COVID-19 Updates
FAQs
How Has COVID Changed Your Cleaning Practices?
What Does Your Cleaning Service Do?
What About Cleaning During Your Stay?
How Can I Purchase Your Preferred Cleaning Products?
Are We Required to Wear Face Coverings or Masks?
What About Air Quality During Our Stay?
What Happens During Guest Contact?
Do You Refund for COVID-19?
What About Food and Other Consumables in the Home?
Is There Stable Internet for Remote Working?
Are There Enhanced Digital Entertainment Options?
Where Can I Get a COVID Test?
Did We Miss Anything?
How Has COVID Changed Your Cleaning Practices?
Not much has had to change. We are proud to say that our cleaning practices have long been standardized. Cleanliness is essential to a great guest experience.
We have been renting out our condo since 2001, starting with a large vacation rental company. We took over management in 2006 to gain greater oversight of cleaning and maintenance. This allows us to directly hire trusted local vendors with known practices and staff. Periodic inspections and deep cleaning are routine.
For many years, we worked with Harriet's Condo Services. Harriet also handled the light maintenance in Cypress Bend and was well known for her high attention to detail. Harriet and her company set a high bar.
Harriet decided to semi-retire in 2018, but her protégé Angelina took over her clients. Like Harriet, Angelina has a well trained staff and high standards. Like Harriet, Angelina not only cleans the home, she also provides linens and towels for guests.
What Does Your Cleaning Service Do?
- Abide by the COVID cleaning procedures recommended by the CDC. These are consistent with the standards of various vacation rental listing sites such as VRBO and Airbnb. Those standards are also based on CDC guidelines.
- Clean with EPA approved disinfectants and sanitizers for coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Wipe down all high touch surfaces with sanitizer.
- Spray disinfectant spray when upon entering and leaving when cleaning the unit.
- Provide white towels and linens which are taken off site for cleaning. Towels and linens are washed in hot water. Bleach is used in the laundry.
- Key staff members have been vaccinated as of this date.
- When coming into contact with a guest, the staff wears masks if needed or if it makes guests more comfortable. The required mask wearing policy may become more stringent at any particular time based upon CDC and government guidance.
What About Cleaning During Your Stay?
This home is provided to you professionally cleaned and sanitized and ready for your stay. We provide for departure cleaning after your stay. Daily housekeeping is not provided.
For your convenience, we leave cleaning products for your use while at the condo. This has been our practice for years. Cleaning products are kept underneath the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. For years, we have provided Lysol Brand All Purpose Cleaner. It is on the EPA's List-N of approved products to treat coronavirus (https://cfpub.epa.gov/wizards/disinfectants/). We especially like this product because it cleans effectively without harming other surfaces, unlike bleach. Note that Lysol products are also used by the Hilton hotel chain, which has partnered with Reckitt, the maker of Lysol, to develop its cleanliness program. (https://covid.hilton.com/)
Other favorite cleaners that we provide are Comet Disinfectant Cleaner with Bleach and a generic ammonia based window cleaner. Dishwashing detergent and dishwasher cleansers are also provided. Disinfectant wipes are frequently available, but are more apt to run out. If wipes are not present during your stay, disinfectant spray used in conjunction with a damp paper towel is an effective alternative to disinfectant wipes. Wipes and paper towels only not meant to be flushed down toilets. Only pee, poop, and toilet paper should go into the toilet.
Starter supplies of paper towels, toilet paper, and soap supplied for your stay. Bring or buy sufficient additional supplies to get you through your stay. You are encouraged to bring your own hand sanitizer.
We may substitute brands of products depending upon availability.
Supplied cleaning products are intended for guest use while at the home. Notify us if you find that a product is running low so that we can plan to replenish it for the next guest.
How Can I Purchase Your Preferred Cleaning Products?
Recently, we have found that our guests have been as delighted with our choice of cleaning products as are we. Do not take our cleaning products home with you when you leave.
You may order a gift basket with an assortment of our preferred products for later delivery by mail. Based upon post-pandemic preferences, your relatives may actually prefer this as a holiday gift over a holiday fruitcake or cheese ball. Shipping and delivery times may vary.
Ordering a gift basket will be significantly less expensive than the charges applied if it is discovered that plentiful cleaning supplies have been wiped out after a short guest stay.
To place an order, email your request to info@cypressbendbarefootresort.com.
Are We Required to Wear Face Coverings or Masks?
Governmental regulations and recommendations regarding face coverings and masks are apt to rapidly change. We encourage you to follow to best and safest practices for yourself and others, regardless of what the minimum requirements are at any particular time.
