AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
Last year I was tasked with finding not one, but three vacation rentals, on the Oregon Coast for a family reunion. It sounded like an easy enough project. But it was harder than I anticipated. First, I needed a ground level entry (or wheelchair ramp) and first-floor bedroom with its own bathroom for my 95-year old grandfather. Second, my son has major pet allergies and we didn't want to take a chance on a house that allowed pets for fear it wouldn't be cleaned well enough. And then there was trying to accomodate everyone's bed/bedroom preferences. It was insane.
So if you're anticipating a vacation rental for a small or large group, here are some tips for finding a great one:
1) If you know where you are going and when you're going, do an online search for that specific area. You might find some local property managers who will be able to help you find what you are looking for with a quick phone call or email. This can be the easiest when you aren't that flexible.
2) If your destination is relatively flexible, check out some of the bigger vacation rental sites. Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO.com) has a lot of listings. You can sort by number of bedrooms or the number it sleeps but not by price which can be frustrating. But since most of these have you contacting the owner directly for information, it is easier to attempt a little negotiation on price. Some other sites to check: Free-Rentals.com, Alwaysonvacation.com, HomeAway.com, and A1Vacations.com. There are endless more sites but these will give you a lot to work with.
3) If your timeframe is flexible and particularly if it close, check Craigslist.org for owners discounting on unreserved last minute dates. Sometimes owners will offer a discount up front but if nothing is mentioned and you are reserving in an off-season or within a month or two of your desired arrival date, ask for a discount. If you're really a last minute person, check LicketyTrip.com for deals on vacation rentals available within the next two weeks. Again, most won't offer you a discount, but if they are trying to get a booking on less than two weeks notice, you are in a great position to bargain.
Sadly, our family reunion was cancelled due to a family emergency, but we're trying again this spring.
Comments
Have you checked out NoPayTenants.com?
Thanks for addressing this challenge, Rachelle! It can be really overwhelming to sort through the millions of options out there. To expand on point #1, property managers can often help fit you into a rental that suits your trip. While you're most often renting a property that's owned by an individual, the property manager can have dozens if not hundreds of vacation rentals to choose from w/ all kinds of amenities & varieties.
A good place to find companies is through the Vacation Rental Managers Association - It has over 500 management companies as members, who are mapped on its "Discover Vacation Homes" website, www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com.
Together, they represent about 150,000 vacation rental homes, condos and villas.
I'd also recommend looking for 3rd-party endorsements on the websites of rental companies, including approval from AAA, as well as membership in industry associations like the Better Business Bureau, VRMA and local property mgmt groups!
I highly recommend that people check out LOCAL websites before going crazy trying to find places on the large sites. When you land on a site like VRBO you are searching the world. Do a Bing or Google search for the area or city you are looking for.
For example, if you are looking to visit the oregon coast - search Oregon Coast Rentals. For Florida Gulf Coast, search Florida Gulf Vacations, or something similar. You will get niche sites that specialize in the region, have more and better information, as well as often have the best deals available.
Just a thought
Check out "Beachfront Only Vacation Rentals" We have several beachfront properties in North County San Diego, with last minute, advanced booking, and online discounts. Check out our reviews!
If you have not heard of Second Porch, you might want to take a couple minutes (about 3-5) and list your property on the only vacation rental and trade application available in the Facebook environment!
Here's the application page: wwww apps.facebook.com/secondporch/
It doesnt cost anything and you control who you share your property with.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Ron
Second Porch
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