10 Things To Know When Choosing A Vacation Rental Company

Many people have found the secret to getting more value out of your vacation by renting a house or a condo vacation rental instead of staying in a hotel. Someone who hasn't done their research on the price of vacation rentals has the wrong assumption that a vacation rental is more expensive then a hotel room for the week. This is completely untrue and in most cases a hotel room for the week will be MORE expensive then a vacation rental. Of course, this is all true if if you choose the right property AND vacation rental company.

Here are ten tips for choosing the right vacation rental company for your next vacation. Choosing the wrong company can result in expensive pricing and rates, hidden fees, strict cancellation policies, and properties that don't turn out the way they have been advertised.

1. Find a locally owned and operated company. Many large organizations and corporations have jumped into the lucrative vacation rental market and have no exerience with the area you are wishing to vacation to. This results in management and employees that have no idea about the area nor the propeties they manage. Don't you think it would be best to be speaking to someone that has actually been to the property that they are recommending you spend your money on? Don't you think that it would be useful speaking to someone that lives and works in the area that you are wanting to vacation to? The local experience and local touch is a MUST to have a successful vacation.

2. Find a company that has a decent amount of properties to choose from. Not too many and not too little. This number will vary based on the location you are looking at so you will need to do a quick scan of the companies in the area and choose the companies that have an average amount of properties. I have found that this number is usually between 100 and 300 in most popular vacation spots. A company that has 500-1000 properties cannot be personal enough and give you the attention you deserve. They also cannot give the properties themselves enough attention they deserve to keep them in good shape and clean. A company with too little properties will not have enough selection for you to find the correct property to meet your needs and will also not have enough room to fit you into a property that fits into your budget.

3. Choose a company that has a customer service focused business philosphy and offers the "human" touch. If you call the company during normal business hours and a human doesn't answer the phone then you will know that they are too automated and computerized and are more focused on quantity then quality.

4. Choose a company thats sole business is vacation rentals and vacation rental (investment property) sales. Do not rent from a real estate agent or other person whos main focus is something but renting vacation properties.

5. Make sure the company is a member of their local Chamber of Commerce and/or CVB. They should also be a member of VRMA (Vacation Rental Management Association).

6. Make sure the company has an emergency phone number and service for after hours. Nothing would ruin your vacation like a blown water heater or broken air conditioning with no one to provide service during your stay.

7. Find a company that offers properties in many locations or areas of your vacation spot. A company that only has properties in on neighborhood does not have enough selection and in many cases all the properties in that neighborhood are too similar to offer you a selection on amenities and price range.

8. Always ask the company about packages and add-ons. Many companies have relationships with other service providers in the area and can offer money-saving packages, coupons, and add-ons to your rental. These services may be bike rentals, baby rental items, temporary gym memberships, pool and other facilities access, golf course discounts, water sport discounts, spa retreats, etc. As an example you may be able to get special access to private golf courses that you won't be able to get with other companies. Not only will you be able to get special coupons and discounts, you will also be sure to get these extra services from a company that the rental company has used before and endorses so you can be assured of good service.

9. Ask about special discounts. Many companies also offer special discounts for holidays, weekend rates, weekly specials, group sales, AAA, AARP, etc. Some companies also offer special websites to advertise their discounts. For example, this Hilton Head Island Vacation Rental company offers a special vacation rental discount website.

10. Look for a rewards program for repeat visitors. These programs work the same way as hotel programs. They offer points that you can earn for each purchase. This way next year when you decide to vacation at the same location you already have earned points that can be redeemed for a discount on your stay.