MEDIA

When you are looking for a vacation rental, consider booking direct with the vacation rental owner. There are a number of advantages when booking direct and some disadvantages that can be avoided by following our list of tips. The advantages include being able to speak directly with the owner, who knows the property intimately and therefore able to accurately answer all of your questions. Often owner direct homes rent for less money than the neighbor vacation rentals that are professionally managed. And booking direct also gives you an opportunity to negotiate some great deals. The disadvantage of booking direct is that there are no standards to guarantee the quality of the vacation rental or the professionalism of the owner. Here is a list of tips to follow when booking a vacation rental, especially when it is direct through an owner.

A renter’s agreement is best, but a confirmation that states all the details of the reservation is acceptable. Included on your confirmation should be the following.

If the home is not professionally cleaned, there is a chance that it won’t meet your standards. Especially, if it is up to the guests to clean the property before they vacate. If you have a choice of cleaning the home or paying for a professional service, consider if you really want the hassle of cleaning the home on your vacation.

Typically, vacation rentals that use a professional cleaning service, will ask you to remove linens from the beds and start a load of wash before you leave. The kitchen should be clean and the dishwasher loaded and left running.

Be sure that the kitchen is fully equipped with all the appliances and pots and pans you will require for the vacation. Also be sure there are enough place settings for everyone in your party.

Carefully, go over with the owner exactly where everyone will sleep. Ask about the age and comfort of sofa sleepers. Make sure there is bedding for every couple and that you aren’t expecting adults to sleep in child size beds.

If anyone in your group has trouble with stairs, be sure to clarify how many stairs there are into the property. Understand where the bedrooms are in relation to bathrooms and the main floor.

If you are looking for a home that is walking distance to attractions, clarify with the owner that there are no highways or hills on the walk. If you want to be able to drive to a nearby attraction, be sure to ask about driving times to and from this attraction during peak traffic hours.

There may be a gorgeous view of the ocean or lake from this property. But how old is this photo? Have the trees grown enough to block this view? Where was the photo taken? Was it from the deck? Did the photographer zoom into the view before taking the photo?