Guest rental agreement

1. Parties and property

This agreement is between Joe and Alicia Swanson (“Host”) and the person who requests the stay (“Guest”) for the home booked on booknorthaustin.com (the “Property”). Card payments are processed by Stripe on the account of Grape Wine LLC. This is a short-term license to occupy the Property, not a Texas residential lease.

Property	City	Max guests	Pets
Lovely Leander Home in Quiet Area	Leander, TX	6	Up to 2, $100 per pet
Downtown RR Home Near Dining & Parks w/ GFiber	Round Rock, TX	7	No pets
Spacious Home Near Coffee and Cedar Park Shopping	Leander, TX	8	No pets
Leander Home w/ Shaded Backyard, Games and Grill	Leander, TX	6	No pets

The person booking must be at least 25, must be one of the people staying, and is responsible for everyone they bring. At booking, Guest gives a full name, phone, email, and the names of the adults on the stay. There is no extra-guest fee. Before Host can approve the request, Guest must upload a current government photo ID. The name on that ID must match the name on the booking and the name on the card. Host does not use Stripe Identity. A request without a valid government photo ID is declined. The image is stored privately and is not published on this site. Host deletes that image 30 days after checkout. If the request is declined or cancelled, Host deletes it 30 days after that decline or cancellation. Booking records are kept as described in the privacy notice. The door code is emailed only after the payments that are due have cleared.

2. Booking requests and approval

Every direct booking is a request. It is confirmed only after Joe or Alicia Swanson approves it and Guest pays the amount due at confirmation. If the request is declined, or if it is not approved within 24 hours, the request expires and no charge is kept. After approval, Guest has 24 hours to pay. Stays must be 2 to 61 nights.

3. Rates, fees, and taxes

Before paying, Guest sees an itemized total:

• Lodging for the nights booked
• Cleaning fee: $150 at every home, refunded if Guest cancels before check-in
• Pet fee: $100 per pet at Lovely Leander Home in Quiet Area only, maximum 2 pets, refunded if Guest cancels before check-in
• Taxes & fees: the hotel occupancy taxes that apply to the stay, shown as one line on the quote. They apply to lodging, cleaning, and pet fees.
• Refundable damage deposit: $300 at every home, charged separately (section 5). This is a charge, not a hold.

A stay of 30 or more consecutive nights may be exempt from hotel occupancy tax under Texas rules. Host applies that exemption when the stay qualifies. There is no extra-guest fee.

4. Payment schedule

Guest pays by Stripe Checkout and authorizes Host to save the card and charge it on this schedule:

1. At confirmation: 50% of lodging, cleaning, taxes & fees, and the pet fee when your quote shows one.
2. 14 days before check-in: the remaining 50%, charged automatically.
3. Booked within 14 days of check-in: 100% of lodging, cleaning, taxes & fees, and the pet fee when your quote shows one, at confirmation.
4. 2–3 days before check-in: the $300 refundable damage deposit, as a charge, not a hold.

If a scheduled charge fails, Host emails a payment link from [email protected] and retries the card. The door code and street address are sent only after every charge that is due has cleared.

5. Refundable damage deposit ($300)

• The $300 is a charge, not a hold. It is collected 2–3 days before check-in (or at confirmation if the stay is already inside that window).
• Host inspects the Property within 48 hours of checkout.
• Host does not deduct for normal wear and tear.
• After a clean checkout with no damage, missing items, excess cleaning, or rule violation, Host refunds the $300 within 24 hours of the inspection. Banks may take additional days to post the refund. If no claim is made within 3 days after checkout, Host refunds the refundable damage deposit.
• Any deduction is explained in an itemized statement with photos and receipts, sent within 3 days after checkout. Those costs come out of the $300. Any remainder is refunded.
• Guest owes damage above $300, documented with photos and receipts. Host may charge the card on file for that excess.
• Smoking or vaping inside, or an unapproved pet, forfeits the entire $300 refundable damage deposit.
• If Guest cancels before check-in after the refundable damage deposit was charged, the $300 is refunded.

6. Cancellations, no-shows, and refunds

The cancellation dates for the specific stay are shown on the quote, at checkout, and in the confirmation email. Times are Central Time, using the 4:00 p.m. check-in time.

