Hotel guests often forgive themselves for doing a little damage to their hotel room. A cigarette hole burned in the bedspread, a staining drink spilled on the carpet, even a shower head pulled from the wall. It’s like no one really owns the room, so it kind of, to some people, seems okay.
But what about damage done to a rented vacation home? With those rentals, you KNOW there’s an owner – someone who picked out that bedspread and carpet and who allowed you into their home. And then you cracked the bathroom mirror.
Here’s the first suggestion: don’t try to hide the damage. Whether it’s an owner or a rental company, the place will be thoroughly inspected before you arrive and after you leave. If something has been stained, burned or broken, the owner or manager will know. And remember, they have your credit card number.
Next, take photos of the damaged item. Take the pictures from several different angles. One of the best photos to take is a shot that includes someone involved with the rental property. That way, it can never be denied that you reported the damage and that someone came out and inspected it.
Discuss the repair costs with the owner or company that rented the home to you. Never leave this important topic vague. Get a definite estimate, even if you have to call a repair person to come out and make an estimate for you. You don’t want to arrive back home and be suddenly slammed with a thousand dollar repair bill for a hole kicked in the drywall.
Finally, the most risky move: having the damage repaired yourself. If it’s something simple, like a broken window or a carpet spill, you could call around, compare prices and have the repair done and paid for before your vacation is over. However, this doesn’t take away your responsibility to report the damage. Some folks will get the repair done and say nothing about it to the owner. They may be able to get away with doing that, but it’s not an ethical way to behave.
Instead, report it, pay for repairs, and be more careful next time.
Here’s another thing to consider—if you want to make sure you’re protected in case of accidental damage, you may wish to research insurance that covers potential problems.
Now go have a great vacation!