Security deposit

[la vache!]

As CathineS is not on site, I can understand this, although I'm not sure about the level of detail, perhaps a little too much. I wouldn't expect the frigde, cooker, microwave to be cleaned by the guests, that's my job (they wouldn't do it properly anyway!) I have a section at the end of the 5 pages of welcome notes which is as follows:

"On Departure
Departure time is by 10.00am at the latest, unless otherwise agreed. Please ensure that you leave the property in the same clean and tidy state that you found it on arrival. This applies to the ouside dining area, including the barbecues, as well as the inside of the cottages. We would be grateful if you could also please strip the beds so that the bed linen is ready for washing.
If there have been any breakages during your stay, we would be grateful if you could advise us before you leave.
Please note that any additional cleaning costs incurred will be deducted from the deposit."

I don't think they ever get around to reading it when they arrive anyway, but the houses are nearly always left in an acceptable condition, i.e. not like a pigsty with all the furniture in the wrong rooms.

[Guest3]

Ros

Luckily we do the changeover ourselves, together with help from a cleaner who does the top floor (which is 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms).

I clean the whole of the bottom floor which is the living. dining, kitchen, downstairs shower room and toilet. On every changeover I always check the furniture, so I would know if there was any damage done by departing guests.

We also have a 'tick' check list attached to the welcome note...this is done as a safety issue as well as informing guests if there are already any things broken or need replacing...e.g. one of the pool lights wasn't working last week, so we noted down on the checklist that an electrician was scheduled to fix it on Tuesday pm.

We also 'tick' check that all electrical equipment i.e. fans, lights, tv, dvd, toaster, kettle etc.etc...are working. The smoke alarms are also tested. It takes us about 10 mins..hubby does the top floor and I do the bottom floor and this is the last exercise we do before we leave the villa.

I know what you mean about car rental checks...but our check list eliminates 'it wasn't working/was broken when we first got here' issue.

[Normandy Cow]

Thanks for your replies everyone, you've put my mind at rest, I don't think I'll bother resurrecting my idea for the full checklist (I was never comfortable with it anyway, which is why I never implemented it in the first place!).

But I like Crystal's idea of a very simple tick check list, along with HelenB's sentence about contacting the local representative in the event of a problem. That way, at least people will be aware that the condition of the house has been confirmed before their arrival and will be checked again on their departure (and I like the bit about testing the fire alarms every week - do you know, we have never thought about checking ours )

I think that will strike a happy medium!

[Big Sis..]

That sounds a bit Harsh Catherine
you might not like people "who contact the other side"

But mediums have a right to their beliefs without people resorting to violence

Now if you wanted to strike a 'Large' Im your girl

[Big Sis..]

That sounds a bit Harsh Catherine
you might not like people "who contact the other side"

But mediums have a right to their beliefs without people resorting to violence

Now if you wanted to strike a 'Large' Im your girl

[Big Sis..]

Help me Im seeing double

Either that or Ive got a computer that stutters.

[Guest3]

Catherine said

(and I like the bit about testing the fire alarms every week - do you know, we have never thought about checking ours )

The number of times (on changeover) we found the battery taken out of the smoke alarm in the lounge/dining area which combines with the 'american kitchen'!

This is the most important smoke alarm of all..and we put a note in 'bold' on the check list:

"PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE BATTERIES FROM THE SMOKE ALARMS! THESE ALARMS ARE FOR YOUR SAFETY!"

[A-two]

The number of times (on changeover) we found the battery taken out of the smoke alarm......

Ditto, and missing batteries from the torches aka flashlights in the emergency kit, as well TV remotes. We used to leave spares for everything until we realized we were paying for everyone's Game Boys.

I like the tick box idea for the Check In, thanks, I may use it, also adding these items to the Check Out list to ensure any batteries removed are replaced.

I sense that the culprits are the small people taking them for their power toys when their parents aren't even looking - although smoke detectors would have to be an adult.

[Clexane]

Crystal,

Could it be people are taking the battery out of the smoke alarm because it keeps going off when they cook things. This is not an uncommon problem, but a difficult one to solve. It may help to reposition the smoke alarm away from the kitchen somewhat.

[Guest3]

Clexanne, we have a very large open plan lounge/dining area which also incorporates an 'American' kitchen. The smoke alarm is situated roughly in the middle of the ceiling area...so unable to resolve the problem of relocating it. We have 2 other smoke alarms located on the wall above the stairs and in the corridor upstairs...and it is always the one downstairs that the battery goes missing from!

We have a huge extractor fan with 3 different speeds for the hob...but I think the smoke alarms are set off (probably) by people burning toast using the electric grill instead of the toaster! I know..as I've done it myself loads of times
Even though, it is a safety issue for people to remember to re-fit the battery after setting it off...but you know what people on holiday are like

[Clexane]

Yes I know what can happen on holidays. Last Christmas we where in a hotel in Etalong Beach Australia. There where warnings everywhere about cooking smokey things. But my wife wanted a steak and you guessed it, it set the alarm off.

What makes this more interesting is that they evacuated the whole hotel . We hang our head in shame as we where escorted out by the fire department (can you believe it at least a hundred unimpressed people looking at us:oops: ) after they barged in with me on a stool trying to disable this pesky alarm ... This thing would not shut up no matter what I did and they walked in at that glorious moment with me a broom in one hand and a knife in the other - dont ask

[cromercrabholiday]

This thing would not shut up no matter what I did and they walked in at that glorious moment with me a broom in one hand and a knife in the other - dont ask

Hang on, didn't I just see you on CSI Miami?

John

[Guest3]

Clexane..I always thought of you as female!!

But I do recall (somewhere on this forum) that this has been discussed before

[Clexane]

John,

It was not one of my finest moments maybe it was on one of those can you believe it video shows...

Crystal,

Never did think about it until it was brought up on this forum about the name reading female