleaner will charge $25 + the cost of shipping and send it to them. The guest will send me the payment and I will send to the cleaner.

Post: House Rules - Only on OTA or separate version

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333
Quote from @Tom Dieringer:
Quote from @Andrew Street:

Hey Tom! I’ve seen both approaches, but I’ve found that keeping the OTA house rules simple works best to avoid overwhelming guests. Then, after booking, I send a more detailed version to cover important details like noise, extra guests, and check-out procedures.

Since you're in a vacation market, setting clear expectations upfront while keeping the details for later might be a good balance. Happy to connect!


 Thanks Andrew.  How do you communicate this hybrid approach on the OTA?  Do you let the guest know upfront that there will be a more complete version provided upon booking?


 I put it in my information when guest are booking, that they will be required to provide their email and sign an emailed(I use DocHub) to sign the rental agreement/Golf cart waiver. The agreement is also included in the information that they see when they make the reservation.

Post: House Rules - Only on OTA or separate version

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

I do require a rental agreement/Golf cart waiver signed outside of airbnb and vrbo, but that is because I need the golf cart waiver signed and I also include my house rules along with that. I have never had anyone give me a hard time about it, but sometimes have to nudge to get it back. If I didn't have the golf cart, then I probably wouldn't bother.

Post: I fired dynamic pricing today

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

Thanks for sharing, this gives me confidence that I do not need that. I had looked into Pricelabes a couple years ago and didn't think it worked well for my market, but sometimes think about retrying it because so many seem to rely on it.

Post: Should I be providing my guests with free Netflix?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

I do the same as John... Cable, smart TV's and guests sign into there own accounts

Post: Tiny Homes - Western New York - Buffalo Area

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

I am from Buffalo and the only tiny homes, that I know of, are in the ski town of Ellicottville about an hour south of Buffalo.

Post: Best Practices on cancellation credit card chargebacks?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

This is interesting, I have also had more cancellations over the last few months than usual. I have not had any chargebacks. Most of my cancellations were within the cancellation period and I charge a cancellation fee for my direct bookings. If I have a direct booking outside of the cancellation period I and can get the house  rebooked, I will refund the cost of nights rebooked as a courtesy. I also have every guest sign a rental agreement, whether on or off the OTA's, that states the specifics including the cancellation policy, so I know they have read it outside of the booking information. So as you mentioned the information the credit card company's asked you for, maybe this would work for me in that regard.

Post: Airbnb/str management advice

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

Although the cleaner is probably the most important piece to the puzzle for your STR success, there is alot more involved with managing it. You can go to a local facebook or nextdoor groups and find recommended cleaners, handymen and repairmen. And as John said, have as many remote/wifi controls like locks, thermostats, garage door openers, sprinkler controllers (I don't have cameras, but many do). You can definitley do this yourself remotely. It still amazes me that I can sucessfully take care of everything with my phone wherever I am. The bookkeeping is the only part that is homework for me.

Post: Do You Provide TV Options?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

Depends on your clientele. We cater to us older folk that didn't grow up with all these subscriptions and when they go on vacation they want to press a button and tell the remote what channel they want😄 We have big smart TV's that they love and if inclined can use a subscription, but then they have to figure out how to sign out of them. Most want ease of access to the channels they are used to...News and sports, so we provide that and it seems to be appreciated. 

Post: What is the minimum size washing machine for an STR?

Lisa GraesserPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • The Villages, FL
  • Posts 303
  • Votes 333

My motivation for a washer and dryer is based on the ease for cleaners to be able to turn the house as easy as possible and I did not even consider what guests would want. 

This is what we have recently purchases for both 2 and 3 bedroom homes

LG 7.3 Cu. ft model DLG7151W , washer LG 5.0 cu.ft. high efficiency top load washer (no agitator) model WT7150CW. dryer LG 7.3 Cu. ft model DLG7151W

The Cleaners love them and recommend them to their other clients to purchase.