Tips on vacation home rentals. The most important question to ask before renting a vacation home. As a consumer, you want to get the most out of your vacation home rental. What should you look out for? Will...
As a consumer, you want to get the most out of your vacation home rental. What should you look out for? Will Mello, owner of Online Vacations, a website where homeowners advertise their vacation properties, has tips to make your vacation experience much more pleasurable.
"Ask whoever you are talking to on the phone about every fee and tax, because what we are finding is that a lot of people are complaining that some rental companies don't tell you about all the taxes and information until you actually confirm the reservation and show up at their office. So I would recommend anybody searching for vacation spots to make sure they specifically ask for the total, including all fees and taxes," Mello says.
Mello says January and February are the busiest months. You need to book as early as possible. Those properties that are near the water will be the first to get snatched up. If you can book a year in advance that is ideal. The more competitive the area, the more planning you should do. The same idea holds true, if you want to book during a holiday or holiday weekend.
If you do not want your vacation spot to be near the water, you can always look to the mountains. Booking your vacations in the summer instead of winter in places like Vermont and Colorado can really save you some money. You will still get beautiful scenery, but for much less. If you're not interested in skiing this may be the perfect option for you.
During the time of July and August, you will see vacation home rentals skyrocket. This is the high season. If you book in late May or early June you can save yourself a bundle. Savings are estimated to be in the range of 30 to 50 percent. If you wait until after Labor Day, you can cut your costs dramatically, by almost 50 percent.
Avoid rental agents whenever possible. With the invention of the internet there are more choices than ever. Rental owners won't make you pay all the extra fees, and you can save money down the road.
Many people think about their vacation rentals as a home away from home. So before you invest, make sure that all the amenities you're used to at home will be available to you and your family.
Generally, your kitchenware and your utensils are provided. But you may want to ask if there is Internet access or a highchair that's available. See if a washer and dryer or a dishwasher is available. Find out if the rental is pet-friendly and if pool areas are gated if you have children.
In the end, don't be afraid to ask questions. You can always ask a rental owner to come down in cost on the property. Mello says many people aren't aware that they can do this. But if you don't try, you will never find out. What do you have to lose? Mello says the more research you do on finding your dream vacation spot, the more enjoyable your vacation will be.
