So you’re planning the holidays, you fancy something in the sun, but where to go? Who is coming? How many?
Will we rent a luxury condo or house instead of staying in a hotel? Well you can make big savings by taking a Villa. Plus, you’ll have more space and privacy to relax and enjoy your home away from home. Check if those houses are using solar renewable energy plans like those offered by Reliant Energy Houston, so you’ll probably have to pay a much lower power bill. Renting a vacation home is an especially smart choice if you’re traveling with a group of friend or with kids.
Here are some tips to help you get the biggest bang for your buck.
1. Once you choose a destination.
If you’re looking for sensational savings your best bet is to choose a destination where there are a lot of holiday rentals on the market, keeping prices competitive. You can find some of the best bargains on vacation home rentals online if you know what to ask about and how to protect yourself as a renter. Don’t be shy contact the owner and ask for a deal.
2. Comparison sites- way to go!
Now it’s easier than ever to comparison shop when you’re looking to save on a vacation home rental. You can find some of the best rental home listings the net has to offer on sites like holiday121 and other consolidator sites like these. These are referral sites not booking site and you can check out many homes at the same time to get the best prices and most suitable dates and keep a record of sites visited.
3. Don’t send money.
When renting a vacation home, never send anyone money it’s a bad idea. Pay by credit card or PayPal where you have some come back.
Ask for references, and check out their Web site and their track record. Read their reviews! Read the fine print. Is there a cancellation policy? What if you have to leave early? Does it stipulate when you will get your breakage deposit back? Spend the time up front checking things out so you won’t have any hassles later.
4. Know exactly what’s included.
When you book a rental home for your holidays it’s a short term rental and everything should be included, if there are extras like pool heat, these will be stipulated on the invoice.
Most rental homes will say “everything’s included,” but you want to double-check to be sure that there are no hidden surcharges there should not be any.
If utilities, Internet and cable are included, does this mean the property has Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet? Is it basic cable or premium? If electricity is paid is there a cap? Many properties will say they include utilities, electricity and gas and then the fine print says it’s included, up to the first $200.
Recommendation; don’t touch a short term rental that is not all inclusive.
5. Who is the local management company?
Ask who has the local management of the property these are a very important part of the service and backup. Your rental contract should include who to call if your dishwasher breaks or there’s some other problem with the property. It should also state a time frame for fixing any major problems. You don’t want to rent a home and have the hot water heater conk out and end up with cold showers for two week. The information should also be posted in a contact book inside the property. Make sure you have a phone number and email address of the contact and if possible get a second person as a backup.
