| The market for renting a private holiday home direct | | | | A lot of owners will send you a booking form at this |
| from an owner is constantly growing, especially in the | | | | point. Check this form. If it is compiled using "poor" |
| current financial climate. This kind of holiday can | | | | English or includes spelling mistakes, then it is best to |
| provide fantastic value for money: booking directly | | | | be wary. Somebody that is in this business |
| with the owner of a holiday home means that you | | | | "professionally" will have ironed out any errors with |
| cut out the middle man, so have to pay no agency | | | | the form and be aware that this kind of thing is likely |
| fees. | | | | to put potential renters off. |
| There are plenty of websites out there on the | | | | After the initial contact you will most probably have |
| internet which act as advertising portals for private | | | | the choice of a few holiday properties that fit your |
| property home renters. However you should know | | | | needs (and are available within your given budget). |
| that booking your holiday through these sites may | | | | Choose your top two or three - it is now a good |
| have an implicit cost: If you do not investigated the | | | | time to contact the owner by phone. Although, for |
| properties thoroughly, the risks can increase that the | | | | some, there are a few nerves involved in direct |
| property you rent may be in a poor state of repair | | | | contact, it is an absolute must, and something that |
| or worse still, may not exist in the first place. | | | | will help set your mind at rest when moving forward. |
| This can be off-putting for anyone, however please | | | | The scammers out there will generally try and |
| do bear in mind that even when you book through | | | | conduct their business completely via e-mail; they will |
| an agency, you can still end up staying in a hotel or | | | | decline the chance to chat on the phone for a |
| property that is in the middle of a building site or | | | | number of reasons:o I am on holiday and can't get to |
| does not reflect what was pictured in the brochure. | | | | the phone,o There is no cell signal here etc etc. |
| The good news however, is that there are plenty of | | | | Remember if owners do not organise their business |
| things you can undertake to minimise the risk of | | | | in a professional manner then you don't want to risk |
| ending up in a situation like this. More importantly as | | | | booking a holiday home with them and handing over |
| well, there are several benefits available when | | | | your hard earned cash. |
| booking through a website that you rarely get when | | | | From looking at state of the travel industry at the |
| booking from an agency. | | | | minute, the chances of encountering a holiday home |
| Below I have outlined a few ideas for ensuring that | | | | scammer is relatively small, with reported cases |
| you can relax in the build up to your fantastic "value | | | | getting fewer and fewer each year. However I still |
| for money" holiday vacation if you should choose to | | | | believe that the best route to a safe, enjoyable |
| go down this route. | | | | holiday is to be fully informed about what you need |
| I think the first thing to point out is somewhat | | | | to do when booking and to use your common sense. |
| generic in nature, remember that you are going on | | | | So back to the advice - You are now ready to talk |
| holiday and holidays are meant to be fun. The | | | | to the owner, what do you say? What do you need |
| planning of a holiday is a key part of the exciting build | | | | to do next? First remember you are going on holiday, |
| up and should start the anticipation of any holiday - it | | | | and that this is about you enjoying yourself. You |
| is the time when you picture, plan and organise your | | | | should ask questions about the property. A real |
| relaxing couple of weeks in the sun or skiing the | | | | owner will know about their property, and be able to |
| pistes. | | | | answer all you questions in detail - They have been |
| Part of the fun of tailor making your own holiday is | | | | through these questions numerous times before, so |
| that you to retain a greater degree of control. You | | | | don't be embarrassed. Ask about the local area and |
| are in charge of picking the rental property that you | | | | the property itself. If you have any doubt about the |
| wish to stay in and that it is in the location you want. | | | | owner or the answers, you should always trust your |
| You should enjoy this process, as this is the start of | | | | instinct - you should have other properties on your |
| your holiday. | | | | list and can always find another holiday home to rent, |
| There are now a few extra steps to cover with this | | | | rather than take a risk with this one. |
| type of holiday than you would normally have to do | | | | Some owners run their properties purely as a |
| if you simply booked a package tour or holiday | | | | business with some also having a huge emotional |
| through a travel agency, however these steps can | | | | investment in them as well. Owners may go out of |
| add to your excitement, creating a fun challenge | | | | their way to re-assure you and may even leave a |
| which will take you one step closer to your exciting | | | | welcome pack for your arrival with a few essentials |
| holiday of a life time. | | | | in to get you started. Remember this should be a |
| Wherever you look, you will find that you have a | | | | really fun and enjoyable process for you. Do not be |
| selection of properties to choose from. I would | | | | afraid to ask about what worries you. Ask for |
| suggest that you make contact with more than one | | | | references from other people who have stayed at |
| property owner at a time. If you simply contact one | | | | the property. Take up these references. Contact |
| owner, you will go through a decision process and if | | | | them, it will probably be an e-mail address initially and |
| you decide against them, then you will have to start | | | | ask if you can call them direct to get a quicker |
| all over again. However if you contact multiple | | | | response. |
| property owners which you like, then you can run | | | | Ask the owner where they advertise their property. |
| the processes simultaneously saving you a lot of time | | | | If they advertise across a handful of paying sites and |
| in the long run. You will also be giving yourself a wider | | | | have been on them for sometime then the chances |
| choice and more importantly, you will be better | | | | of any encountering any problems will be reduced |
| placed to pick the owner/property combination that | | | | massively. |
| best suits you and your needs. | | | | One of the most obvious things to avoid is to send |
| Most websites will offer an e-mail form for initial | | | | any payment by instant money transfer (such as |
| contact. You should look for confirmation of dates | | | | Moneygram or Western Union). These services are |
| availability, costs, the size of the deposit required and | | | | exactly the same as sending cash. It can be picked |
| any extras which are included amongst any other | | | | up from anywhere and is totally anonymous. |
| points that you want to know about in this first | | | | Reputable owners will not ask for payment in this |
| email. Once again if you send multiple e-mails to | | | | way. They will offer you alternatives. If anybody |
| multiple holiday home owners, you will be more likely | | | | insists on payment like this, decline them, and move |
| to get replies that fit your schedule and holiday | | | | down your list. |
| budgets. | | | | |