When Guest cancels	Refund of lodging and taxes
By 4:00 p.m. Central, 7 days before check-in	100%
After that deadline and before 4:00 p.m. Central on the check-in day	50%
After 4:00 p.m. Central check-in, early departure, or no-show	None

• The cleaning fee, the pet fee when one was charged, and the refundable damage deposit are refunded in full when Guest cancels before check-in.
• Taxes on a refunded amount are refunded with it.
• No-show: if Guest has not arrived and has not called or emailed within 24 hours of check-in, Host releases the dates. No lodging or tax refund is owed.
• If Host must cancel, Guest receives a 100% refund of amounts paid. Host’s liability is limited to that refund.
• Refunds go back to the original card. Banks may take several business days to post them. Stripe’s processing fee is not returned by Stripe; that does not reduce the refund Guest receives under this section.

7. House rules

Breaking these rules can end the stay with no refund of lodging or tax (section 8). The full list is also on the house rules page.

• Check-in 4:00 p.m. and checkout 11:00 a.m. Central, at all four homes. A different time only with Host’s written approval.
• Quiet hours 10:00 p.m.–8:00 a.m. at all four homes.
• Occupancy: no more people than the maximum in section 1 may stay overnight. Day visitors count toward that maximum. There is no extra-guest fee and no separate infant rule. A pack-and-play is at each house.
• No smoking or vaping of any substance inside the home. Smoking or vaping inside forfeits the entire $300 refundable damage deposit.
• No parties or events, and no commercial photography or filming without written approval.
• Pets: Lovely Leander Home in Quiet Area only, maximum 2, $100 each, no breed limit, declared at booking. Dogs must be crated when guests are away or out. An unapproved pet forfeits the entire $300 refundable damage deposit. Downtown RR Home Near Dining & Parks w/ GFiber, Spacious Home Near Coffee and Cedar Park Shopping, and Leander Home w/ Shaded Backyard, Games and Grill do not allow pets.
• Service animals are welcome at all four homes at no charge. Emotional support animals are not service animals.
• None of the homes has a pool or a hot tub.
• Guest follows parking rules, HOA rules, and noise ordinances, locks the home, and reports problems promptly.

8. Violations and removal

For noise or occupancy problems, Host gives one warning when that is practical. After a second violation, or immediately for a party, unregistered overnight guests, illegal activity, or danger to people or the home, Host may end the stay. Guest must leave within 1 hour, forfeits lodging and tax already paid, and pays resulting fines, damage, or cleaning above the refundable damage deposit.

9. Indemnification, liability, and safety

GUEST ASSUMES THE RISKS OF USING THE PROPERTY AND WILL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE HOST FROM CLAIMS, FINES, DAMAGES, AND COSTS CAUSED BY GUEST OR GUEST'S INVITEES, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT RELEASE THE HOST FROM LIABILITY FOR THE HOST'S OWN NEGLIGENCE.

Guest uses the Property at their own risk, including stairs, balconies, and yards. There is no pool and no hot tub. Children must be supervised. Guest acknowledges the risk of the grill, yard games, and outdoor equipment. Host is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings. Host’s total liability under this agreement will not exceed the amount Guest paid for the reservation.

Each home has smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and a fire extinguisher. Guest must not disable or tamper with them.

10. Host entry

Host or a contractor may enter with reasonable notice for repairs, maintenance, or to check that rules are being followed. In an emergency, Host may enter without notice.

11. Privacy, cameras, and photos

A Ring doorbell camera is outside the front door only. There are no cameras and no recording devices inside any home. Guest information is used to manage the reservation and as described in the privacy notice. The government photo ID image is deleted 30 days after checkout, or 30 days after a decline or cancellation. Booking records keep the retention in the privacy notice. Host may photograph the Property for marketing and will not use photos of Guest without consent.

12. Force majeure

Neither party is liable for failure to perform because of events beyond its control, such as severe weather, natural disaster, utility outage, government order, or epidemic. If the Property cannot be used because of such an event, Host refunds the amounts Guest paid for the nights that cannot be used, including a full refund when the whole stay is cancelled before check-in.

13. Governing law

Texas law governs this agreement. Disputes are heard in the courts of Williamson County, Texas.

14. No transfer or assignment

This booking cannot be transferred or assigned. The guest list cannot be changed without Host’s approval.

15. Entire agreement and acceptance

This agreement, the house rules, and the booking confirmation are the entire agreement. If any part is unenforceable, the rest remains. Guest accepts by checking separate boxes for (a) this agreement, (b) the house rules, and (c) an accurate guest and pet count. Host records agreement version 2026-10-14, the date and time, and the IP address used to submit the request.

Questions: [email protected]