Changing an offsite owner rental???

[PA Princess]

We booked a home in WH last fall for Christmas 2009. We take our kids to Disney for their 5th birthday and the yougest of our 4 kids will turn five that week. Anyway, because it is the holidays, extended family wanted to travel with us. So we found a wonderful 6 bedroom house and booked.

Now my issue....because of job loss, relocation, and a surprise expected baby, our extended family has backed out. Originally we considered this scenario and figured we would just cover the house ourselves if that happened (cost is still less than our hotel bill for our last trip on site in September 2008). Well, now we are building a home, and finances are tighter and footing that whole bill is less and less desirable for a vacation house we do not need for just our family.

We have seriously contemplated just walking away from the reservation (we would forfeit our $700 deposit per the agreement - ouch) and consider it a hard lessoned learned about traveling with extended family.

Another option we've considered is asking the owner if we could downgrade to one of their smaller properties or move the reservation to another set of dates. What I am wondering, is it okay to ask this? I hate to ask and create a poor working relationship with someone with whom I am trying to do business, so I thought I would ask here knowing many on the DIS seldom hold back on opinions

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[Tissa]

I'd rather contact them now and see if they can work with you and also rent out that week in the house that you no longer need than to just let it go.
I would contact them today.

I had to change my dates for our July trip and the owner worked with us and we are now staying at another home they own.

 

[Brian Noble]

The booking is far enough in advance that you aren't in a distress situation, and the holiday weeks should be pretty easy to rent.

I'm assuming that the contract says that the deposit is non-refundable for any reason, and is mum on the prospect of changing dates, correct?

I think I would contact the owner, express that you know the deposit is non-refundable, and that you don't expect to be able to change. But, that you would like to try to work something out if possible, including downgrading.