10 Things To Know When Choosing A Vacation Rental Company

M any people have found the       operated company. Many large       secret to getting more         organizations and corporations     value out of your vacation     have jumped into the lucrative     by renting a house or a condo         vacation rental market and have    vacation rental instead of            no exerience with the area you     staying in a hotel. Someone who       are wishing to vacation to. This   hasn't done their research on the     results in management and          price of vacation rentals has the     employees that have no idea about  wrong assumption that a vacation      the area nor the propeties they    rental is more expensive then a       manage. Don't you think it would   hotel room for the week. This is      be best to be speaking to someone  completely untrue and in most         that has actually been to the      cases a hotel room for the week       property that they are             will be MORE expensive then a         recommending you spend your money  vacation rental. Of course, this      on? Don't you think that it would  is all true if if you choose the      be useful speaking to someone      right property AND vacation           that lives and works in the area   rental company.                       that you are wanting to vacation                                         to? The local experience and       Here are ten tips for choosing        local touch is a MUST to have a    the right vacation rental company     successful vacation.               for your next vacation. Choosing                                         the wrong company can result in       2. Find a company that has a       expensive pricing and rates,          decent amount of properties to     hidden fees, strict cancellation      choose from. Not too many and not  policies, and properties that         too little. This number will vary  don't turn out the way they have      based on the location you are      been advertised.                      looking at so you will need to do                                        a quick scan of the companies in   1. Find a locally owned and           the area and choose the companies  that have an average amount of                                           properties. I have found that         4. Choose a company thats sole     this number is usually between        business is vacation rentals and   100 and 300 in most popular           vacation rental (investment        vacation spots. A company that        property) sales. Do not rent from  has 500-1000 properties cannot be     a real estate agent or other       personal enough and give you the      person whos main focus is          attention you deserve. They also      something but renting vacation     cannot give the properties            properties.                        themselves enough attention they                                         deserve to keep them in good          5. Make sure the company is a      shape and clean. A company with       member of their local Chamber of   too little properties will not        Commerce and/or CVB. They should   have enough selection for you to      also be a member of VRMA           find the correct property to meet     (Vacation Rental Management        your needs and will also not have     Association).                      enough room to fit you into a                                            property that fits into your          6. Make sure the company has an    budget.                               emergency phone number and                                               service for after hours. Nothing   3. Choose a company that has a        would ruin your vacation like a    customer service focused business     blown water heater or broken air   philosphy and offers the "human"      conditioning with no one to        touch. If you call the company        provide service during your stay.  during normal business hours and                                         a human doesn't answer the phone      7. Find a company that offers      then you will know that they are      properties in many locations or    too automated and computerized        areas of your vacation spot. A     and are more focused on quantity      company that only has properties   then quality.                         in on neighborhood does not have   enough selection and in many          has used before and endorses so    cases all the properties in that      you can be assured of good         neighborhood are too similar to       service.                           offer you a selection on                                                 amenities and price range.            9. Ask about special discounts.                                          Many companies also offer special  8. Always ask the company about       discounts for holidays, weekend    packages and add-ons. Many            rates, weekly specials, group      companies have relationships with     sales, AAA, AARP, etc. Some        other service providers in the        companies also offer special       area and can offer money-saving       websites to advertise their        packages, coupons, and add-ons to     discounts. For example, this       your rental. These services may       Hilton Head Island Vacation        be bike rentals, baby rental          Rental company offers a special    items, temporary gym memberships,     vacation rental discount website.  pool and other facilities access,                                        golf course discounts, water          10. Look for a rewards program     sport discounts, spa retreats,        for repeat visitors. These         etc. As an example you may be         programs work the same way as      able to get special access to         hotel programs. They offer points  private golf courses that you         that you can earn for each         won't be able to get with other       purchase. This way next year when  companies. Not only will you be       you decide to vacation at the      able to get special coupons and       same location you already have     discounts, you will also be sure      earned points that can be          to get these extra services from      redeemed for a discount on your    a company that the rental company     stay.                              About the Author: Chris Fehrmann is a Internet Marketing executive for Anderson Interactive specializing in the travel tourism markets. http://www.andersoninteractive.biz and http://www.hhivacations.com Published At: www.Isnare.com