One of the most important aspects of the rental process, literally a contract between you and the renter of your vacation residence. While some agreements are voluminous and others are limited in length, we suggest a middle ground to 1) protect your home and valuables and 2) not intimidate your renter.

• Work out the terms of the rental verbally with the renter until you come to an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.
• Fax of e-mail the written agreement containing everything discussed. If using e-mail we suggest creating a PDF to protect the integrity of the document.
• Give the renter two - seven days to return the signed agreement and the deposit for the rental. The time frame for hold should be based on demand and season.
• Hold the renter’s dates for the period advised after you have faxed or e-mailed the agreement to the renter. The rental is not yet confirmed, but you should not make any other lease agreement for that time frame during the “HOLD” period. If another renter is interested in those dates during the “HOLD” period, let the renter know that you have a hold for a potential renter for those dates, but you will contact them on [a specific date] if your property is available or that you are willing to take a back-up reservation with the provision that it is a back-up and not enforceable until an actual agreement has been executed by both parties.
• If you receive a signed agreement and funds, the reservation is confirmed and subject to the cancellation policy spelled out in the agreement. If you do not receive the agreement within the “HOLD” period, feel free to take other rentals.