House Rules

General Rules

  • Accommodations and amenities are provided for registered guests only, and are to be used only during the guest’s stay. Guests are not permitted to take any goods, supplies, or any other property of ours with them for any reason. Guests are responsible for any theft of inventory or property that occurs during their stay.
  • Guests agree to use all accommodations and amenities provided within reason and conserve what they can. This means that they will not overuse or use in excess any goods or supplies provided, nor will they use an unreasonable amount of electricity, water, heating/cooling, or any other services provided. Guests agree to not run up the bills for these services or be wasteful of these resources.  
  • You are not permitted to have any unauthorized guests or visitors during your stay, for any reason or length of time. This includes any people you meet during your trip, dates, babysitters, friends or family that live in the area, etc. If you wish to have friends or family from the area visit you at our property during your stay, arrangements must be made with us in advance in writing. Strangers/random or unknown guests are never permitted and will be treated as trespassing.
  • You many not host any type of party or event on our property. This includes any type of club or group get-together, shoot, shower, ceremony, celebration, class, workshop, reunion, or any other type of gathering. Some types of very small gatherings may be permitted if arrangements are made with us prior to booking. Gatherings with strangers/random or unknown guests are never permitted and will be treated as trespassing.
  • No smoking or vaping inside the house or garage, no exceptions. Any signs of such, including odor, will result in additional cleaning fees and damage charges.
  • Do not ash, put out, or discard of cigarettes, cigars, etc. on our lanai, sidewalks/driveway, pool/canal, yard, or inside our house/garage. Smokers must use a glass or metal ashtray to safely discard of such—an empty soda can filled with a little water works well for this and can be discarded at the end of your stay. Do NOT bring the ashtray or any butts into the house to dispose of—these should go directly to the outdoor garbage can upon checkout to avoid any indoor odors.
  • Clean up your messes and take care not to damage our property. Supplies for cleaning up your spills, dirty dishes, and other messes are provided. Take out your garbage and recycling before checking out. Unreasonable messes and/or damages to property will result in additional cleaning/damage fees. Please read through all of the outlined guide/rules to avoid these charges.
  • Do not wear shoes in the house.
  • Bring and use your own towel and sheets/pillowcases if you use self-tanner or similar products that discolor or stain towels and linens.
  • Put all items back where they were found upon checkout with the exception of used/soiled items to be cleaned by housekeeping. This includes pool items (fence, floats, etc.), baby items (high chair, pack and play, etc.), safety precautions (outlet covers, cupboard locks, etc.), home décor moved away from children/pets (floral arrangements, shells, etc.), kitchen items (small appliances, clean dishes, etc.), and similar.
  • Do not rearrange or move furniture, wall hangings, or window coverings. Do not hang anything on or alter anything about our walls, windows, doors, or décor. Do not use nails, screws, tacks, tape, or anything else to hang things up on our walls, windows, doors, trim, or furniture.
  • If something gets broken or stops working, please text Bill immediately at (563) 590-7632 so that he can begin making arrangements for replacement, repair, and/or special clean-up. Text him to let him know any time you use up the last of toiletry items, paper products, cleaning supplies, or food/kitchen items so that he can plan accordingly for those as well.
  • No participating in illegal activity on our property, with our property, or while staying at our property. This includes internet activity.
  • No candles, fires, or other types of open flames. The propane grill provided for guests must be used in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions as well at the guidelines outlined below.
  • No unauthorized pets or animals.  

Kitchen

Appliances

All kitchen appliances in the house are available for use provided guests clean them up after use and use only as intended by the manufacturer. This includes the refrigerator, stovetop/oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee pot, toaster, and any other appliances provided. We also ask that guests keep all small countertop appliances such as the coffee pot and toaster unplugged when not in use.

Dishes

All kitchen dishes are available for guest use. Guests should rinse and remove all food caked onto all dishes after use. Guests are expected to leave no more than a dishwasher full of dirty dishes. Dishwashing pods are provided for use during the stay. Please do not put aqua/turquoise pots and pans in the dishwasher; these items are hand wash only.

