For Those Who Book Offsite With Owners?

[sweetpeakaris]

I read somewhere on another site, tips to protect yourself when renting directly with the owners, I need that info if anyone has it. I am in the process of booking at Windsor Hills, and the owner wants me to send a deposit check, but has'nt given me a booking form. The last home we booked, we got the booking form, then sent payment. Does anyone know tips in protecting myself? Has anyone booked a villa in this manor? Do I send payment with no booking form? Please help, Thanks!

 

[isla bonita]

sweetpeakaris,
Because we are all individual owners we all have our own way of doing things. Why don't you email the owner and ask them directly if there was not a form you could have in your posetion stating that the days you have asked for and total you are to pay and what ever information you need can be stated. So you have some type of document incase any thing arise. Not that it will I am sure.

 

[JANNYANS]

Like Isla says every owner will have their own way of working but I would think they would need a booking form and terms and conditions signed just as much as you would just to have mutual protection.Ask for a booking form to return with your check they may have just forgotten or maybe e mailed it to you and had it removed by your e mail programme? I have had that happen to me and have had to send the forms again in a different format .

 

[DaveCN]

Booking form is a must - and see if they will let you pay by CC with PayPal. You have rights for refunds if you get ripped off.

 

[Mainebound]

I read somewhere on another site, tips to protect yourself when renting directly with the owners, I need that info if anyone has it. I am in the process of booking at Windsor Hills, and the owner wants me to send a deposit check, but has'nt given me a booking form. The last home we booked, we got the booking form, then sent payment. Does anyone know tips in protecting myself? Has anyone booked a villa in this manor? Do I send payment with no booking form? Please help, Thanks!

Perosnally, we always buy trip cancellation insurance, as we would with a cruise or any trip where you can't get a large deposit or the full amount back if you need to cancel. Typically, rental homes have much stricter policies than hotel son this.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Booking form is a must - and see if they will let you pay by CC with PayPal. You have rights for refunds if you get ripped off.

Great idea, but you only have 30 days to file a dispute with Paypal in order to get your money back. Also, I think owners would have to raise there rental fees if they dealt with Paypal since Paypal charges fees. I don't anticipate a problem will arise, I can get a copy of the check from the bank if something comes up. The owner did send me a booking form, they are new at this and in the process of learning how everything works.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Perosnally, we always buy trip cancellation insurance, as we would with a cruise or any trip where you can't get a large deposit or the full amount back if you need to cancel. Typically, rental homes have much stricter policies than hotel son this.

The owner's cancellation policy is pretty fair, she states that she will refund my full deposit if I cancel within 30 days before arrival, I am booked for Easter week, she told me if I cancel the trip less than 30 days and she can't rebook, she will keep $150 of the deposit, if she can book for any days I had i will get the full deposit back. So i think even if i cancel she will find another renter since Easter is such a busy time. Also told me that depending on what the reason for me canceling ,she would give me all my money back if it's something I had no control over. Seems like a very nice person to deal with.

 

[jinglesmountjoy]

The bottom line is...you need to create a paper trail. Try not to pay by cheque. If at all possible, use your credit card. Most have protection systems included and at the very least, you've created a trail. I'm not sure, but I think a bank draft would create a paper trail but I'm not sure about that. Of course, there is the possibility that I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I'm willing to take that chance.

 

[horseshowmom]

I agree with other posters on here about the credit card. When I booked this past summer, I did pay 3% extra to use the card, but it was well worth it to me. Other times I didn't pay anything extra.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Every villa we have booked has always been on a booking form basis.