How to Rent a Summer Vacation Condo
Renting a summer vacation condo is a great way to save money on hotel accommodations, particularly when you are traveling with a large family or group. Renting a condo also has the additional benefits of providing private living space, kitchens and even laundry facilities. It isn't always as easy to rent a condo as it is to make a hotel reservation, however, so it helps to know what to expect.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Contact the local chamber of commerce in the area you want to visit to get listings of condos for rent. Chamber of commerce websites will often list agents or listing agencies that can help you as well. Classifieds, both online and offline, can also be great resources for finding vacation condos.
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Use vacation rental sites such as VacationRentals.com or VRBO.com to search for homes a listed by the owners (see Resources below). These sites allow you to search worldwide and typically provide pictures of the properties, availability calendars and detailed price lists.
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Contact the owners or property managers of the condos that interest you to inquire about availability and prices. Ask about any additional fees that may be required including a security deposit, a pet deposit and a cleaning fee.
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Inquire about the rules of the house such as when arrival and departure times are, what type of housekeeping is provided, how many people are allowed to stay, whether linens are provided and what type of parking is available. These questions provide you with valuable information, but they can also help you gauge how forthcoming the condo owner is. If you detect resistance from an owner in answering your questions, that could be a red flag.
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Get a written contract from the owner or property management company and look over it carefully before signing.
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Pay any applicable deposits. Most vacation rentals require renters to put up between 25 and 50 percent of the total rental price as a good faith deposit, with the remaining amount due between 30 and 45 days before your arrival. Should you book your rental at the last minute, the entire amount may be due immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Share the costs of a summer vacation condo rental with other family members or friends. Renting a larger condo and splitting the costs can save you even more money and provide a great spot for everyone to stay.
Most condos for rent will have minimum stay requirements. If you are only planning a weekend trip or want to stay for just a few nights, it can be difficult to find a condo that's available.
Find out how far the condo is from areas of interest. Some summer vacation condos claim they are convenient to popular travel destinations, but they may actually be located miles from where you want to be.
