Short-term home rentals are soaring in popularity amongst homeowners and out-of-towners. As the summer music festivals approach, and with the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays just around the corner, many homeowners may choose to offer their home as a short-term rental.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona has these helpful and important tips to follow if you’re planning to rent out your home.

• Decide who will manage the property. If you decide to manage the property yourself, make sure you live close enough and are capable of handling any emergency issues that arise. If you don’t live close, make sure you know someone who can help take care of your property and address any issues a guest may have.

• If you decide to use a management company, research the organization first at bbb.org. Get all fees involved with listing your property and booking your rental in writing. Request detailed descriptions, in writing, of all the additional services to be provided and how and when you can expect to receive payment. Also, consider whether or not the company has its own insurance policy to cover any damages caused by the tenant.

• Write up a contract. BBB advises having an attorney go over the details of the contract. The contract should include:

1. Check in and checkout times
2. Whether smoking or pets are permitted
3. Details of any security or damage deposits, whether they are refundable and under what circumstances
4. A cancellation and rate change policy
5. The maximum occupancy and any fees associated with exceeding the limit
6. Parking restrictions
7. The renter’s contact information

• Check state and city law. Various cities and states have their own rental and property laws. Check your city’s law on short-term rentals to make sure you’re not in violation.

• Research renters. Get the appropriate contact information for renters and check them out. Consider a Google search or use an online screening service.

• Check your insurance coverage. Ensure you have enough property or casualty insurance should anything go wrong. Also consider the costs of lost, stolen or damaged items and ensure your security deposit covers all the “what-ifs.”

• Consult your rental agreement. If you rent your home or apartment, your contract could prohibit subletting. Be sure to check with your landlord or HOA about short-term visitors.

For potential home renters, BBB warns to be on the lookout for phony ads on classified sites and other internet sources aimed at cheating consumers. In the past, scammers have copied property information and pictures, creating fake listings. They will accept all forms of payments to appear legitimate only to have the consumer find out the home was not for rent and their up-front payment is gone. Use reliable rental websites, with more safeguards in place, rather than free-listing classified websites.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning local businesses to beware of a yellow page directory invoice being faxed and mailed to area businesses.

BBB received several calls from local businesses who received faxes or mailers from multiple yellow page directory companies. The correspondence asks businesses to verify their company information.

The official-looking verification form shows the company’s basic contact information and touts the image of fingers flipping through the phone book. However, the verification form is not from any local yellow page phone directory but for a national online directory.

Businesses beware: the mailer is not a bill, but if you fill it out you may be contacted by someone who will try and collect money from you.

BBB Tips:

• Make sure to designate a single person within your business to handle such matters. The will be aware of any and all directory listings your company is placing and when they renew.
• If you have filled out this form, make sure you contact the company immediately to cancel.
• Be sure to read all small print on any form or contract you sign for your business.
• Many fraudulent or scam companies will use similar names or logos of known companies. Be sure you are dealing with the company you think you’re dealing with.

Summer is here and with it a multitude of teens, college students and many others looking for employment – even if just for a few months. Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona reminds employers that hiring seasonal workers- regardless of age- involves following many of the laws and regulations that apply to full-time employees.

If you’re hiring seasonal employees, keep in mind:

• Interns – paid or unpaid – should not be treated as replacement employees (even if just for a few months). Have specific tasks or activities designated just for them that would not ordinarily be done by a paid employee. Internships need to be for a specific length of time with no guarantee of a paid position later on.
• Be specific about the job, what it entails and how it should be performed. Don’t differentiate between seasonal and year-round employees – everyone should adhere to company policies and rules and everyone should have their own copy of the company handbook.
• Provide safety training at the beginning of employment to ensure seasonal employees understand workplace risks and hazards and what to do if they’re injured on the job.
• Seasonal and part-time employees are subject to the same tax withholding rules that apply to other employees.