At STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals, we have the following policies in place so that you know upfront what to expect. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!

LEASE INFORMATION

Please review our Policies. All our rental units are rented from Friday to Friday or Saturday to Saturday during the prime season. Some properties, but not all, allow nightly reservations with a 3-night minimum stay during non-prime seasons (varies per property).

THIRD-PARTY AGENCY

If you have booked through a third-party agency, you will have paid more for your reservation than booking directly with STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC. STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC promotes on multiple websites and is legally obligated to pay the commission on any unit you have chosen. The fees accrued on your first rental are non-refundable, but to save money on your next stay please book directly through STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC.

RESERVATIONS

Reservations may be booked in person, online, or via phone at (715)-891-7286. All reservations are assigned a Folio number. Our reservation office is available from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, CST Monday through Saturday and 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, CST on Sundays to assist you in finding the perfect vacation rental or to answer any questions you may have.

We strongly encourage you to utilize the website to book your reservation online 24-hours per day, view photos of each property, and learn more about the amenities offered in each home. Once you have booked your reservation and received your confirmation email sign your Vacation Rental Agreement and make the scheduled 60-day arrival payment. If you do not have an email address, we can easily mail your documents to you for completion. See PAYMENT INFORMATION below for details on payment due dates and other important payment-related information. 

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Please note that your signed Vacation Rental Agreement and first payment must be received by STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC at the time of booking.

Each reservation is subject to applicable taxes, a nominal reservation fee and a security deposit (see SECURITY DEPOSIT / DAMAGE PROTECTION PLAN below). We are required to collect Wisconsin Tax and Local Accommodations Tax on all fees and charges. Payments may be made with personal check (from a US affiliated bank), Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.  Checks will not be accepted less than 60 days prior to arrival.

**If guests pay with cash or check they can avoid booking fees.

CANCELLATIONS**

Any cancelation automatically forfeits 20% of the down payment. Cancelations 60 days prior to arrival will not be refunded. Exceptions will be made if we can rent the unit, but only 80% of the total will be refunded. Cancellations must be received in writing.

**Winter Related Cancellations - Reservation dates during the winter season that encounter snowmobile trail conditions we deem un-ridable or trails closed by the state or county, can use their reservation deposit on future reservations through the winter season of the following year. Exceptions made for trail conditions are made no more than 72 hours prior to the guest’s arrival.

SECURITY DEPOSIT / DAMAGE PROTECTION PLAN

Credit Card on file may be used for damage deposit/excessive cleaning fee not to exceed $3000.00 for any lodging unit and another $3000.00 for any boat or watercraft rental. Reservation holder is responsible for the condition of their lodging unit (and/or boat/watercraft rental) upon departure. Renter accepts all costs of liability and physical damages to themselves or others with any boat, motor, cottage, or home rentals during the course of this reservation. The number of renters will not exceed the Party Size.

Tenant is responsible for any actual damage done to the property and its contents, whether accidental or willful, except normal wear and tear. The $1,000 Security Deposit may be applied to actual damages caused by a tenant as permitted under the Tenant Security Deposit Act.

Tenants agree to notify STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC as to any damages or accidents that occur to the premises, to both real property and personal property during your rental period. If there are no damages, STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC will refund the tenant’s security deposit within 21 days following the end of the tenancy.

WHO CAN RENT?

STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC reserves the right to rent to tenants age 25 or older. Any tenant under age 25 will not be allowed to check in and will be liable for lost rent and other monetary damages if the property is not re-rented. It is the policy of STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC to rent only to responsible groups due to our obligations to our homeowners. We lease homes without respect to the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, familial status, or sexual orientation of any party. No high school or college groups are permitted regardless of age.

STEPAWAY Vacation Rental LLC properties are not event-friendly and absolutely no house parties are allowed, including wedding receptions. Any group whose behavior creates a disruption or interferes with their neighbor’s peaceful enjoyment of their property will not be allowed to stay and no refund of rents will be made. Any group misrepresenting themselves will be denied occupancy and no refund of rents will be made.

