Need help - nervous about renting a home

[mbeaudet]

I am looking at renting a home in Lindfields called Guinevere's Castle. I have a few questions. What are the pros and cons of renting a home vs. a hotel? The rental agency is VRBO. Is this a good company? This is the first time we are considering renting a home and I am afraid that I am not going to get what I paid for. The website said it is 4 miles from Disney. How many minutes is that and does it matter where you are located in Lindfields? One more question - They quoted me a price but are there any hidden costs that I will end up paying?

Thanks for your help. I need to feel confident before I do this.

Mona B.

 

[Lisa AF]

I think renting a house is all pros. We will never go back to a hotel.

VRBO is not a company. These homes are owned by private owners. You are dealing in most cases with the owner. Some companies have slipped on there though.

My advice is make sure the home you are renting is the one actually pictured on VRBO. Usually the only extra charge is for pool heat and sometimes housekeeping. That should be disclosed.

I make sure the owner has a local management company. I wouldn't rent if they didn't. Find out the name and contact them yourself. You can also check out the management company with the BBB. I use the BBB's web site to do this.

I'd be happy to look at it for you if you like. You can PM me the VRBO # or link. Hope this is some help.

 

[tednvon]

Hi Mona,
For starters you might want to scroll down these topics and you will see several posts about rental homes that people have responded to in the last few days.

In short, thousands of people rent homes every week for Disney vacations and love it. You have so much more room and extra baths for the whole crew. Add ons are usually as follows:

Florida tax, 9, 10, or 12% depending on the location of the home. Ths closer homes to Disney are 12% as are all the hotels and condos in the area.

Pool and spa heat..about $25 a day....It is expensive to heat that pool to 80 degrees even in Florida "winters." Most of our guests do not need pool heat May to september. If you have a "spa" at the house and really enjoy hot tubbing the heat is good to have anytime. I would deal a little with the owner if you are going in the summer and offer 10 or 15 for "spa heat"

Cleaning usually only for stays less than 7 or 5 nights. If they want a cleaning fee for a stay of 7 or more nights I would say no or look elsewhere. I have never charged a cleaning fee for a weeks rental.

That is it for add ons. the owner should quote you a total price. for example: "7 night at $150 plus pool and spa heat at $25/night plus 12% Florida tax is $1344.00 total for the week."

As owners we do not have a 200 room hotel to book and rebook so we usually get a deposit as soon as you book and then have payment in full a month or two before you arrive.

Very similar to a hotel..rate plus tax, plus water view, plus extra person, and so on gives a total.

Most people find that a home is a great bargain per person or per family.....VRBO represents owners who work hard to maintain a nice home and will deal with you personally

Good Luck, you will love a home.

 

[mbeaudet]

Lisa,

Here is the link: http://www.vrbo.com/18820. I will find out who the management company and check them out on the BBB. Thanks for your help.

Mona

 

[tednvon]

Hi Mona...this looks like a very nice place. I do encourage you to read the postings below yours about home rentals and especially the number of bathrooms. Just scroll down and if necessary go to page 2..they are they and have lots of info for you.

Our guests always underestimate the importance of enough bath rooms. If there is one master suite in this home then everyone else will share one shower. Again look at the postings below. Nothing is more frutrating than getting a great group together and have people have to run around in towels to hallway bathrooms and wait for showers...Good Luck....Ted

 

[debden]

I agree with Ted.You can never have too many bathrooms.As all of us woman know theres nothing worse than not being able to get in the bathroom!! And I find counter space important too.
We rented a house with 5 Beds/4 Baths this last December and we just rented a house for this August with 4 Beds/4 Baths. There are six of us but we all agree that more is better!
I also looked at renting Guineveres Castle! It's such a nice house.
I think the VRBO website is great and offers such a great diversity of rental homes,prices,and locations.It's so much fun to just look at the different houses for rent. I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever house you choose!
Debbie

 

[tednvon]

We are a funny society....I am sure most of us came from the generation where our home as child had one bath and maybe a toilet only the basement....and 4 to 6 of us did just fine!

How times have changed! Now most every new home/condo, even mobile home has "master suite" and baths everywhere. We have just become more used to more baths. When we started taking our kids to Disney in the early 70's a hotel room was so neat and we did hotels until our kids were in their teens.

Now we have just raised the bar so much that most of us look to vacation in a place that is "just a little nicer than home."

Remember, "it all started with a mouse!"

Ted