GlocalCities.com

Private or Company-owned

Privately owned vacation rentals are considerably cheaper than those owned by management companies. But they don’t have the same advantages as company-owned properties. Although there are property managers and owners willing to throw in caretaker services along with the deal, don’t expect everybody to join in the cause. If you’re looking for safety features, company-owned properties have pre-screening and 24-hour support services in case something goes wrong with the property.

Always look for more photos

Some websites limit the photos to a minimum as per subscription option. But, even so, it is necessary to look for multiple photos of the property. These images should include specific previews of the interior and exteriors of the property.

Be specific during inquiries

When a property piques your interest, it is important to be extremely specific in your inquiries. Ask detailed questions with regards to just about everything, from kitchen gears to sleeping arrangements and nearest amenities to possible facility breakdown. This is usually done through e-mail. And if the owner or manager took their time responding, take that as a red flag and move on to the next property.

Check it out yourself

No, you don’t have to go to the actual location of the vacation rental. Instead, you can do your own checking through Google Map. Fortunately, many rental hosting websites now feature Google Map to give you a pin-point location of the property. You can also check for a Google Street View feature, which can be tremendously helpful in getting a closer look at the property’s neighborhood.

Be careful when paying for the rental

Never opt for money transfer services but use your credit card if possible. There are even plenty of vacation rental owners that accept payments through PayPal. Furthermore, to make sure that the property will not be foreclosed once you get there, consider booking it as close to your vacation date as possible.