Food

Any food left in the pantry closet (next to the laundry room), in the refrigerator/freezer, or in the cupboards is available for guest use, however, it is up to guests to determine if the food is still safe for consumption. Please check all expiration dates and examine closely before use, immediately discarding any food found to have gone bad. Please take care not to contaminate or ruin seasonings/spices, dressings, jellies/jams, and/or any other provided pantry or freezer items that can be left for the next guest to use. We also ask that you follow the take an item- leave an item rule of thumb and leave an item with a long shelf life for every one that you take.

Garbage and Recycling

Please put all garbage in one of the waste bins located in each bathroom, the laundry room, or the kitchen. Any food or food-covered waste should go in the kitchen garbage can with the lid to minimize the smell. Once full, the garbage should be bagged up and placed in the brown garbage can located outside of the house by the side garage door. Loose garbage should not be thrown in the outdoor can.

Please recycle. A blue recycling bin is provided in the kitchen next to the garbage can for all paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal items including beverage cans and bottles. Please rinse cans, recyclable food and beverage containers, and similar items before placing them in the bin. Once full, please empty the blue kitchen recycle bin into the green recycle can outside next to the garbage can. Please do NOT bag up the recycling; the garbage bag in the blue bin is used for the sake of easy clean-up and odor prevention, not for bagging up items.

The big outdoor garbage can and recycle bin on the side of the house should be put out by guests on Wednesday evenings during their stay. Guests leaving on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday should be sure to put both out before checking out. Cans should be placed at the end of the driveway with about 3 feet between them and around them, at least 5 ft away from mailboxes and trees. Cans should be placed so that the wheels and handle are faced towards the house. Failure to put the cans out properly will result in the city’s failure to pick up.

Laundry

Washer

The washing machine is available for guests to use within reason during their stay, however, they must purchase their own laundry soap if they need to do more than one load of laundry. Washing machine should be rinsed out after running a cycle with bleach and/or fabric softener, and should not have wet garments left in them long after their cycle completes. Do not wash any rugs, shoes, or heavy items in the machine that could damage it. Thoroughly rinse heavily soiled garments before washing. Guests are responsible for cleaning up any messes made from use. We are not responsible for any damages to your belongings caused by the machine or use of it.

Dryer

The clothes dryer is available for guests to use within reason during their stay. Please dry items on the lowest heat setting needed for the minimum amount of time to complete drying. Please do not dry any rugs, shoes, or temperature-sensitive items that could damage the machine. We are not responsible for any damages to your belongings caused by the machine or use of it.  Many hooks are provided in the laundry room and throughout the house and can use used if you prefer to wholly or partially air dry items.

Ironing

An iron and ironing board are provided for guest use. The iron, located on the shelf in the laundry room, can also be used as an upright steamer. The ironing board is hanging on the back of the laundry room door. Please use with care in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and replace items to their original location once cooled off and cleaned up.

Used Towels, Linens, and Blankets

Used towels, linens, and blankets need to be cleaned before the house is used again, so it is important that you do NOT make the bed before you leave. Upon checkout, please pile up all used blankets and sheets at the foot of each bed slept in, and hang all used towels on hooks in the bathrooms or laundry room to be washed as opposed to piling them up somewhere still damp.

Garage and Parking

Parking

The garage and/or driveway may be used for parking vehicles. Guests are not permitted to park anywhere else including on the lawn or on the side of the road, no exceptions.

Garage Use

The garage should be used for storage and parking only. Absolutely no smoking, vaping, grilling, or open flames of any kind are permitted in the garage. The garage door should remain closed when not in use to avoid pests, intruders, and/or children/pets wandering off, though we do recommend opening the garage door before starting your vehicle. Children and pets should never remain in the garage unattended or be allowed to play in the area due to access to potential safety risks including cleaning supplies and heavy items.

Garage door openers go in the left drawer of the chest on the “Cape Coral” wall. Please be sure to return them after use so they are not forgotten in your rental vehicle or bag. Always keep door openers out of reach of children and pets.

Pool and Lanai

Pool Fence

We have a pool fence available for the safety of your children, pets, and/or any other guests who are at a higher risk of falling into the pool; we recommend putting it up immediately upon arrival if this description applies to anyone in your party. The pool fence is stored in the garage when not in use to prevent damage. The poles of the fence will fit securely into the holes in the lanai surrounding the pool area. To remove the pool fence once already up, pull directly upward on each pole to remove it with care not to damage the screening, and place back in the garage so it is out of the way.

