booking a villa

[TandCmum]

I am currently looking for villas and have found a few likely candidates. I know that on some sites the villas are verified as belonging to the owners and they have to have certain standards. One of the ones i have seen is advertised on www.villas2000.com and www.vr360homes.co.uk. I have had contact with the owner by email giving me a quote, and i have checked the ownership of the villa on the county property pages and everything seems fine. Would you be happy with this?? I intend to have a telephone conversation with any owner before booking. Is there anything else i should check on?

Thanks

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We always rent a villa and these are 2 of the best websites - I have used them both without any problems at all.

You may want to ensure the owner's have a local Management Company, who look after the property and therefore would be available should you need any help during your stay.

The rest would depend on the villa itself, I would check the age of the property as personally I always try and find a reasonably new one, the location is important too , that it has a private fully fenced pool, and south facing also (gets the sun all day).
However, these are just personal preferences, like I say these websites are very good and reliable.

 

[TandCmum]

We always rent a villa and these are 2 of the best websites - I have used them both without any problems at all.

You may want to ensure the owner's have a local Management Company, who look after the property and therefore would be available should you need any help during your stay.

The rest would depend on the villa itself, I would check the age of the property as personally I always try and find a reasonably new one, the location is important too , that it has a private fully fenced pool, and south facing also (gets the sun all day).
However, these are just personal preferences, like I say these websites are very good and reliable.

Thanks for the reasurance. I will of course be asking about management company, terms and conditions etc.

 

[UKDEB]

We've rented many villas and have always booked directly with the owners. Like you, I exchange emails initially and then speak with them once I've made a decision. In all but one instance, they've been UK owners and, even then, I was dealing with an ex-pat Brit who owned the Management Company. Just co-incidence, really - I certainly wouldn't discount a US owner, but I'm sure it hasn't hampered my confidence. Speaking with the owner always provides reassurance - I just trust my instincts.

As Johnny says, just make sure they have a local management company (I've never come across one which doesn't). Which villa are you considering?

 

[JANNYANS]

Just to put your mind at rest -it is Florida regulation that all str homes have a management company who are licensed and available 24/7 and not just "Uncle Fred who lives round the corner"

 

[Pixiebell]

Speaking as a home owner, we have a management company where the boss was born in Kissimmee, and so knows the area inside out!

Always make sure you can get a receipt for your payment, and get a booking form with the cancellation details, and information about the security deposit stated on it. And if you book direct with the owners, make sure you have a way to contact them while you are away, and not just the management company.

Personally, we are available via phone, fax, email, web site (and post if necessary), and are happy to deal with any queries or requests, no matter how trivial you may think they are. Before we bought our home, we stayed in a few villas, with differing levels of contact with the owners (yes, the lower service was with a US owner!), so we were determined to give as much information and advice to people, and be available just as much as the management company!

You could also try www.greatrentals.com. They have over 10,000 homes across the world, not just in Florida (and yes, we are listed in there!).

I would advise certainly to try to speak to the owners before booking, you get a better idea about them, and they also get a better idea about you (not everyone is considerate about other peoples homes)! If you get any problems, a direct method of contact and a name is so much more reassuring!

Hope you find your perfect holiday home!