Problem with villa. Please advise.

[Kay1]

Last March, we decided to rent a vacation home for this Christmas. It's our first rental. I found one I liked on Online Florida Villas and communicated with the certified owner via e-mail. He asked me to print out the T&C from his site and submit it and a deposit to his agent in Orlando; the remainder was to be paid six weeks before arrival (which was yesterday). I asked him to make sure his agent got my check but after a few days he said the agent had been in a traffic accident and his wife was taking over while he was hospitalized. I told him no problem I was everything would be fine.

He never contacted me again, which was fine, so I wrote him yesterday and told him I was ready to send final payment but wanted to make sure he was using the same agent and that the agent was still at that address. He did not return my e-mail. This morning I tried to contact him through his ad on Online Florida Villas just in case his e-mail address has changed since March. No response yet.

It's too soon to panic but I called my bank anyway to find out the cost of cancelling a check (it's $30) just in case and she said he would have a hard time cashing such an old check anyhow! She made sure it had not cleared, as I knew. I had assumed the check was in an escrow account and would be deposited with final payment.

Anyhow, I have a bad feeling about this now. If he doesn't get back to me will the owners of Online Florida Villas contact him? I just wonder if his agent didn't mess things up and he's rented to someone else.

What do you think is going on and what should I do?

 

[FLParadisevilla]

Yes I think the owners of Online Florida Villas will help you to contact the owner. I wouldn't panic yet they may be out of town or something where they have not gotten your email yet.
Have you checked to see if the owners add is still on OFV?
And if it would make you feel better contact the owners of OFV and let them know your a bit nervous. I am sure that they will do all that they can to make you feel 110% better!

 

[Kay1]

Yes, Karen, his ad is still there and his own site is still up and has a review from someone who stayed as recently as October. I agree he may just be on vacation himself, but my imagination has him pulling out his hair saying, "Carp! I double booked! What am I going to do?"

 

[FLParadisevilla]

That is good to hear that his add and everything is all up to date! That is a big relief! Give him a little bit of time and see if he replies. I am sure all will work out just fine!

 

[Sunrisedream]

As Karen says, don't panic just yet, but I know if he doesn't get back to you soon, the owners of Onlinefloridavillas will do everything they can to contact him for you, they are a great site and the owners really care

 

[Kay1]

Thank you for those who offered help and support on this board and through e-mail and PMs. I really appreciate it, but the owner did contact me last night and all is well. It turns out he WAS on vacation and I was worried for nothing.