Pool Light

The pool light is controlled by the big square switch located by the patio door in the living room. Upward clicks turn the light on, and downward clicks turn it off. The pool light has several different color options; to change the color, turn the light off and then back on again until you reach your desired color. Please turn off the pool light when not in use.

Lanai Lights

There are two sets of lights for the lanai/patio area, controlled by the light switch next to the patio door. The left switch will turn on the ceiling lights/fans, and the right switch will turn on the colored rope lights for the lanai area. Please turn these lights and the fans off when not in use.

Pool Toys and Floats

Pool toys and floats are located in the garage, as is the pump for inflating them. Please return all items to this area after use, taking care not to get the pump wet with any drying toys or floats. Please only use the pump, toys, and floats as intended by the manufacturer. Please do not take air pump, swimming equipment, or pool floats off of our property, however, you can take the children’s sand tool and bucket set to the beach for building sandcastles.

Pool Safety

Please thoroughly read through the safety section of these guidelines before using the pool, air pump, or pool toys/floats to avoid accidents or injury. Use of the pool, lanai area, yard, pool floats, toys, and air pump are done so at your own risk; please take any necessary precautions to avoid any accidents or injury.

Grill

We have provided an outdoor propane grill for guests to use during their stay. It is their responsibility to make sure the grill and grilling equipment is clean for their use and cleaned up properly after their use of it. The grill should be used ONLY in the lanai area at a safe distance from the house, and never used in the house, garage, or any other part of the property. Guests must turn off propane immediately when the grill is not in use. Guests must provide their own propane for the grill; propane already at the property may be used by guests but MUST be replaced before the end of their stay. Guests who are unexperienced in how to safely use a grill and those under the age of 18 years old are not permitted to use the grill under any circumstances.

Canal

Swimming

We strongly recommend against swimming or participating in any similar activites in the canal during your stay due to the potential for encounters with dangerous wildlife described earlier in wildlife safety. We also do not recommend allowing pets to swim in the canal.

Fishing

Fishing in the canal is permitted at your own risk. Please take care not to fall into the canal, and be watchful of alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and other potentially dangerous wildlife. Never leave children or pets unattended anywhere near the canal ways.

TVs and Internet

Roku/Smart TVs

All of our TVs are Smart TVs or have a Roku smart TV setup. Because of the popularity of streaming services, we have opted to go this route rather than cable/satellite. Simply log in with your Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Vudu, or other channel subscription log in details! There are also many options of free shows and movies to watch on the home page if you don’t have a subscription service or want to sign up for one.

Please be sure to log out of your subscription service and clear any username/email information from the log in when you are finished using them for your stay so that future guests aren’t able to use them.

Wi-Fi

Free WiFi is provided for guests to use during their stay. Locate the network “BeachHouse” and enter the password “5smallshells” on your device to use it.

Bedrooms

Fan/Light Controls

The overhead light and fan in the master bedroom is controlled by a small grayish remote control; this is attached to the bedroom entrance wall by the light switches and can be removed to be placed and used bedside. The light switch by the master bedroom door will turn on both bedside lamps if their switches are on.

Overhead fans and lights in the spare bedrooms are controlled by the pulls hanging from the ceiling fans; pulls are clearly indicated with a miniature lightbulb at the end of the light pulls and miniature fan blades at the end of the fan pulls.

Extra Sheets and Blankets

Extra sheets for the master bedroom are located in the linen closet next to the vanity. Extra sheets for the spare bedrooms are located in the linen closet in the hallway next to the spare/pool bathroom. If spare sheets are needed during the stay, please wash and dry the original set and put in the appropriate linen closet.

Extra blankets for the couch or beds are located in the master bedroom closet on the shelf. If used, please do not put back in the closet without first washing and drying. Extra blankets can otherwise be left balled up at the end of the bed with used linens or left balled up on the couch at checkout so that it will be washed for the next guest.

Child Items

A pack and play and high chair are available for use for small children. These items are located in the master bedroom closet and should be returned to the closet clean after use. Please do not use these items with older children, adults, or pets. Please only use the items per the manufacturer’s intentions.