As we emerged from our post-holiday food coma, we knew it was a good time time to talk about vacation homes. (We know, we miss summer too...) To help you plan early we have some tips and a few sites to try:
Book Early
If you are looking for a peak season rental (i.e. summer Lake House) book early. Whether it is for a weekend or an entire summer, these places are popular so make your plans and get things finalized. When June comes around, you will be doing less scrambling and more lakefront lounging.
Read the Reviews
Many sites allow users to review a place once they've stayed there. If Yelp has taught us anything, people are much more likely to voice unhappy opinions than their good experiences. That being said, if the water pressure comes up in a post, expect it to be an issue. The reviews are there to help you make an educated decision so use them!
Map It Out
Family vacay to Florida? The post reads "walking distance to Disney" and upon arriving you find out that "walking distance" translates to a 30 minute hike down some treacherous back roads. Property listings are sales pitches so make sure you know where you will be. If it is a major city, test out Everyblock.com to get crime information, restaurant reviews, and news stories about the immediate neighborhood you're considering.
Negotiate
Some of the by owner sites allow you to have direct contact with the owners. If you need an extra day or want to haggle on pricing, you just may be able to. If you are planning ahead you will have a bit more leverage. If you're looking for next weekend and they are the only place left in town, get ready to pay a premium.
Contact A Real Estate Broker
If this is for a longer term rental (1+ months), you may want a professional helping you navigate the options. Unlike full term leases, not all short term rentals offer to pay agent commission. If you decide to work with an agent, put the terms in writing. More often than not you will owe the agent a commission but you might be able to swing a flat fee for their help. If you do this, mention the sites and stop over-analyzing. You are paying someone else to think for you.
Here are three sites we recommend whether you are looking for a glamorous downtown suite, a cozy Michigan hideaway, or a beachfront respite in Florida.
1. Homeaway.com / Vacationrentals.com
2. CorporateHousingByOwner.com
3. VRBO.com
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: furnished rentals, rent, vacation
It's always cheaper to plan and book the hotels some time before the trip, but i usually prefer to arrange a vacation rentals, because it's' better when you are going with your family =)