Looking for suggestions as I am new to the
DVC rental process. When renting points, is it better to go thru a Broker like David’s or straight to the member who is selling points? How do you know who is legit, what are things to “look” for when renting from a member direct?
I used to recommend going thru a broker for first-time renters. It’s a relatively straightforward process and, although it generally comes with a steeper price tag, the brokers guarantee that if the reservation gets cancelled, you get a refund. Keep in mind that when dealing with a broker, there are generally no cancellations. No changes. No refunds.
However, after their antics, poor customer service and refusals to refund renters during the shutdown due to COVID (they gave vouchers instead), I wouldn’t recommend David’s to anyone. After this recent shutdown, they changed their owner’s rental agreement to put the full responsibility for a shutdown on the owner and require a refund of monies paid to the owner. That money doesn’t go back to the renter. The renter gets a voucher. David’s keeps all the money. A lot of owners refuse the accept those terms and won’t deal with brokers who include them in their agreements. That means fewer points available for those who wish to rent through a broker.
If you decide to rent directly from an owner, check their posting history. Are they active members of the disboards? If so, they aren’t likely to be scammers. Ask questions before you send money. Will they refund you if the resorts have to shutdown again? What if the resorts are open but you’re reluctant to travel? Will they reschedule your stay for you? Will they charge a fee to reschedule? How often will they reschedule for you? Can you sublet the reservation if you decide not to go? Or will they attempt to re-rent the points and refund any monies recovered to you?
Don’t be afraid to ask to speak with them personally via phone (or Zoom if you are in separate countries). Ask for references. Check the OC comptroller’s website to ensure that they actually own
DVC in WDW if they claim to own a(VERO, HHI, AUL and VGC deeds are not recorded on that website). Don’t send money until the reservation has been made and you can successfully link it in your own
MDE.
Make sure that you understand the payment terms (PayPal? Personal check? Venmo? Zelle? Money Order?). Is payment in full expected at the time the reservation is made or can payments be spread out over a period of time? Are there any extra fees involved in any of the payment options? If so, who pays those fees?
Will they set up DME for you? Handle room requests? Add the dining plan? How is payment handled if you’re adding the dining plan? Can you add guests? Remove guests?
Above all, insist on a signed contract which spells out the terms that you agreed to, including the resort, type of villa, dates of stay and total cost.
Good luck, whichever path you choose to take.
