Anyone ever find a rental from VRBO?

[sdoll]

Since I am on a budget I have been looking for rentals on VRBO. I have never done this before and had a few questions.

The most important... Has anyone ever offered less than the renter is asking. Is that even allowed? Is that too tacky?

Has anyone ever rented a place in Myrtle Beach and have a suggestion. We are looking for something on the beach if possible.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Since I am on a budget I have been looking for rentals on VRBO. I have never done this before and had a few questions.

The most important... Has anyone ever offered less than the renter is asking. Is that even allowed? Is that too tacky?

Has anyone ever rented a place in Myrtle Beach and have a suggestion. We are looking for something on the beach if possible.

We've rented in FL several times and once in NC using VRBO and have stayed in some fairly nice to absolutely magnificent homes. Yes, I have offered less once and she knocked $10 off the rental rate for the week. Oh well, $10 paid for lunch at McDonalds I guess..... for at least one of us.

 

[GinCar]

I am a property manager for a property listed on VRBO. I do occasionally have clients ask if there is a discount offered for the dates they are looking for.
It doesn't hurt to ask. I always check with the owner. Sometimes he says yes and other times no. It all depends on his personal schedule and how long they want to stay. (The longer stay, the better chance for a discount.)

I think the site is very reputable (I researched a lot before I decided to list with them) and is a great way to vacation.

Good Luck on your search, I wish my property was in the area you are looking for! (We are in the mountains of Colorado.)

 

[sdoll]

Good Luck on your search, I wish my property was in the area you are looking for! (We are in the mountains of Colorado.)[/QUOTE]

I wish we were going there. If I wasn't looking to save money on flying I would jump at the chance.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

My cousins and I are running the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco this October. We are renting a fabulous home through VRBO for 10 of us. The owner did knock $100 per night because another family member had rented his home last summer and recommended it to us.

 

[sallysue66]

I have used VRBO several times. It's great. Can't really give you a specific house in Myrtle Beach but I live 30 minutes from there so I can give you some area info. If you can find something oceanfront or even 2nd/3rd row that would be the ticket. Any farther back and you would probably need to drive and public parking at the beach is tough to find. Don't limit yourself to Myrtle Beach itself...Cherry Grove, North Myrtle, Surfside Beach are all nice and as long as you have a car you can get to the off-beach attractions (Myrtle Waves, Broadway @ the Beach, mall) easily.

 

[dizneechic]

We have used VRBO as well, and while we book rack rate, we have negotiated ancillary rates like pool heat or grill access or what ever else might be extra. This past trip to FL we also unexpectedly ended up going down almost 2 days early (trying to beat a snow storm) and our house owner gave us that extra time free of charge! We called to ask if we could get in early or if they could recommend a local hotel for the time and even offered to pay for it, instead they included it for us free. It was a little offsite pixie dust to start our trip.

 

[amylynne01]

I have rented a house found at VRBO once and am about to do it again next week. Our house in Virginia was exactly as described. The people who owned the house were generous, sweet, and incredibly reasonable in their pricing. I'm hoping our next house in NY is just as awesome.

 

[pixieprincessmom]

We have rented from VRBO twice. The second time we went to Tenn. and rented only a few weeks out and got a great rate.

 

[abmitch01]

used VRBO several times, and very pleased. Once, when staying for a long period I asked for a discount and got a small one.

 

[ksumn1]

I've rented from VRBO a couple of times. Once for a cabin in Sevierville, TN and once for a condo in Panama City Beach, FL. Both places were exactly as described. The condo was a bit more dated than appeared in the photos but not horribly so. The rate I paid was at $40 cheaper per nite than booking a condo through the resort directly. And when I called back to change from a 5 night to an 8 night stay, the owner dropped the rate an additional $10 per night since it was a weekly rental.

Strangely enough, we're looking at booking a Myrtle Beach trip for mid October, since I have feeling that oil will wash up on the shores of Panama City beach before then. I know very little about the area or what there is to do.

