Planning where to go and what to do for your summer vacation can be stressful enough, not to mention the hassle of trying to find a place to stay. The decision is obvious when it comes to choosing a motel over a lavish 4 bedroom home with a full-sized pool, however be aware of the fake deals that are ‘too good to be true’ by using the following tips and stories, courtesy of Valley Central, from previous experiences such as this:
“Oh, my goodness. I heard from a doctor recently. He lost $10,000 to a person posing as a rental manager. He contacted me, scrambling, looking for a rental property for he and his family.”
There are several variations on the theme, but one common one is really simple. The crook just tells you they own the vacation rental when they actually don’t.
You wire thousands for a deposit, you show up with your suitcases in hand, and that’s when you find out you’ve been had.
How do you avoid the ultimate vacation nightmare?
Step one, talk to the owner or agent. You can even ask them to Skype while at the property so you can make sure it matches the pictures you’re seeing online.
And hopefully they’ll be someone who’s been around for awhile.
“I’ve been in the business for 35 years. I’m licensed. I’m regulated. I’m reputable. I’m a member of the Better Business Bureau. I have a great rating.”
Of course, checking reviews also helps.
And when it’s time to pay, there’s only one way. Credit card. No wire transfers, no debit cards, no money orders. No exceptions.
And of course, as with most things in life: beware of things that seem too good to be true. Trust your gut.
If it’s too cheap relative to others, there’s a reason.
Last bit of advice? If you find a place you like, rent it again.
That way you’ll know what you’re getting, and you know that landlord, who may give you a discount. next time. Now what you need is more information on finding that perfect vacation rental.
And it’s waiting for you at moneytalksnews.com. Just do a search for “vacation rentals.”
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Source: Valley Central
