In April 2021, a year after the first lockdown, more Americans were buying vacation homes and we expect that this will only continue for the foreseeable future.
But with the current housing crisis, buying vacation homes is still out of reach for many Americans. The solution is to rent summer vacation homes that’ll make you feel your best.
But before you book your reservation, you must make sure to avoid the common vacation home renting errors.
Here’s what you need to avoid:
1. Not Opting for a Home Exchange
A home exchange is one of the easiest ways to enjoy different types of vacation homes. You simply allow the homeowner to stay in your home during their vacation.
In return, you’ll stay in their home for the same time period. This is one of the most comfortable ways to enjoy your vacation. It also lets you experiment with different summer vacation homes.
This can help you decide what types of vacation homes you want to buy in the future.
2. Not Researching the Location
Another major mistake is not researching the location where you’ll be enjoying your vacation. In fact, if you don’t research the location, there’s little doubt that you’ll enjoy your vacation all!
A large beach villa may look nice. But what’s the difference between a large beach villa in Pula, Croatia versus Cancun, Mexico?
You’ll need to research many factors regarding the location including:
- The safety of the area
- The culture of the area
- The noise level of the area
- The population of the area
- The amenities of the area
- The attractions of the area
These are just a few things that will help you determine what location is ideal for you. Obviously, you’ll want to stay in a safer area than a dangerous area! But do you prefer being surrounded by the Croatian culture or the Mexican one?
Do you want a noisy location where there are parties 24/7? Or are you looking for a quieter vacation?
Take your time researching the location to decide where you’ll want to rent your vacation home.
3. Not Reading Online Reviews
When you see the photos of a vacation home, you’ll get an idea of whether you’d like to stay there or not.
Have you ever gone to the Ritz Carlton and been disappointed with the service? Were you surprised at how delicious the breakfast buffet was at Motel 6?
The point is that the nice-looking summer vacation homes might disappoint you, whereas the humble ones might be better. You have to realize that a lot of vacation homes aren’t maintained well.
The photos make them seem like luxury hotels. But by the time you show up, you’ll see a different picture altogether. The way to assess the quality of a vacation home is by reading online reviews.
This will tell you about the quality of the vacation home. Make sure you only choose vacation homes that have at least 100 reviews. Most of the reviews should be positive and recent. The majority of reviews should be less than 2 months old.
4. Not Expecting to be Self-Reliant
While we might have compared summer vacation homes to luxury hotels, you have to remember that there’s no concierge service.
If you choose to rent a home, you have to remember that you’ll have to take care of it. You have to wash the dishes, clean the home, and handle any issues.
Renting a summer vacation home is preparation for owning one. Make sure you take your time to research the home that you’ll be able to maintain without issues.
For example, you might find the beach villa more appealing than the beach apartment. But you might find it stressful to have to clean the former. It might be better to go for the smaller option in this scenario.
Some vacation homeowners will provide cleaning staff. This might make things easier, but you’ll still have to be responsible. If you don’t clean the apartment yourself, you can expect to hear complaints from the owner.
5. Not Following the Rules
You have to remember that summer vacation homes often have more rules than a standard hotel.
For example, you can often get away with keeping the lights on in your hotel room at all times. However, at the summer vacation home, you should keep the lights off when you’re not in the room.
In most cases, the owner will always pay the bills. If you overuse the electricity, your fee might not cover the actual cost. You have to treat the vacation home as you would your own.
This will also include taking out the garbage. Before you leave, make sure you throw out your trash. You shouldn’t leave any additional tasks for the owner.
If you have any unwashed dishes, they should be washed before you leave. You should make your bed before you leave as well. In fact, you might want to change the sheets. Wash and dry the other sheets before checking out.
While it’s not required, it’s also best to keep in touch with the host. They’ll want to know if you’re satisfied with the vacation home. Let them know on occasion how happy you are with the home.
Don’t hesitate to ask them questions and communicate with them at all times. Make sure you let them know when you’ve checked in and out. If you’re planning on buying the vacation home later, you especially want to work to develop a relationship with the current owner.
If you follow these rules, you’ll have no problem enjoying your vacation homes!
Avoid These Vacation Home Renting Errors
Now you know the common vacation home renting errors and what you should do instead.
Your first step should be to try a home exchange. This is a great way to test out a great home.
Make sure you research the location and the property. You should depend on online reviews to have a proper understanding of the quality of the property. You’ve also got to be self-reliant and make sure you follow the rules properly.
If you avoid these errors, you’ll feel right at home. You’ll also feel at home reading our other similar guides on our blog.
