Renting advice please

[wdw-ocd]

What's the safest way to pay for accommodations when renting directly with the owner? Do you get a contract before you make a full payment?

Most of the people who've replied to my queries have suggested a downpayment. But I've gotten a reply back from one person who is willing to give me an amazing deal as long as I pay the full amount by certified check in 72 hours. What do you think? I've never rented directly before and am pretty nervous about being scammed.

TIA

 

[TinkerBellToo2]

What's the safest way to pay for accommodations when renting directly with the owner? Do you get a contract before you make a full payment?

Most of the people who've replied to my queries have suggested a downpayment. But I've gotten a reply back from one person who is willing to give me an amazing deal as long as I pay the full amount by certified check in 72 hours. What do you think? I've never rented directly before and am pretty nervous about being scammed.

TIA

Well I don't like the sounds of that. I would be pretty leary about doing it. Most rental owners will have you fill out a contract and secure it with a down payment with the balance being paid 90 days before your arrival. I have rented many times directly with the owners,but have never run across that. My advise to you, Be Careful Be Very Careful. As for your question I myself prefer paying by PayPal its very secure.

 

[wdw-ocd]

Thank-you for your words of wisdom. I don't want my desire for an awesome deal to cloud my judgement!
If only there were some way to check out a condo and owner's rep besides googling them! Thank goodness I've got the disboards to count on!

 

[mareed]

You should be able to confirm ownership through the property tax website. For the homes like Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Island and others nearby you can check at http://ira.property-appraiser.org/. (I can't get the website to come up right now for some reason...)

I also ask for the management company and with a little searching can usually find the home listed on a management company website too. Is your rental for a nearby date? That may be why the owner wants full payment now. I've rented from owners many times and always pay some sort of a deposit with the final balance due 30 - 60 days before the rental time.

 

[wdw-ocd]

You should be able to confirm ownership through the property tax website. For the homes like Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Emerald Island and others nearby you can check at http://ira.property-appraiser.org/. (I can't get the website to come up right now for some reason...)

I also ask for the management company and with a little searching can usually find the home listed on a management company website too. Is your rental for a nearby date? That may be why the owner wants full payment now. I've rented from owners many times and always pay some sort of a deposit with the final balance due 30 - 60 days before the rental time.

The dates I'd asked about were for July (I think I get a bigger kick out of planning than being there! ).

Thanks for the idea about the websites. I will have to try those routes.

 

[Freaky]

I too would be vary wary - July is still a long way off and many enquiries dont come in until the new year for the summer months. The standard request, as already mentioned, would be complete a booking form/contract (to abide by the owners terms & conditions) and pay a deposit - sometimes 20%, sometimes $XX per week. Then the remaining amount is due 90 days/8 weeks or 6 weeks etc before your arrival.

PayPal would probably be the most secure method of payment (of the deposit at least) as it can be made via credit card giving you a little more security. PayPal do charge a small fee which most owners do pass on but I think it is worth it on the deposit anyway.

The owner should be happy to supply you with details of their management company so you can check them out. Checking the appraisers site for the area also will help. Also check their guest book (if they have one on line) and see if there are any past guests that have left an email address on it and contact them for a reference.

Just check them out as much as you can - if you are not happy or secure with the arrangements perhaps look for another home. The extra stress worrying whether the home is ok etc on top of the normal planning stress is really not needed.

 

[JANNYANS]

I find it a bit odd -most owners will take the deposit and that secures the dates for you.They usually give you some form of written contract too.
The fact that they would like full payment now for a rental in July would rings alarm bells with me -maybe they have cash flow problems?

 

[KayR]

I second the "be careful" attitude. I would be willing to take a look at the website for the home if you would like to see if there is anything odd that would raise my scam radar.

Just be aware (and this is for anyone) of a Jorge or George Gomez - I tried to help a guest who had been scammed by this person a few years ago and I heard his name surface again recently.

Some tips..

Check to see if a home is on one of the bigger listing sites (including homeaway) - some of them tell you how long the owners have been advertising. If they had been scamming guests, they would have been removed from a rental site very quickly (the rental portal doesn't want that reputation). BTW - that doesn't necessarily mean that newer owners are bad (before anyone comments, just if you are concerned that is one thing that may help in your confidence in an owner).

Homeaway offer a guarantee - check to see if the owner advertises there and use the guarantee system.

Some advertising sites run their own verification system - check with the owners to see if they are on any sites that verify that they own the property.

See if the owners will show you copies of their licenses. Every owner should have two - one to collect sales and hotel taxes and another that permits them to rent from the DBPR. These may be at their management company or to confuse matters, the management company may have group DBPR license for all the homes they run.

There are sites for home in Osceola County and Polk County that show you who the owner of the property is.

Another note about cheap rates - be careful - some owners do offer cheap rates, but I don't understand how they can offer such rates, cover their expenses and keep their home in top condition. The saying "you get what you pay for" springs to mind.

--Kay

 

[wdw-ocd]

Thanks everyone! Renting a condo is A LOT harder than I thought it would be!

 

[Freaky]

Please don't be put off! Once you stay in a rental home (be it a condo, townhouse or villa) you will find it very difficult to go back to a hotel again (IMHO)

 

[conniehar90]

Yes, that arrangement sounds very odd. I don't think I would be able to do it.

The first time I rented, I was very nervous about what I would find once I got there. We were so pleased and have stuck with the same owners for 4 years. I agree - once you rent, you will never want to go back to a hotel!

 

[Cherylzw]

I too think this is very odd to request full payment for a July reservation.

Most have a Booking Form and Terms and Conditions that need to be fill out and returned to them, along with the deposit to reserve the dates requested. Then full payment due 2-3 months (every owner has different terms) before check in date.

 

[wdw-ocd]

Just an update: DH and I decided to not go with the owner from my original post.We actually found other owners in Windsor Hills who gave us a great price. Now my next paranoid question is why is it such a great price?

Is this much paranoia normal when you rent a condo?!

If anyone's ever stayed at Atlantis the Condo in Windsor Hills I'd love to hear your input! TIA

 

[isla bonita]

Just an update: DH and I decided to not go with the owner from my original post.We actually found other owners in Windsor Hills who gave us a great price. Now my next paranoid question is why is it such a great price?
Is this much paranoia normal when you rent a condo?!
If anyone's ever stayed at Atlantis the Condo in Windsor Hills I'd love to hear your input! TIA

All of the homes are individually owned and run, so the homes will differ in appearance, price and local.

 

[orchid]

You should not expect an owner to ask for full payment upon enquiry no matter when you are booking for summer,easter or xmas/new year unless you are doing a last minuite booking. Most owners ask a booking deposit $200-$250 per week booking then the ballance plus a security/breakages fee (can be often upto $500) 8 weeks prior to arrival. The security/breakages deposit should be refunded at any point within 4 weeks of departure. Ouside of this would ring bells....