Don’t judge the book by the cover. Nothing could be more true than when you are selecting your travel accommodations. Sure, it is nice to look at the pictures and read some reviews but asking the right questions will truly tell the whole story. The truth is, people are only going to put out their best pictures and their best reviews. Try to dig for the whole story and then make a decision.
Questions to ask:
Location: How close are you to those things that you are looking forward to doing. Are you headed out golfing? Make sure that all of those beautiful golf courses you have been dreaming about are truly close to your vacation rental. Get detailed information about the homes that sit right next to your vacation rental as well. Are you planning on being a little loud with your travel group? Well remember, a lot of vacation rentals are situated right in residential areas and this may be a problem.
Floor Plan: So you are taking a large group and getting a vacation rental so the kids can go to bed early and the adults can have a little “adult time”. Your plan is not going to work out so well if all of the kids rooms are located right off of the gathering room. This is obviously just one example, but make sure that you are aware of the home configuration so you are comfortable in your vacation rental home.
Area Activities: You are going on vacation in a vacation rental home that sits in a part of the country you are completely unfamiliar with, get some input from the property owner. This is your very own built in travel agent. The property owner can tell you about local parks, restaurants, and featured attractions that you would have never known about. Trust me, property owners love to make the renter’s experience wonderful. Anything they can do to enhance your experience will be their pleasure. However, you need to ask the questions or it may never come out.
Home Furnishings: Make sure you are well aware of how the furnishing and amenities in the homes operate. You may want to use the fireplace, the hot tub, or the hide-a-bed. Make sure that you are aware of any little tips or secrets that the owner has to make these function properly. It is so much easier to ask up front instead of discussing problems later. Most property owners will outline these items in writing for you but it never hurts to ask.
Parking: Make sure there are enough parking spaces for your vehicles. Especially if you are going to have multiple cars in a residential neighborhood.
Owner’s Cancellation Policy: Although we all hope that your vacation goes off without a hitch, the truth is that sometimes things come up. Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the cancellation policy. Even though this is probably outlined in the rental agreement, you should always have a short conversation to make sure both parties are clear.
Other than that, just get to know the property owner through conversation and make sure you are comfortable with all of the information you receive.