Ask Questions. Get Answers!
Natural Retreats makes vacation rental ownership easy. That said, we understand that you may have questions—so we are here to help. We’ve compiled the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions below. If you don’t find the answer to your query, give us a call or submit an inquiry. A member of our team will reach out shortly.
Property Management
Natural Retreats will make every reasonable effort to notify homeowners of any recommended repairs or preventative maintenance issues that need to be addressed. We do ask for adequate latitude in the decision-making process to make needed repairs without specific approval from the homeowner. Such repairs are generally paid for with funds up to a specific pre-approved amount (typically $500) to prevent further damage or potential injury.
Our homeowners make personal reservations for friends and family via our propriety owner's portal. This is a web-based system which can be accessed through any computer, phone or tablet without having to download an app. You'll have the ability to add notes or requests which passes directly on to our sales and operations teams for any reservation booked through the owner's portal.
Whenever such an emergency arises, we make every effort to inform the homeowner of the issue and discuss remedies. We also work to mitigate any damage that may become more extensive if not addressed immediately when the homeowner’s approval isn’t immediately available. We take a proactive approach with regard to these rare emergencies. We come to an agreement with our homeowner on the cost threshold they are comfortable with setting (please see: Will I be notified when repairs are needed or carried out?).
This varies by destination. In general, our Housekeeping and Maintenance staff will ensure all garbage is disposed of properly following each guest stay.
Guest Experience
Our Guest Experience team looks after each guest stay in all Natural Retreats destinations. Guests also have a direct line of access to our on-site team who actively manage all aspects of their vacation during their stay.
We handle everything from making reservations over the phone to answering home-specific questions such as in-home amenities to sleeping configurations to local attractions. This level of local knowledge is made possible by sending our Guest Experience agents to each location to experience it as a guest. The experience offers our staff a level of expertise that goes a long way toward creating brand loyalty for your property.
We make the payment process as easy as possible. We also offer our guests the convenience of making their payments online via our websites. For more information about our guest terms and conditions, please check out our terms and policies.
All homes represented by Natural Retreats are nonsmoking.
Each guest stay includes a mandatory accidental damage waiver. This protection includes coverage for accidents such as broken cutlery and removing spill stains from carpet. Per our terms and conditions, any guest damage above this amount will be charged to a pre-authorized card on file for the guest. Any damages deemed to be intentional or egregious upon the post-checkout inspection will be charged to the guest immediately.
We encourage you to inquire about our rental management services to discuss our management fee—specifically what it includes, as it is variable by destination and revenue potential.
In short, yes. We provide a full-service clean and inspection following every stay, including homeowner stays. Homeowners are responsible for covering the cost of personal stays so we can ensure the home is ready per our standards for the next guest’s arrival.
Our homeowners do not bear the cost of housekeeping for paid guest reservations arranged and managed by Natural Retreats.
Natural Retreats furnishes each reservation with a starter set of consumables that includes soap, sponges, paper products, trash bags, dish and laundry detergent, bath and kitchen towels, etc. Once this starter set is exhausted, it is the guest’s responsibility to purchase additional provisions. These consumables will be restocked following each guest stay at no charge to the homeowner.
There are a variety of ways that we can handle this scenario—all of which are open to discussion with you. Please know that Natural Retreats is amenable to onboarding a property with existing future reservations.
Property Qualifications
Yes. We require maintaining the industry standard coverage which includes comprehensive general public liability insurance covering any and all claims or demands arising out of the operating, renting or maintenance of the Property in the suggested amount of $1,000,000, and property insurance for the replacement cost of the real and personal property.
It's your home and you're welcome to use it as you wish! We do not restrict when or how long our homeowners use their properties. However, we do require that you reserve it in advance in order to prevent any availability conflicts with guest stays.
Guests expect a fully furnished home when booking a vacation rental. This includes appliances, cookware, glasses, silverware, internet, TV, etc. We are happy to work with you to ensure that all desirable amenities are in place.
We request that these amenities be available to our guests. Special consideration will be given in any regions where these services are not readily available.
Allowing pets is entirely your choice. We have seen an increase in the number of guests who travel with their dogs, so allowing pets in your home will increase its appeal. Please know that we do charge a nonrefundable pet fee to any guests bringing a dog. This fee is used to perform the extra cleaning that may be required to remove any pet hair/dander from the property following the guest stay.
Price/Rate Management
Our in-house Revenue Management team actively studies current market statistics, comparable properties, historical data, and trends to determine fair market rates and seasonality. Nightly rates are reviewed on a regular basis and adjustments are constantly being made as needed to keep our pricing for your home competitive. It's our shared goal with our homeowners to maximize each nightly rate. Rate ranges and minimum/maximum thresholds will be discussed with homeowners to avoid any miscommunications.
Financials & Reporting
All expenses are tracked and accounted for. A detailed account is provided in your end-of-month statement.
You do not. Each guest is charged the required tax amount on every reservation. We will remit these taxes to the appropriate municipality on your behalf. You will also be provided with a full tax account at the end of each financial year for tax purposes.
Natural Retreats will deliver the owner’s share of the Net Accommodation Revenue no later than the last day of the month following the month in which such amounts are earned.
Sales & Marketing
Our in-house Marketing team functions as a stand-alone agency dedicated to developing the most effective marketing strategies in the industry. Our homes are presented to the right audience at the right time, using the most relevant and compelling content to maximize revenue. Strong brand loyalty offers each Natural Retreats home access to our ever-expanding database of 650,000-plus known luxury travelers.
Our Marketing team also works hand-in-glove with the Revenue Department—a dual approach that enhances the attention each property receives, generating more bookings with maximum revenue.
All homes represented by Natural Retreats are listed on our new, state-of-the-art NaturalRetreats.com website. It serves as the centerpiece of our ongoing effort of representing your home with integrity while curating the best user experience imaginable for our guests. Of course, our homes also enjoy access to a robust network of online travel agents, such as VRBO, AirBnB, Booking.com, and Marriott Homes & Villas.
We pride ourselves on offering exceptional guest service around the clock, which gives your home increased repeat and referral guest revenue year after year. We strive to create brand loyalty through consistent and quality experiences, capitalizing on bringing repeat guests from other destinations and introducing them to our entire portfolio.
Natural Retreats provides professional home portfolio photography at no cost to our homeowners. The photography is done by a highly regarded professional photographer whose work is wholly in line with the Natural Retreats brand.
On a related note, home listings are optimized to make your home more appealing to the right guests. Additionally, we also provide professional property consulting services to homeowners wanting to further the appeal and marketability of their homes.
*The details presented may differ depending on local operations by market.
For more information, please contact your Natural Retreats Business Development representative.