FARM VACATIONS:

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While you're at it, this is the time to mention to your prospec tive guests any activities you would rather they did not engage in while visiting you. Some of these might be hunting, excessive drinking and riding motorcycles or snowmobiles. A tactfully phrased sentence in the letter may help to prevent an uncomfortable if not disastrous situation later on.

[4] Pets. If you have dogs or cats of your own, it's a pretty sure bet that you'll ask visitors to leave their animals at home. If you do feel that you can accommodate an occasional furry friend, make it clear whether the pet will be allowed inside your house or given quarters outside.

[5] It's difficult to set up any guidelines on what to charge, since accommodations vary so greatly and prices are changing every year. Just to give you an idea of the going rates, the 1971- 72 Farm and Ranch Vacation Guide quotes prices that range from $55.00 to $200 for one adult per week ... and it's fairly certain that these figures will have increased with the rising cost of living.

An establishment that charges $200 a week, of course, is not a typical farm but more of a luxury hotel in a country setting. The Mertens—at the other extreme—ask only $65.00 per week for adults and $35.00 for children. When you set the rates for your business, you'll probably be wise to stay on the lower end of this price scale ... let's say not over $100 per week.

Try to arrive at a figure that you feel is fair for both parties. If it begins to look like too much or too little, you can always alter the price for your next season. Ask your prospective customers to make advance reservations and to send a deposit.

HOW TO GET READY

After you've received some inquiries, sent out the form letters and waited impatiently, the first actual reservation may come as a shock. Your initial reaction may well be something like, "Ohmigosh, what have we gotten ourselves into?" There's no need for panic, however ... after the first few visitors, the whole matter will become very simple. Remember that it's just the newness of the situation that's throwing you into a tizzy.

Here's an approach that may help you relax: Pretend that the family of some distant cousin (whom you don't know very well) is coming to stay for a week. What would you do to get ready? Well, you'd clean the house a little, put fresh sheets on the beds and make sure that the guest rooms have the proper number of pillows and light bulbs. Then you might eliminate the throw rug that so many people have tripped on, make sure the toilet isn't going to go on strike and locate and eradicate that bad smell in the back room ... just simple measures that will make the visit more comfortable for all of you.

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