Long term rentals (30 days or more)

[Irma271]

Next month will be my first long term rental (38 days).

From what I can tell the person is a professional who will be working out of our rental.

What services do you offer a long term renter?  

Do you change the bed linens and laundry for them once a week or not at all and leave that responsibility to them?

Do you leave them alone entirely?  Do you offer availability above and beyond what you normally do?

I'm leaning towards just letting this person fend for themselves as if they were renting an apartment for a month.

Just want to be a good host.

Any advice is welcome.

[Debbie210]

@Irma271 We always leave extra supplies in the bathroom and kitchen, as well as supplies such as, towels, toothbrushes, hand lotions, olive oils, new spatulas, etc…. In a marked cabinet that says “Extra guests supplies,” we also leave a  new set of sheets for them to put on if they would like. 
We also offer, one complimentary cleaning service if they would like. We do several check ins- with the guests, via text to make sure everything is going well. 

[Irma271]

@Debbie210 I like the one time complimentary cleaning service.  Maybe offer it at the halfway point?  And I think I will offer extra towels, linens as well. 

Thank you!

[Pat271 · Accepted solution]

I’ve had three sets of longer-than-a-month, less-than-two-months guests.

I always provide a “Welcome Pack” with a few days’ worth of amenities. I can’t imagine that a guest would stay at a condo for more than a month and not start it with a trip to the store for food and supplies. I was not asked for more supplies, but would have accommodated them had they asked.

I did not bother them about cleaning, etc.

These were software engineers, nurses, and executives, so although there are no guarantees about people in this life, I was pretty sure that they wouldn’t turn the condo into Party Central.

[Judy62]

You and the two below are more kind than me but I dk is it makes a difference.  I am in a semi-rural area so people come attracted to the pretty room overlooking beautiful outdoors with gardens and woods, also seen from a big first floor deck that I encourage guests to use in good weather.  I stay exclusively on first floor; guests upstairs.  They love it despite only a kitchenetter (appliances including microwave and toaster over and refrig, coffee pot),.  I provide a few essentials for their first breakfast but that's it although occasionally I invite a "loner" for a meal or drink.  I interact with guests only as much or as little as they seem to prefer--which ranges from not at all to alot.  I provide only floor cleaning for the first month or so but vacuum is available and usually the kind of guests I get (who must want country living--no stores for 15 minutes etc but very prettry and restful) I get prefer to do their own cleaning and a couple have even cleaned everything as they left.  I do get it all clean and beds made before new guests arrive.  I state I have a cat and many become her new best friend and I have allowed dogs if I'm told they will not bother the cat and just stay on the 2nd floor except when being taken out to be walked (and cleaned up afterwards, as needed).

It's been fine.

I've never figured it out but probably about 1/2 the time I have someone or a couple.  I do this for the revenue and to have someone else in the house.

I have one beg complaint about AirBNB:  I do not think it safe or fair that I have to take someone for a long term (3 months or more) rental without "checking them out".  Occasionally these types want to see the place available before committing; that makes sense to me and I want to slightly know the potential guest before accepting them for 3 months or more.  A phone call between us would be acceptable to me.  I've tried to talk with Air about this but the level of staff you can talk to is not the the ones making policy and a request for whom to write in administration about this has never been accepted.  As so far I've had good luck with guests, for now, I'm accepting any reservation that fits the schedule but I think this policy is dangerous (especially as violence increases in our country) and it may lead me to pull out.  If others have this concern to I'd like to hear from them.

Judy

[Helen3]

I factor in regular cleans for longer term bookings and make this a condition of booking @Irma271 

This helps ensure you don't face a situation where you're left with a messy property at the end of a long stay.

provide them with extra towels and linens