Vacations are all about getting together and connecting with family and friends. We ask that tenants be respectful of the number of people that a home can accommodate. Gatherings that might exceed the occupancy level of the home by more than 50% will require pre-approval and could result in additional rent.

Extra persons charge: $125 per week or $25 per night (per person).

ADVANCE YEAR RESERVATION (7-NIGHT MINIMUM)

Provisional reservations (reservations for a future period for which rates have not been set) may be made up to 51 weeks in advance of arrival. A non-refundable administrative holding fee is required for provisional reservations and must be paid to STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC within 10 days of booking. This fee holds the home off the market until a Vacation Rental Agreement is sent and returned along with your deposit within the required time frame.

Owners have first priority, even over provisional advance year reservations, up until the reservation is confirmed. The current year’s tenant has first rights to rent the same house for the same week the following year. In order to do so, these priority reservations must be made by the close of business on the Friday of your arrival week. If not made within that time frame, properties are released for reservation on a first request basis the Monday after the week has passed. It is understood that rental rates and fees are subject to change and will be confirmed/finalized the following January.

DISCLOSURES        

STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC offers our rental properties without respect to the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, familial status, or sexual orientation of any guest.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Every effort is made to ensure that all information and photographs are accurate and complete. However, STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC cannot be held responsible for possible typographical errors; omissions; price changes; changes in taxes; changes in Terms & Conditions; or changes made by the vacation homeowners in furnishings, equipment, or bed arrangements. Vacation homes are privately owned, and changes may be made to homes or their contents. STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC reserves the right to correct any errors.

CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES

Check-in time is no earlier than 3:00 pm CST If you arrive before 3:00 pm, CST, you may stop by our office to see if the property is ready for early occupancy. Please keep in mind that early check-in is never promised or guaranteed.

Please note that you may not park at the property prior to check-in, even if you are not going into the house. STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC reserves the right to delay check-in until 4:00 pm, CST for special cleaning and maintenance circumstances. We thank you in advance for your patience as our staff works to properly prepare your home for vacation stay.

Check-out time is no later than 8:00 am, CST. During prime season, you may utilize our Express Phone Check-Out or simply bring your keys to our office and notify staff you have vacated. We do not refund for early departures or acts of God such as: power outages caused by severe weather.

ARRIVING AT THE PROPERTY    

Upon arrival at your rental property, tenants should complete an initial check of the unit for repairs and cleanliness. If there is a problem, please call our office at 715-891-7286 immediately so that we may address any issue promptly and appropriately. Each property will have a Guest Services Directory provided by STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC that may assist with initial troubleshooting for questions you may have. 

DOCK AND LAKE USE

The dock is for registered guest only. Swim at your own risk. NO DIVING ALLOWED. All lakes have public boat landings, please follow DNR rules and regulations for fishing and recreational use.

EQUIPMENT & APPLIANCES

Equipment and appliances in all STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC are provided by the owner and we make every effort to keep all equipment and appliances in good working order. Just as might occur at your own well-maintained home, mechanical failures and other breakdowns could occur. Please report any inoperative equipment by calling our office at 715-891-7286 promptly and we will make every reasonable effort to have the problem corrected as soon as humanly possible.

We ask for your patience and understanding that major repairs, such as air conditioning or appliance breakdowns, must be completed by a third party and STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC is dependent on their availability and scheduling. Maintenance technicians and vendors may access the property for purposes connected with the repair.

STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC cannot guarantee working condition of air conditioners, cable, phones, internet service, TVs, VCRs, DVDs, appliances, etc. Therefore, no refunds, rate adjustments or relocation will be made for mechanical failures and malfunctioning equipment.

GRILLING

Do no put charcoal in the gas grill. Additional propane is available if you run out. Please call STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC and we will get that out to you.

