We recognize that renting out your home is a personal decision, and you may be concerned about what would happen if guests damaged your property or valuables.

Guests, for the most part, show respect for the places they stay. According to our data, visitors that cause damage are extremely rare – just one out of every 5,000 reservations – and the majority of those events are unintentional.

Below are some tips for preventing property damage and dealing with it in the unusual case that it occurs:

How to keep your belongings safe from harm?

If you're greeting visitors when they arrive, greet them, show them around, and tell them a bit about your home's history. When it's obvious that you're hosting a party, attendees are more cautious than they would be in a hotel.

1. Make your house rules as explicit as possible.

There are fewer complications if visitors are aware of the dos and don'ts of staying at your rented house. You may create home rules on the extranet to address issues like dogs, smoking, parties, and noise.

If you have any additional regulations that aren't addressed in the extranet, you might type them out and print a copy to keep on hand so that visitors are aware of them during their stay.

1. Examine your insurance.

Although the odds of guests causing damage to your property are quite less, it's a good idea to be prepared for the worst. Short-term rentals to others aren't typically covered by standard homeowner insurance, so check with your provider to see whether you're currently insured or if you need additional coverage.

Even if your insurance policy covers short-term rentals, there's usually an 'excess' fee for damages, which means you pay up to a specific amount and the insurance company covers the remainder.

If you want to protect yourself from these dangers, you may put up a damage deposit. Damage deposits, on the other hand, are associated with fewer bookings and more cancellations.

How to deal with probable property damage?

Even though the majority of your guests are attentive and respectful while staying at your home, accidents can happen. In such instances, you have the following options:

• Maintain the damage deposit.

If you've already received a damage deposit, you have the right to keep it if the damage is confirmed to be the guest's fault.

• Make a claim on your insurance

You may be eligible to file a claim if you have an insurance policy that covers short-term rentals of your home. For further information, contact your insurance provider.

Note that each insurance claim you submit is subject to your individual risk/claim threshold and may result in a higher insurance premium. In order to assess your claim, most insurance companies want proof of damages. We encourage that you take photographs and keep any documentation that might help you with your claim.