Protect Your Family from Vacation Rental Scams!

Five Travel Savvy Tips

We are pleased to offer this article from Find Rentals who works hard to support and promote professionally managed vacation rentals and the property management companies who rent them.

By Deborah Nelson, VRTG Publisher and Travel Writer

You found a dream vacation home on a popular vacation home site … The photos, reviews, and description paint a picture of paradise. The emails are warm and friendly; engaging and helpful. Hanging out in this vacation rental home might be one of your best vacation memories ever! More space. Less noise. More privacy. Less expensive. More kitchen. Less eating out.

These Five Travel Savvy Tips are brought to us, courtesy of the Find Rentals Website.

Booking Vacation Rentals Online

Wait. Is it “too good to be true? Maybe. Maybe not. Scammers, thieves, and unscrupulous owners may be looming on the horizon, but most likely not. Most travelers who rent vacation homes never have a problem. Never ever. Yet the slim possibility of a vacation rental nightmare could be yours if you fall prey to their trap. Whether an unscrupulous owner keeps your deposit, or you find yourself in a far away land with a rental in disrepair, your rights may be limited. The simple solution–lower your risk by booking only with professionally managed vacation rentals.

Article from USA TODAY

FROM USA TODAY. “You may have found a dream rental on a website like VRBO or HomeAway, but it doesn’t mean the listing is credible or that you have any automatic rights. For instance, as VRBO states on its disclaimer page, the site is an advertising medium for property owners and managers to list properties and it does not verify the accuracy of its listings.” (Read More) But no worries. Vacation rental nightmares are easy to prevent with these five travel savvy tips:

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Look for Reviews but Not Random Online Reviews

It is not wise to base your booking decision mostly or solely on reviews posted on listing sites. Of course trending reviews are reassuring and comforting at the moment. But unscrupulous owners and scammers may engineer “bad reviews” against the competition. At the same time they might also be falsifying good reviews for their own listings. Policies vary between vacation rental listing sites. Some sites allow the account holders to choose options to hide, delete, or diminish bad reviews. Reviews can be skewed according to the taste and experience of guests. And, they are not always accurate, or reliable. For professional vacation rental reviews by seasoned travel writers, see The Vacation Rental Travel Guide.

Use Professionally Managed Vacation Rentals (PMVR)

”For extra assurances, book through a property management agency. Vacation rental agencies serve as a middle-man for owners and renters. Reputable agencies put in place certain standards their owners meet before agreeing to manage their property, including contracts with rights for the renters and detailing the services provided.” (USA TODAY)

Benefits of PMVRs

When you book with PMVR, in the event of an emergency, they will offer you options. Should the property become unavailable, the agency can place you in an equal or better property. When renting from an owner directly, the back up properties will not be available. And, if you need multiple properties for retreats, events, and reunions, PMVR can handle your needs. PMVR are on the job full-time and can be responsive to your vacation timeline. And with PMVR you can expect great customer service.

When renting with a PMVR you rent with peace of mind knowing that the rental does exist. You will be offered more pricing options and availability. Can’t find a wine opener? A local guide? A massage at home? Perhaps you would like a translator. Most professionally managed vacation rentals are connected to these services, and will help with your extra concierge needs quickly. Learn more about the Find Rentals professionally management seal for professionally managed vacation rentals

To see Tips 3, 4 and Tips 5, Visit Find Rentals.