If you are renting your vacation rental yourself, are you supposed to hold dates for someone who says that they are "checking with the other two couples and should hear back from them today"? After getting that message via email, I had someone else email for more info and then called less than two hours later to book and offer payment. I thought I was doing the right thing by taking the booking/payment and then letting the first party know that the property had been booked. Party #1 is miffed, and I feel terrible about it. The other couples could have said no, and may have given that two of three couples would be sleeping on double beds while only one would get a king! Should I have handled it differently?? Thanks in advance for your advice.
renting your own home - acceptable practice
- Thread starter willie
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for what it's worth...it is what it is...you needed to rent...they hedged
We have a big network of friends that all have multiple rental properties. The same thing happens to all of us. In most cases, if they say they're checking with the rest of the group and will call you back, they don't call back. One sunday night a group of us were all together, and one by one we each took a call from the same group. They told each of us that they needed to talk it over with the rest of the family and they'd call us back. By the time they got to the 5th person in our group, we were all laughing so hard.
We've found that when someone is ready to rent they'll call, you'll take down all their information, they'll put a check in the mail to be received within a week (or make the payment via paypal that day). When we actually take the booking, we promise to block off that week. If they're sending a check, we give them a week for the check to arrive. If it doesn't, we open the week back up. At that point, if someone else calls regarding that week, it's booked. If we're waiting for a check, we may let them know that they can check back in a week. Occasionally, but rarely, someone promises that the check is in the mail and it never comes.
I've had someone tell me that they want to rent our home, and then five minutes later they call my father-in-law (who lives with us) and book with him.
There are enough properties to go around, so we just need to rent to the ones who are ready to commit.
We've found that when someone is ready to rent they'll call, you'll take down all their information, they'll put a check in the mail to be received within a week (or make the payment via paypal that day). When we actually take the booking, we promise to block off that week. If they're sending a check, we give them a week for the check to arrive. If it doesn't, we open the week back up. At that point, if someone else calls regarding that week, it's booked. If we're waiting for a check, we may let them know that they can check back in a week. Occasionally, but rarely, someone promises that the check is in the mail and it never comes.
I've had someone tell me that they want to rent our home, and then five minutes later they call my father-in-law (who lives with us) and book with him.
There are enough properties to go around, so we just need to rent to the ones who are ready to commit.
This has happened to me several times; I don't "hold" any dates at all- I just take the first guest that's ready to confirm with a deposit and signed rental agreement.
My sister makes reservations at five restaurants for the same evening, not deciding which one to go to until everyone else agrees. Then, on their way to dinner, she calls to cancel the others. 
That is just the way some people operate.
Personally, I've learned in many life experiences to not hold anything for people without cash in my hand. I don't always stick to that rule, but on big ticket items, I mostly follow that rule. Once it's booked, it's booked. Do you want it, or do you not. Book now, and we can hold it for you, or don't book and you take the risk of it not being available.
I think that is standard business for operation in today's world. In your particular case, I might have told the person making the inquiry that I will hold it for exactly one hour, in order for her to call her peeps and make a decision.
That is just the way some people operate. Personally, I've learned in many life experiences to not hold anything for people without cash in my hand. I don't always stick to that rule, but on big ticket items, I mostly follow that rule. Once it's booked, it's booked. Do you want it, or do you not. Book now, and we can hold it for you, or don't book and you take the risk of it not being available.
I think that is standard business for operation in today's world. In your particular case, I might have told the person making the inquiry that I will hold it for exactly one hour, in order for her to call her peeps and make a decision.
I've only done that once or twice when I know it's a particularly slow time of year. In other cases, I say I can't hold a rental for someone but to let me know their decision as soon as possible. If mine gets rented in the meantime, I tell them I'll recommend other rentals that could also serve their needs.
Thanks, ya'll.