we're looking at Paradise Palms, too. These are some of the questions I've been asking
Have there been any significant upgrades or changes since these pictures or any planned before our stay?
Is your home listed on any other website?
Are there any reviews from previous renters posted anywhere?
What kind of mattresses are on the beds? Are they pillow top? Sorry to sound picky, but with a 11 night stay and busy days at Disney, a good nights sleep on a comfortable bed is important.
Do you have a BBQ grill and is there a fee?
Is pool heat included and if not, what is the fee?
Is the thermostat adjustable? I know some owners set controls on it like the air can't be turned below 75 degrees etc
Finally, is there anything special that sets your property apart from other townhomes? (Recent upgrades, better options in the home, new items, better management company, etc)
When we were planning our last trip, someone posted this very helpful list.
1) Set up a new email address one of the freebies. When you send out a mass general inquiry through some of the websites, your home email is going to be inundated with replies. Having one addy for trip planning just makes things more organized.
2) Determine your vacation wants versus needs.
Does your family of 4 want or need the 7 bedroom house?
Do you just need a place to sleep?
Or are you looking for an amenity laden property?
Does every bedroom have to have a bathroom? A group traveling with teenagers may need a property with a games room. Private pool? Splash pool? Or community pool? Spa, hot tub or Jacuzzi? Need to bake in the sun by the pool? Need a shaded area on the lanai? Want free long distance calls? USKing beds, USqueen beds? Twins? Internet? Gas bbq? TVs in all the bedrooms? Golfers may need to be close to a course? Shoppers close to shopping? It may surprise you to realize that your group has more needs than you thought to have a terrific vacation!
3) Determine your budget. This is going to help separate out your wants and needs fast!
4) Have a look around. Any of the search engines will pull up THOUSANDS of sites when you type in just about anything regarding vacation property rentals. Have a look at the OH&A board sponsor.
5) Now, go back to your wants, needs and budget.
Are there any sites in the looking around that look like it might work?
Go directly to Step #6.
Not sure?
Send out a General Inquiry. Most of the sites will have these. What you will have to do to get a NO OBLIGATION response is provide some basic information. How many bedrooms do you need? How many people are traveling? And what are your dates? Are the dates flexible? Provide that email addy you set up in Step #1, and sit back. Youll probably have your first responses in less than an hour. Wait a day or two, and youll be glad you set up the alternate email address.
6) Found a few properties that are interesting to you?
7) Send an email to the owners of your short list.
8) Now heres where things can really break down fast.
Ask every question you can think of, because now is the time to get all the tough stuff out of the way.
Great vacations are all about feelings and emotions. Renting a property is all about business.
Get the business out of the way, and then you can concentrate on having a great vacation!
**SAMPLE* email questions, YMMV:*
Do you personally own the property?
Is there, or has there ever been, a lien placed against the property?
Is the property currently in distress, short sale, for sale?
Is the property fully and legally licensed and insured for short term rental?
Do you have testimonials from other guests?
How long have you been with your Management Company?
Are you happy with their services?
Are your previous guests happy with their services?
How do you handle complaints?
How does your management company handle complaints?
If the property is suddenly not available for my rental period, how will I be compensated?
How is your home heated or cooled?
Can I adjust the temperature myself?
Is the property regularly maintained?
Pest control?
Heavy cleaning?
Inventory checks?
How is the pool (community or private) heated?
Is the community pool heated? (Other than the cleanliness of the property, pool heat is the biggest complaint of renters and owners alike. Which means it will be addressed by itself below)
9) Pool Heat.
Are you dreaming of returning from the parks, and slipping into a lovely, warm pool?
Then you NEED to ask the following:
How is the pool heated? Gas, electric, solar?
Gas heat will give you the most consistent temperature, usually 80-84*. Electric will do a great job too, as long as the air temperature outside stays above 50* or so, but as the air temps fluctuate, so may your pool temps. Air temps fall below that 50*, your pool heater shuts off. And the pool gets colder quick.
Solar is fairly self explanatory, and will usually be free of charge or considerably cheaper than other rentals youve seen. Remember, though, your pool may not be toasty warm.
Some homes will have a combination of any of the above methods of pool heating.
Pool heat in the summer months is a different story, and may not be needed at all.
October to May is generally the time frame for recommended pool heating.
Pool covers.
Is there one? If there is, use it. Your pool will stay warmer.
10) OUTDOOR Spas, hot tubs, spa tubs, jacuzzis, stand alone hot tubs, paddling pools, childrens wading pools, bubbling spas, bubble tubs...these things have all sorts of names.
For some, these are a definite need. Not so much for others. And here is one area that can make a definite impact on your budget.
Vacation properties with this amenity are traditionally a little more expensive. Again, if you want one of these, ask specific questions.
What looks like a spa attached to the pool could just be a little pool no warmer than the big pool, and with 2 circulating jets.
Or, the spa attached to the end of a pool could be a full on 104*, with massive amounts of massage jets.
If you want this spa to be hotter than the pool, ask if it gets hotter than the pool.
And how does it get hotter than the pool?
IS there a separate heating control?
And again, gas, electric or solar?
Do you want the jets? Ask if there are massage or circulating jets.
11) INDOOR spa, hot tub or jacuzzis.
Want one of these in your master suite?
Some homes advertise a jacuzzi tub, and guess what?
No bubbles.
Sure its a Jacuzzi tub, made by the nice people at the company called Jacuzzi, but doesnt have the features of what may be assumed all Jacuzzi brand tubs have...it could just be a really great tub for soaking, and complete with Jacuzzi branding, just no bubble abilities.
Want the bubbles, or the soaking version? Ask.
12) Splash Pools.
Some townhome properties will have these private little pools, generally 5 deep, located in the patio off the living area.
Some have the massage jets, some dont.
Theyre a terrific alternative to having to schlep the kids to the community pool when the adults just want to relax at the townhome.
And theyre great for the adults to float around in and relax too.
Theyre not anywhere as large a pool with a detached, single family property, but definitely a great amenity.
Again, ask for specifics from the owner.
Is there room for chairs around the pool is a great question for parents.
Even though the pools are little, supervision is always a must.
13) Ground floor, elevator or stair building? Assigned parking?
14) Gated community? Guard house community?
15) Terms and Conditions.
Most homeowners will provide a copy of this on their site, or forward one to you with your inquiry email.
Its going to have, or should have, answers to all the questions about how to pay, deposits, cleaning fees, pool heat, cancellation penalties, changes..all those goodies.
If something isnt clear, ask.
16) Daily living questions...this is where you can ask specifics about how this property will fit your life while on vacation.
Like to throw supper in a crock pot? Ask if there is one.
BBQ available with the property? Gas or charcoal?
Or does the MC rent them to you at additional charge?
TV/gaming systems? Cable? WiFi? Long distance, local, international calls? Baby equipment? Fishing equipment? Bikes?
When were the mattresses last replaced?
Are the blankets washed?
Pool towels? Face cloths? Coffee maker? Filters? Blender? Tea pot? Baking utensils?
Whatever you use everyday....ask about it now.
Have a great vacation. 
Even though I've rented one prior time, I hadn't thought about many of these things.
