3 ms·

I have a nose like a bloodhound. If someone has been smoking in the house, there is no way to hide it from me. My cleaning lady is also somewhat of a detectiv

I have a nose like a bloodhound. If someone has been smoking in the house, there is no way to hide it from me. My cleaning lady is also somewhat of a detective and has been known to go through the trash if she thinks rules have been broken. Smoking outside is a different problem. Until recently I didn't forbid it, but earlier this year I found cigarette butts in the brush below the deck, along with a burn mark on the dining table and cigarettes in the trash. That was from a large group of college aged boys. In normal dry conditions, Colorado mountain country is like a big pile of kindling just waiting for some dumbass to toss a cigarette butt into the pine needles and set the town ablaze. This incident really freaked me out. I took their entire security deposit, and added rules and a stern warning to my listing. At some point I'll install a camera outside to watch the deck and back yard, because I know it will happen again.

leetcrew 8y ago
> I took their entire security deposit is this legal? I thought you were only allowed to deduct actual damage / cost of repairs from a security deposit, not punitive charges.
- sharkmerry 8y ago
  they did mention there was a burn mark on the dining room table. not sure how that happened when smoking outside but that is damages
  - nate_meurer 8y ago
    Correct, plus a couple other damaged items. The burn on the table was actually from a joint, not a cigarette. I can tell as soon as I walk into the house what was smoked and how much. Marijuana, tobacco, pot rolled into cigarillos... if I look in the trash to confirm, I'm always right. Marijuana smoke smell dissipates fully in a few days, and guests don't seem to mind a little left over. But tobacco smoke never goes away. It even soaks into the deck wood outside, so I can often tell if there was a heavy outdoor smoker there even if they leave no butts behind. I explicitly allowed marijuana smoking inside the house up until then as a way to support legalization, and because the smoke is much more tame. But then it occurred to me: people can vape. I'm not a pot user so I guess I'm a little behind. So now, no more smoking. But yeah, if someone burns anything in my house by leaving a live fucking coal on it, they're pretty much guaranteed to lose their security deposit. Shouldn't be too difficult. Aside from that, I go to great lengths to give all my guests' money back. If someone just lets me know that they broke something, I never charge them for it. I suppose I'd have to charge for things like broken windows, but that hasn't happened yet.

leetcrew 8y ago

> I took their entire security deposit is this legal? I thought you were only allowed to deduct actual damage / cost of repairs from a security deposit, not punitive charges.

sharkmerry 8y ago
they did mention there was a burn mark on the dining room table. not sure how that happened when smoking outside but that is damages
- nate_meurer 8y ago
  Correct, plus a couple other damaged items. The burn on the table was actually from a joint, not a cigarette. I can tell as soon as I walk into the house what was smoked and how much. Marijuana, tobacco, pot rolled into cigarillos... if I look in the trash to confirm, I'm always right. Marijuana smoke smell dissipates fully in a few days, and guests don't seem to mind a little left over. But tobacco smoke never goes away. It even soaks into the deck wood outside, so I can often tell if there was a heavy outdoor smoker there even if they leave no butts behind. I explicitly allowed marijuana smoking inside the house up until then as a way to support legalization, and because the smoke is much more tame. But then it occurred to me: people can vape. I'm not a pot user so I guess I'm a little behind. So now, no more smoking. But yeah, if someone burns anything in my house by leaving a live fucking coal on it, they're pretty much guaranteed to lose their security deposit. Shouldn't be too difficult. Aside from that, I go to great lengths to give all my guests' money back. If someone just lets me know that they broke something, I never charge them for it. I suppose I'd have to charge for things like broken windows, but that hasn't happened yet.