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How do I know my coach won't get torn up?
Hands down, this is the single biggest concern of RV owners. The long
and the short of it is that the renter is on the hook for almost everything.
The only exceptions are the normal wear items. Each renter is screened
extensively. When we fill out the Customer Information screen on our computer,
we get answers to over 30 questions and record them, such as home and
work address, home and work phone numbers, social security number, driver's
license number, auto insurance company, agent and policy number plus many
more.
When we take the reservation, we send in the renter's information to our
insurance company. They run it through the Department of Motor Vehicles
and send us back the report. This insures us that we're not renting to
someone with a bad driving record or a DWI.
Each renter is given an extensive walk-through on the coach and must sign
the Check-Out sheet. In addition, we take digital pictures of each unit
just before it goes out. This keeps them from coming back later and saying
the reason something broke or got damaged was because we didn't tell them
how to operate it. In addition, each renter is required to read the Terms
and Conditions and sign them. These terms and conditions were written
to protect the coach, the owner of the coach and RV Gold. They clearly
spell out what the renter is responsible for and the penalties involved
if they don't adhere to them.
Every coach is clean, full of gas and water and thoroughly inspected before
it leaves. We take digital photos of every rental unit just before it
goes out so there is no question of it's condition. The customer signs
that it's in good condition and that they agree to return it full of fuel
and clean. If they don't, we clean it and or gas it and charge the renter.
On the Vehicle Check-Out form, it clearly states that we have 10 days
to inspect the unit before refunding the renters deposit. This gives us
enough time to check the unit carefully for anything that might be hidden.
None of these things are of any use if we can't collect from the renter
if damage occurs. To make certain we will be able to collect, each renter
must pay for the rental in advance plus leave us a $500 Deposit. The renter
must sign here authorizing us to charge any balance due on their credit
card. With this credit card authorization, the customer can't successfully
dispute our charges to their credit card company.
What about insurance?
When you enroll your coach in our program, we must add it to our master
insurance policy. You can drop your current insurance because our policy
covers you, your coach, the renter and us. You will be billed each month
from RV Gold for the cost of the insurance on your motorhome. We keep
a copy of the master policy on hand at all times and welcome our coach
owners to go over it or speak with our insurance company to answer any
questions they might have. As a rule, our coverage is considerably better
than an individual policy. The renter is responsible for the deductible.
The cost of the insurance depends on the value of the coach. The rates
are slightly higher than an individual policy but the broader coverage
is essential. Your individual policy won't cover you or the coach if the
unit is for hire/rent. The insurance premiums are deducted from your rental
income each month and it's clearly spelled out on the Owners Statement.
What if I want to use my coach?
It's very simple. When you know you want to use the coach, call us and
we'll reserve it for you just as though you were any other renter. When
you pick it up, it will be full of fuel, water and propane. We'll start
the refrigerator and water heater for you and check all the appliances,
generator, etc. All we ask is that you return it full of fuel, propane
and cleaned so that it's ready to go out on the next rental.
If we have a reservation on your coach for the period you want to use
it, we'll either switch them to another unit or cancel the reservation.
The choice will be yours and you always have the final authority, but
of course we hope that you will give enough notice that cancellation of
a reservation is not necessary.
How do I know my coach will be properly maintained?
In most cases, owner involvement with the cleaning of the motorhome assures
that the unit will always be in good condition. Additionally, RV Gold
maintenance procedures are far more strict than the average owner's. When
a motor home goes into the program, we fill out a vehicle information
screen in our computer. One of the questions it asks is how often we want
to perform maintenance on this vehicle. We also are required to enter
the mileage when we receive the coach and the computer keeps track of
how many miles are put on it.
Each time a renter picks up the unit, we record the actual mileage and
the generator hours. When they return, we again record the mileage and
generator hours. When the unit has 3,000 miles on it since the last service,
the computer automatically prompts us to let us know it's time to service
this unit. When so prompted, we notify the owner of the need for maintenance
and they can take care of it or we will change the oil & filter, check
the transmission fluid, radiator coolant, brake fluid, batteries and tires
for proper wear.
Are people allowed to smoke in my coach?
No! We don't allow smoking in any
of our rental units. There is far too much risk that the upholstery or
carpet could be damaged and many people are sensitive to the smell of
smoke.
Every renter must sign a sheet that clearly states that there is no
smoking allowed in the coach. If they choose to ignore this rule, they
will be charged $250.00 so the coach can be fumigated and professionally
cleaned to remove the after-effects from the smoke. This charge is purposely
high to deter even the most stubborn renter.
Who is allowed to drive my coach?
Only the renter and those persons designated at the time the reservation
is taken. Each designated driver must be 25 years of age and they will
be required to give us their full name, address, drivers license number
and expiration date. We will then request a DMV report on those drivers
prior to departure. The renter understands that they're the responsible
party and will be charged for any damage or repairs due to negligence.
What happens if the coach breaks down on the road?
Every renter is told that they can repair anything that breaks and bring
us the receipt for reimbursement for anything up to $100.00. If the repair
is for more than $100.00, they MUST call us for approval and instructions.
The Terms and Conditions the renter signs clearly spell out the procedures
that must be followed and our limits of liability. Our liability is limited
to the reimbursement for any full rental days lost due to the breakdown
and does not include any other expenses the renter might incur. Our contract
specifically states that such things as the refrigerator, generator, air
conditioner, etc. do not constitute a breakdown and no reimbursement will
be forthcoming. Also, we've contracted with a national road sevice company
called Coachnet. They are a 24 hour/7 day per week telephone assistance
service and charge by the incident. This Aper incident@ charge is charged
to the renter
Once the unit has been repaired and returned to us, we will make the determination
as to whether the breakdown was due to mechanical failure or negligence
on the part of the renter. If we determine it was due to negligence or
misuse, we will charge the renter for the repair. If the unit is still
covered by a warranty, we will either send the renter to an authorized
warranty station or file the claim ourselves upon their return. If it's
simply a mechanical failure of a part not covered by a warranty, the owner
will be charged for the repair as a part of normal maintenance. If a unit
requires repair in excess of $100.00, the owner is notified before the
repair is made unless it's an emergency or the owner can't be reached.
What if my unit doesn't rent?
How often your unit rents depends largely on what it is. The slowest
renting coaches are larger luxury units. The 20' through the 29' Motor
homes are by far the fastest rentals. Currently, demand is far greater
than our supply. Our motor homes are averaging over 3 weeks of rental
per month during the summer months.
While we can't guarantee the number of rentals your unit will have, we
have excellent rental history to give you an honest estimate. At some
point we will cap the number of units. We are committed to our coach owners
and will not allow our supply to dilute the owners income.
Where would my unit be kept when it's not out on rental?
Many of the owners keep their coaches stored at their homes, depending
on the zoning of the areas in which they live. However, RV Gold has access
to two storage locations where motorhomes can be stored for a fee. There
is a $1.50 per foot per day charge for units stored in these lot.
How and when do I get paid?
Owners statements and checks are mailed on every month. Each owner is
paid for all rentals that returned and closed out during the previous
month. The owners statement consists of two parts. The first shows any
charges or credits for that month and the total amount due the owner.
The second part lists all the rentals for the unit for that month. If
desired, copies of the rental agreements can be sent with the statements.
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