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How to Rent a Summer Vacation Home

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By eHow Contributing Writer
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Renting a private home can be a cost-saving alternative to staying in a hotel or motel during an extended summer vacation. When traveling with large parties, a rental home can be much more cost-effective. Compared to a rental home, a hotel can seem cold and impersonal. To rent a summer vacation home, there are a few pieces of advice to keep in mind.

From Quick Guide: Summer Rentals 101
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Local newspapers
  1. Step 1

    Prepare to rent a summer vacation home by taking a head count of everyone who will be joining you on the trip. Have a firm idea of how many people will be staying in the home and their different ages. Some homeowners have understandable reservations about renting their properties to parties with a lot of young children or beer-thirsty college students.

  2. Step 2

    Get a copy of a newspaper from the town you plan to visit during your summer vacation. Look through the advertisements and classifieds for information on how to rent a summer home. Use the multitude of ads to get a feel what's available in the marketplace and the different price ranges.

  3. Step 3

    Surf the web to find information on the different rental properties in the area. You may be able to find pictures and electronic tours of homes and the surrounding areas.

  4. Step 4

    Contact the homeowners' associations that govern the condo and rental home communities you may be considering. They might be able to put you in touch with homeowners who have vacancies in their rental schedules. A homeowners' association will also make you aware of the rules and regulations for renting a home in their community.

Tips & Warnings
  • In order to protect their homes from party damage, many homeowners will require renters to leave a security deposit. Once you've checked out and the property is inspected and approved, you'll be able to reclaim your security deposit. In some cases, you'll be required to make your deposit in cash.
  • You may be able to rent a summer vacation home without paying any money. Some websites help homeowners in different parts of the world arrange home trades for summer months.
  • Summer months are among the busiest in the vacation home industry. Prepare to beat the rush by making your reservations as early as possible. If you wait until the last minute to try to rent a summer vacation home, your family might end up sleeping in the car instead.
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