Do you need a rental home for your vacation but have no idea how to begin your search? You’re in the right place. It can be a bit of a challenge to find a place to stay for your much-awaited vacation. Nevertheless, there are some ways to have it without the need to shell out a lot of money.
There are two basic things you have to consider: planning and organizing. Apart from those, here are the other things you ought to take into account before renting a vacation home:
1. When to Book and Where to Search
You can avoid paying a lot and getting stressed by securing a vacation house 6 months or a year before your vacation, or even before the peak season. Researching and booking this early may seem too much of a preparation, but this is highly recommended since good vacation homes are booked fast.
After you’ve finalized where your destination will be and when it will be, you can consult with a real estate agent to assist you in your search for a vacation rental home. You should also consider famous brokerages or find an agent who is respected and known in the place you plan to go to.
2. House Layout
Many renters make the common mistake of looking only at the house design but not the overall layout. For instance, if you have children with you, it’s not a good idea to get a rental house that can be accessed from the outside. Nevertheless, this is a good option if you want more privacy or if you travel with friends.
If you want some personal space, you should avoid homes with shared bathrooms or connected bedrooms.
3. Contract
Due to the excitement of finding the perfect vacation rental home, most people overlook to review the contract. You shouldn’t ignore this since it indicates the expenses you might need to pay, your liabilities for any damages, or any other additional services.
You need to make a checklist of everything that you get from the rental. If you see the equipment you need in the contract, you will be able to save money. In case it’s not included, you can try bargaining for it.
Before signing a contract, it will be best to have it checked by a lawyer you trust or someone knowledgeable in real estate, especially if you are not familiar with some aspects of the contract. Although you’ll be spending more, the peace of mind you get is worth it.
4. Safety
One of your main priorities is the safety of the house you plan to stay in. This is also one of the factors taken for granted by renters. You can ask the owner if there are carbon monoxide or smoke detectors in the house. Even though you’ll just stay in the area temporarily, you can search online about the neighborhood to make your vacation comfortable and safe as much as possible.
5. Deposit
When you budget your rental house for vacation, you shouldn’t forget the deposit. Vacation rentals usually require a large security deposit. You have to know how your deposit will be paid back.
Understanding the conditions you have to meet such as making sure that the house is clean or paying all the rental fees will help you have your deposit without much of a hassle. Furthermore, you can avoid getting into arguments when your rental agreement period ends.
6. Housekeeping
Some owners have a cleaning service that comes in on the final day of the vacation, and the bill is usually paid by the renter. Some come in schedule. Therefore, you need to know when the house cleaners will visit and who pays for this service so that you can include it in your budget.
