Damage from Party Decorations

[Laura2327]

Hi All!

We have guests in our house who have put up decorations all around our house to celebrate a guest’s birthday. They have left behind pin holes in the walls and chipped paint where the tape was holding up streamers. (Lots of spots). 

What would you do? Obviously I will mention this in their review, but would you try to take this to the resolution center? We are going to have to sand and paint the area of the walls (multiple rooms) where the chips are and would prefer to hire a painter to come in. But this isn't necessary, just a preference due to our busy schedules and the number of guests we have coming up over the holidays. Also, we don’t have the paint to use so will have to buy new cans. 

Our walls are painted with different colors, so the white chips showing through are very visible and it now looks really used and uncared for. 

Any advice?? 

Thank  you so much. 

Laura

[Sarah977]

@Laura2327  If you want to charge the guests, which seems appropriate, you have to follow the policies for making a claim to the letter, or it will be rejected. Have you read the claim policies? Did you take photos of the damage?

Aside from that, always keep a jar with matching paint for all your walls, so you can quickly touch up any dings. 

Aside

[Laura2327]

Yes to the photographic damage. Great idea about keeping a jar of paint. I’ll make sure to request that from our painters in the future. 

Thanks!

[Lisa723]

@Laura2327 I would charge for this one. Obviously not accidental, and a significant expense. (And apparently the new policy doesn't require filing before the next check-in, which is an improvement.) I would submit photos and an official repair bid from a painter.

[Laura2327]

Glad to know about the new policy!!!

Thank you. 

[Anonymous]

@Laura2327  The only way to get fast results with the Resolution Center is for the guest to agree to the charge. If they seem reasonable and accept their responsibility for the damage, the ideal outcome would be that you can negotiate a mutually agreeable amount to put toward the cost of  replacement paint and repair tools. 

The cost of a professional painter would be harder to recover - the guest would most likely dispute the charge, and the odds of a successful claim in mediation aren't great when the line between damage and "wear & tear" starts to blur. The most affordable fix you can manage would be the best for everyone. 

[Laura2327]

Yes, this is my dilemma - is it worth the hassle or should I just suck it up and deal with it. Right now I’m feeling quite annoyed and want to do something with the resolution center, but in the light of day tomorrow I may just think it’s worth dealing with this ourselves. You never know how reasonable guests are…. And clearly they have questionable judgement if they thought it was okay to damage our walls. 

thanks for your help. 

[Anonymous]

@Laura2327  I agree, it was poor judgment on the guests' part to stick things into your walls without permission, and it's definitely worth mentioning in the review. But I generally find the Resolutions process too unwieldy and unpredictable to be worth the effort most of the time. Once the annoyance over the carelessness passes, I tend to accept the occasional dab of touch-up paint, stain treatments, and minor repairs as regular home upkeep chores rather than damage.

[Laura2327]

Good point!! 

[Colleen253]

@Laura2327 Don’t deal  with the headache of the resolution center, where we are dependent on guests to say “oh sure!! I’ll pay up for the expensive damages I caused, no problem!” which of course never happens. The only thing you get paid back when you make a claim is a revenge review. Instead, set aside a small amount from every booking as a damage fund. You can deal with problems easy peasy, on your own, stress free. Raise your rate by a small amount for this, if you want.

Do be sure to note this behavior in the review. How incredibly inconsiderate!

[Laura2327]

I have only had to deal with the resolution center once in 3 years - and you are spot on about the revenge review. It’s quite funny, actually. 

oh well… I’ve learned my lesson and will make accommodations for these kinds of costs in the future!

thanks!

[Lisa723]

@Anonymous in my experience it is not true that the only way to get fast results with the Resolution Center is for the guest to agree to the charge. I know mileage varies, but I've never had a claim denied, or even had any significant back-and-forth, even when the guest disputed it. In each case I've been meticulous about submitting photographs and professional estimates or receipts and in each case I've been paid promptly. I'm sure the luck of the draw has a lot to do with it, but I would advise it's worth a try for a significant expense, especially if you can delay any hint of a coming claim until after reviews are posted.

[Laura2327]

I’m so glad you’ve had such good experiences with the resolution center!

[Basha0]

What I hate is the glitter that seems to come with celebrations. Takes forever to clean it up and weeks later I still find it!

[Sarah977]

@Basha0  Ugh. When my kids were young, I used to say on the birthday party invitations, "Please no birthday gifts that include glitter- no glitter glue, no glitter make-up, no craft kits which include glitter ".