 

[perdidobay]

I've used VRBO before for vacation rentals, and I've had two vacation properties on VRBO for rent as well.

It doesn't hurt to ask for a small discount, but please don't use a sob story and/or ask for large amounts off. I had that happen to me so many times I finally quit putting my rentals on VRBO.

Sob stories are heard every single day by rental owners and offering a low ball amount is plain insulting and I stopped even bothering to reply to those inquires, after getting so many.
Example: someone wanted to rent my 2bd 2 bath fully equipped 1200 sq ft on the beach condo in peak season for less than the daily rate at the Holiday Inn Express down the street - um.... not going to happen!

Unless an owner is totally clueless, most rates are very competitive- after all, with all that competition on VRBO you have to be.

Alot of people asked what my best rate was, and often I could go 10% off, if people asked nicely.

There is an opinion among rental property owners that people who lowball will not take care of the rental property as well as someone who pays the full amount, but, I am not sure that is true. But that opinion is out there.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

 

[christygobar]

DH and I have rented from VRBO for 3 occasions. Once for a ski trip for him in Salt Lake City, one for a weekend in Vegas and one for our recent vacation to the Big Island, HI.

It's been our experience that we have gone when there was some sort of discount offered - small, but a discount nonetheless. I don't bargain or haggle on the price though. The places we have stayed have all been pretty popular and have lots of bookings.

It's definitely reputable and worth using!!

 

[vikkil70]

We have used VRBO twice now, once in upstate NY and once in Cape Cod. Both experiences were great. The owners we dealt with were very nice and very quick with their communications. While we did not ask for a discount either time, the owner of the NY house did give us a slightly discounted rate that was not listed since we could not stay for a full week. The houses were also very clean and exactly as described.

Would definetely not hesitate in using VRBO again. Good luck with your search.

 

[horseshowmom]

I've rented through VRBO a bunch of times (Orlando area several times, Gulf Shores, San Antonio, and Pigeon Forge). I have negotiated my rate each and every time with the exception of one house in Clermont that was already being offered at an extremely attractive rate (4BR/3BA with screened pool in a gated community for under $500 for the week ).

Be polite, compliment their property, and ask nicely if the price is negotiable. Some will say no, some will get offended (no matter how nicely you ask), and some will negotiate (in some cases, significantly so ).

 

[Southerndisney]

I have found it cheaper to rent a week at Myrtle Beach using an agency than VRBO. Myrtle Beach Vacations and Elliot Rentals usually have specials running. They rent condos in North Myrtle Beach, which is usually where we stay. Also, you can sometimes rent directly on the hotels website cheaper than anywhere else, particularly in off season.

 

[blessedby3]

We always use VRBO when we vacation in Hilton Head Island- our beach of choice. We have never had a problem, and actually got $50 knocked off our rental last year. We even had to cancel a trip to HHI one year and the person refunded our deposit. Each renter has different policies, though, so be sure and ask just in case you would have to cancel.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have rented from VBRO before and I've always offered a lower amount. I get turned down a lot, but usually get one that will come off the price.

This summer there was a cancellation over the week of July 4th and we are getting a $4,500.00 per week house for $3,100.00. I'm pretty happy about that! Can't wait to hit the sandy white beaches in Cape San Blas, Florida this Saturday!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We just left a condo this morning that we rented on the Isle of Palms, SC (just outside of Charleston) that was oceanfront that we found on VRBO. The owners were great and their price was lower than any other in the complex and they didn't charge an additional cleaning fee.

Not sure if this is ok to post but the owner did list in her initial email to us that she has other properties in Garden City (near Myrtle Beach). VRBO #233907, 274136 and 233347. The owner's name is Donna - she is very helpful.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We have used VRBO many times. We rented the same house in Kississimee for years. I always just ask if my dates are available and what would the total be. I have never paid the advertised price.

The last time we stayed at that rent we found that the house was for sale. We wish the owners or managment would have told us beforehand. I didn't like the fact there was a lockbox on the door.