As of the summer of 2021, masks are not required for fully vaccinated persons nor is social distancing required for visitors of North Myrtle Beach. However, COVID can still be still be caught and transmitted by fully vaccinated people. The advantage to being fully vaccinated is that people are less likely to catch coronavirus, and if they do, their illnesses are likely to be minor.
Regardless of governmental guidelines in place at a particular time, all guests are encouraged to carry a freshly washed face mask or fresh disposable face mask with them during their stay and travels in the event you may encounter a situation where it is either desired, respectful, or required. This would allow you to fully experience the intersection of Southern hospitality and Southern preparation.
Regardless of your vaccination status, we encourage all guests to continue practice the cleanliness habits of frequent hand washing, hand sanitizing, and covering your noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing. All guests are encouraged to follow safe practices before, during, and after travel to our region.
Lastly, we are extremely proud of the type of guests that we have repeatedly attracted over the years. Our typical guest would naturally be respectful and observant of those with more stringent practices than theirs, and easily and politely adapt their behavior to suit the particular circumstance. In other words, our guests are not drama llamas.
What About Air Quality During Our Stay?
Our heating and air conditioning systems are central systems and are ducted. For some, this inherently means that fresh outdoor air is exchanged for stale indoor air. Scientists are mixed on whether this mitigates the risk of COVID transmission. However, few can argue that fresh air is a good thing.
Our home has screened windows and balconies. When weather conditions allow and the central HVAC is turned off, opening the patio door increases outdoor air flow.
Ceiling fans are provided in the bedrooms and in the living room. This helps circulate air in a home, and helps with air exchange when the patio door is open.
Our air filters for the HVAC system are appropriately sized for the system. The HVAC system is cleaned and serviced biannually to ensure good operation and air flow. We do not use high ERV air filters because they can potentially damage the HVAC system. When we have short-term guests, HVAC filters are changed monthly. When we have snowbirds and other longer extended stay guests, HVAC filters are changed before and after their stay. Extra filters are left for longer term guests to change filters during their stay.
Our bathroom vent fans are exhausted to the outside. They should always be used when showering. Always leave the bathroom fans on for a few minutes after showering with the bathroom door open. The open door allows for adequate air exchange in order to vent effectively to the outside.
Likewise, leave the dryer door open after using. This allows for adequate ventilation to the outside.
References
- (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html).
- (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/08/15/897147164/can-air-conditioners-spread-covid-19).
What Happens During Guest Contact?
We make every effort to minimize person to person contact during your stay.
Most communication will be paperless.
We offer cash-free methods of payment.
Guest check-in procedures may vary, depending upon current circumstances. Instructions for your specific check-in and access will be sent to you just prior to your scheduled check-in time. These instructions are typically delivered via sms (text messaging) or email.
In person check-ins may be socially distanced or behind plexiglass or other protective barrier. Items may be slid to you instead of placed directly in your hand. Pens may be disinfected before and after use.
Monthly extermination is provided by the homeowner's association. The exterminators follow their own list of standard practices. Failure to allow the exterminator access may result in added charges to you.
We endeavor to eliminate the need for any other service personnel to come during your stay. If an issue is minor, we will apologize for the inconvenience but defer repairs until the home is vacant. We find that this is best for both the guests and the service personnel. Supply chain issues may also defer certain repairs or replacements. Health and safety recommendations and regulations may vary at any particular time during or after the pandemic. We aim to have a policy that is applicable to multiple situations.
Do You Refund for COVID-19?
We encourage you to obtain travel insurance which covers COVID-19. We give information about some options here. We no longer refund for COVID-19.
What About Food and Other Consumables in the Home?
At times, guests may leave food and other consumables for the use of subsequent guests. We may or may not discard such consumables after a stay. We assume no responsibility for any items used. Guests assume all risks and liability for the use of any consumables in the home.
Is There Stable Internet for Remote Working?
As of fall of 2020, we now have fiber optic internet provided by HTC. Fiber optic internet provides greater reliability, security, and speed. This provides for an enhanced remote work experience.
Are There Enhanced Digital Entertainment Options?
The fiber optic internet upgrade comes with a wider range of digital TV channels. Channels 2 and 3 provide broadcast listings and a list of digital channels, respectively. To take advantage of the upgrade, digital TVs are now provided in all bedrooms and in the living room. TV sizes range in size from 32" to 40". You may also bring your Roku or Amazon FireStick to access your digital subscriptions. Spiritual, religious, and meditation apps and programming may also be available via your digital subscriptions to enhance your relaxation and well-being during and after your stay.
Where Can I Get a COVID Test?
Nearby COVID testing sites can be found here.
Did We Miss Anything?
If we missed anything, please let us know so that we can try to correct it. We are only human, but we do value a clean and pleasant environment for our guests and associates.