What Happens if You Leave Something Behind at a Vacation Rental?

What happens if you leave something behind at a vacation rental where you've just stayed?

We all know it happens. You've checked everything twice; you've done a walk through of that great condo or vacation home that you have to leave; everything is in the rental car or the SUV or minivan; off you go to the airport or home.

Then the pit in your stomach hits. Maybe it's 30 miles down the road and it's too close to your flight time to turn back. Maybe it's when you are unpacking your bags and you realize the phone charger isn't there. Maybe it's on Monday morning when your teen sheepishly admits he left all his clothes in the drawer...but it happens to everyone sometime...you left something behind.

This should be a Frequently Asked Question by guests to property managers or owners when booking a stay (or even to hotels if you still squeeze into those): what do you do if we leave something behind?

The answer should be: we box it up and mail it to you of course!
The answer should not be: no one ever leaves anything behind (someone is taking the loot and keeping it for themselves).
The answer should not be: we put it in a lost and found box and will mail it out if you notice it's missing and ask us too.
The answer should not be: we mail it back to you after you send us a check (or we charge your credit card) for shipping.

What is our answer at BETTER Vacation Rentals:
1. If we already found the item: we'll have it in the mail to you tomorrow (or the next business day if it isn't already).
2. If we didn't find the item: we ask where you think it may be and we will send someone in as soon as the current guest departs.
3. In the case that the item is urgent (a medical device or cell phone for example) we will contact the current guest and retrieve the item for you and express it to you.
4. We don't charge for this lost and found service within reason. Since 1999, there is only once that we have charged, and that is for something that had to be sent to Mexico City.


Now for some fun! Here's a list of some of the items found (but not always claimed):
-phone chargers, camera chargers, chargers of all kinds (always plugged into the wall)
-DVDs
-cameras
-sleep apnea equipment
-lingerie (clean and dirty)
-full drawer of clothes
-travel alarm
-travel flashlight
-family reunion photo
-clothing (usually hanging on the back of a bathroom door or in a closet)
-game boy
-socks under beds
-medications left in medicine cabinets
-personal sundries/full sundry bags
-sweatshirt with all of the grandchild's hand prints
-CD's
-wallet full of cash and credit cards

So with your next trip, ask your host: What happens if I leave something behind? Their answer will be very telling of the type of operation they run...