TRASH & RECYCLING PICK-UP

Please place all trash in the secure containers placed outside your unit. STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC will be out to collect garbage on Wednesday and check out day.  

HOUSEKEEPING

Please check your rental for any obvious housekeeping issues and report them immediately to the office at 715-891-7286. Any discrepancies with cleaning discovered upon arrival will be evaluated and corrected if necessary and if reported within 24 hours. Discrepancies reported at the end of tenancy will not be addressed or considered in any way.

All properties include departure cleaning service for Nightly and Weekly reservations. Tenant responsibility to complete the following items prior to departing.

·         Secure and lock all doors and windows.

·         Empty all trash cans and place trash and recyclables in outside receptacles.

·         Start the dishwasher so that housekeeping can put away clean, dry dishes.

·         Remove linens from beds and place on the floor in the room.

·         Remove all food and personal items.

·         Return all furnishings to their original positions.

INTERNET SERVICE / TELEPHONE / CABLE

Many of our vacation properties have either wired or wireless internet service, home telephones, and cable television packages. We understand the need to be connected is important, even when on vacation. If you experience connection problems, please call our office at 715-891-7286 to report the issue so that we can promptly contact the vendor/company for repair.

These services are contracted by the homeowner with a third-party vendor; therefore, STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC cannot guarantee the availability of these services and no refunds or relocation will occur in the instance of internet, telephone or cable services not working.

LOST & FOUND

Checking the property thoroughly before departure is highly recommended as STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC will not be responsible for any personal items left behind in a vacation rental. If you notice something is missing, please call our office right away and we will make every effort to locate and return the lost item(s). Any personal property found in the rental will be held for 30 days.

If item(s) is unclaimed after 30 days, it will be donated to a local charity or discarded. It is the tenant’s responsibility to contact STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC to arrange for personal property to be returned. If you request that we attempt to locate any forgotten articles for you, you may be charged a $25 service charge plus packing, shipping, handling, and tax. We utilize a local mailing store for the packing and return of left-behind items.

NEIGHBORING CONSTRUCTION

As our area continues to grow, we cannot predict or control any active construction projects going on near your vacation rental. Should you find yourself near construction, please realize that no refunds or relocation will be made as STEAPWAY Vacation Rentals LLC has no control regarding this matter.

OCCUPANCY & PARKING

Unless otherwise noted, STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC defines occupancy levels of no greater than two persons per bed (one person per twin bed). In no instance should occupancy exceed the bedding accommodations provided with the home. Children of all ages are included in the occupancy count.

Overcrowding is a serious situation and is grounds for immediate eviction. Please do not jeopardize your family and friends’ vacation by overcrowding. If you need to rent a second home to allow for the members in your group, please do so. Again, we ask that tenants be respectful of the number of people that a home can accommodate. Gatherings that might exceed the occupancy level of the home by more than 50% will require pre-approval and could result in additional rent.

Parking is limited to the driveway and designated parking spaces only. Tenants are not allowed to park in the yard or grass. RVs are not permitted on the grounds of any unit at any time. Boats, boat trailers, and equipment trailers are counted as a vehicle and must be parked in allocated spaces.

PET POLICY

Not all STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC allow pets please call the office to ask for pet-friendly accommodations. A $250 dollar pet charge will be added to your stay plus $150 for every pet after the first one. All damages will be paid for out of the security deposit. Please pick up all pet waste and dispose of it in a trash bag.  

SMOKING/VAPING POLICY

STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC is non-smoking and non-vaping. A few exceptions to that are listed as noted in the property description. If STEPAWAY Vacation Rentals LLC, at its sole discretion, determines a tenant is smoking and/or vaping in a property it will be considered a breach of contract and grounds for expedited eviction. Tenants will be charged a $250 fee as well as be held responsible for any and all costs associated with the removal of evidence, like cigarettes or smoke, including the loss of any future rent.

NO FIREWORKS

Any evidence of fireworks may result in immediate eviction with no refund.