Anyone rent from VRBO before?

[Snoozan]

I just sent an email to someone for a condo/timeshare rental in Alexandria, VA. It's at a Wyndam resort. Is there anything I should be asking? I asked for total of the rental, amount of deposit and if he has any references(as there were no reviews on the post).

People generally have a positive experience with renting from VRBO?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We did for Disney last year. Our unit actually sold after we booked, but the new owners honored the original agreement.

 

[denisem]

I've rented numerous VBRO in the Disney area with positive results.

If the owners do not reside near the unit, I would question if they utilized a mgmt. company and/or there was someone nearby to address problems if they arose.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

We had an excellent experience last October when we went to Disney. We rented from a mother/daughter team that owned several properties in the area. They were very professional and responded to all our questions right away. We loved the condo we stayed in. It was such a great price and the condo was beautiful.

 

[castmemberb4]

No but I got great ideas and recommendations from them. The cottage I ended up renting in Key West a few year ago I was able to rent directly from the owner. No I cn't even remember if it was listed. I just remember that by using their website I got a good feel for the layout of the island and what prices to expect for the areas.

 

[horseshowmom]

I've rented from VRBO bunches of times (both houses and condos) in several different parts of the country. As a rule, I only rent from owners who accept credit cards so I have some protection.

OP, I see you said it was a Wyndham resort. You might also check vacationupgrades.com (Ken Price). I've never booked with him, but a lot of people here on the Dis have used him for Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I also referred friends to him who were very pleased. He can get any Wyndham property. It might be worth checking with him. Also, when I've stayed at WBC, I've rented through ebay. You might check that as well.

 

[EMom]

We have rented a beach condo in Florida and a couple of apartments in Europe. Always had a good experience. I use people with lots of photos and positive feedback who will take a credit card.

 

[shortbun]

I've never done it because everytime I talk to a private owner, they have really weird rules making me leary. I like the reliability of a rental agency/real estate company because they can help out if one of their owners pulls their house, goes bancrupt, and they have firm rules. My brother had an owner pull the last day of his honeymoon last year at the last minute because they had a renter who wanted to move in and was renting for a month. She gave him his money back for that last night and it would have been a real hassle to legally pursue her so they just found a hotel for that night.

 

[karensi]

We rented through VRBO last summer. It was a beach house on the Jersey shore. The house was lovely, spacious, etc, except there were knick knacks all over the place. On every surface, counter top, table, everywhere. Also, the kitchen cabinets were full of "stuff." These people must have had 50 glasses, 5 table settings, bowls, trays galore. We had to empty some of the cabinets just to make room to put our food away.
I told my DD that I think these people must have had to use VRBO to rent their place out because no real estate agency would have rented it out with "things" all over the place. It was clean, just so, so cluttered.
That being said, I think I would give VRBO another chance after reading the positive feedback in previous posts.

Karen

 

[Jeafl]

We've rented through them many times, and have always had great luck. I would not hesitate to rent through them again. In fact, we are looking into using them for London and Venice this summer.

The reviews on each individual place usually have very valuable information. We have never encountered a place that was cluttered with knick knacks so I guess we've been lucky. I would study all the pictures really closely though!

Another similar company we've used is homeaway.com. They do have some of the same listings as VRBO though.

 

[mom2travel]

I have not, but I've seen this discussed on a couple different sub forums on tripadvisor. If you have a specific unit or owner, maybe you could ask around on the tripadvisor forum for that area

 

[horseshowmom]

We've rented through them many times, and have always had great luck. I would not hesitate to rent through them again. In fact, we are looking into using them for London and Venice this summer.
The reviews on each individual place usually have very valuable information. We have never encountered a place that was cluttered with knick knacks so I guess we've been lucky. I would study all the pictures really closely though!

Another similar company we've used is homeaway.com. They do have some of the same listings as VRBO though.

I was looking at London as well! If you stay somewhere great, please remember me and share how it goes!

 

[formill]

I have found that just about every villa in Florida we have rented have always been on VRBO...........if I find a house on a management site I then usually try and find it on VRBO and can then get it cheaper.....most owners put their homes on every site out there. We only had one bad experience renting through an owner.......and I should have known by the lack of email responses and how firm he was in insisting on the money right away........he got full payment then told us that he plus his management company has booked the villa for the same time frame and we get this message just 4 days before we are set to leave after he had our money in full.......in the end he put us in his other villa......the same one he had tried to tell me in previous emails would be better for us.......we did get our Florida vacation- we were in a villa.......but not the one we chose- we were missing another bathroom and another living room- big deals to us since it was two families sharing the villa.........the owner would not refund any money.....and I think he knew all along that the other villa was booked and that he had a different one empty. I was scared after that and the next Florida trip went back to a villa we had been in before where all went well......but then this year we were back to renting one from another owner and it was perfect........so just like everything else you never really know - each owner is different.

 

[CJ1010]

Yes, we've used VRBO to rent houses/condos in the Destin area and Hilton Head - great rental experience with both. I agree with suggestions to use your credit card, look at photos, and speak with the owner regarding the contract details (payment schedule, deposit, cancellation policy, emergency contact info, etc). I wouldn't hesitate to use VRBO again. It does take time and patience sometimes to find what you're looking for. Good luck!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mnrose]

I've been using VRBO for over a decade to rent vacation homes in various places around the United States. I've NEVER had a bad experience. Then again, I study all reviews and photos very carefully....I try to read between the lines. I also look at many places, and it starts to give me a good sense of what a fair price is for a particular location. I ignore completely any place that seems to be "too good of a deal" (on the theory that if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is).

It's the only way to vacation, IMO. I do not like hotel rooms.

 

[Kathi OD]

I haven't used VRBO, but I have used HomeAway. No problems. I'd do it again without giving it a second thought.

 

[Callie]

I rented from a sister site from VRBO.
Before I sent the deposit check, I researched the name of the person emailing me, as well as the address, and it all checked out.

It was different because we were renting the basement of their home for the week. It was better than the pictures described. 1200 sq basement that felt like it wasn't a basement, kitchen with granite counter tops, pool table, massive tv, steam shower. Also had a pool with a water fountain.

I was nervous when we were heading there, but it all worked out.
Also was weird to be staying in someones home, with them there, but they were super friendly. Would come hang out at the pool with us.

Anyways, just make sure to research the owners name, check for deeds. reviews etc

 

[dawn1620]

We went to Destin last November for a family wedding and rented a house. We were kind of nervous because this was our first time using VRBO but could not have been happier. The house was just as pictured on the website and it was right on the golf course. It was wonderful having a whole house to spread out in and the rates were no more than a cramped hotel room would have been. Now this was in the off season so we got a good price. But we are planning to go back to Destin this summer and will be renting a house again from this website without hesitation.

 

[MichelleVW]

I've rented a few vacation homes from VRBO with no problems and would do it again in a heartbeat. I always make sure they have good reviews before I book.

 

[N&B'smom]

Yep, I've stayed at quite a few VRBO places! Never had an issue except for one that had CAT HAIR everywhere! We got a refund and left asap!