Although the majority of people have wonderful experiences booking rentals, sometimes unforeseen problems can arise and complicate matters. We recently found this web post outlining some things to consider before booking a rental. We have reprinted them here and included how we address each one of these considerations.
1. Whether you’re renting through a management company or directly from the owner, make sure to receive the owner’s contact details. Otherwise, if the dishwasher breaks down, the AC malfunctions, or the garage door stops working, you won’t have anyone to call and will have to take matters into your own hands. The stress that arises from such unforeseen circumstances could practically ruin your vacation.
· We provide you with our home phone number, both of our cell phone numbers, both of our work numbers and a local number: our son and daughter-in-law who oversee the property. Someone is available 24/7 and we have established relationships with local trades people and repair facilities in the event an emergency should arise.
2. Don’t believe everything you see in the pictures. In the pictures, Myrtle Beach condo rentals may look great, but if those pictures were taken ten years ago, expect the reality to be a little different. To avoid unpleasant surprises, have someone you know drive by and take a look, if possible. If you can’t get anyone to drive by and check the place out, at the very least find out from the owner when the pictures were taken. Be wary if the pictures were taken several years ago.
· We are constantly updating the pictures on our website. Many of the pictures on our website now were taken as recent as October of 2009. Videos also are as recent as October, 2009. The maps displayed on our website pinpoint exact location of our community. You are free to drive through and admire the property!
3. Ask if towels and linens are provided. Although most people don’t bother to ask, it’s good to make sure of how many towels there will be per person and if there are extra sheets available. Also find out when the last time was that the owner bought towels and sheets and where in the house they are kept.
· Bed and bath linens are always provided for your stay with up to 2 sets of towels for each guest (based on maximum 6 guests occupancy). There is always at least 1 extra set of bed linens for each bed. There is also a washer/dryer combination within the condo itself.
4. Typically, when you rent a vacation home, you have to pay a deposit of 10% to 50% of the total cost upfront, in addition to a cleaning deposit. Protect yourself from fraud by paying with credit card. Although many legitimate Myrtle Beach condo rentals owners accept payments via Paypal, money order, and checks, the safest way to pay is by credit card.
· Although we do not accept credit cards directly, we do accept them via PayPal. PayPal has an excellent dispute and resolution system in place to ensure your satisfaction. You always have your choice of paying by the method most convenient to you, be it cash, personal check, or credit card.
5. Use an online service like MapQuest or Google Earth to get a better idea of what the house’s surroundings and neighborhood are like. In the rental description, it may say that the rental is 10 minutes away from the beach, but you’d never know that private property is blocking beach access and that the only way to get from the rental to the beach is by car unless you investigated.
· Our website maps (Google and Bing) allow you to drill down to street level to see precisely what our neighborhood is like! We clearly indicate that our neighborhood is not within walking distance of the beach and is a 5 mile drive to the nearest beach with ample free and pay public parking along the beachfront. Our website maps will confirm the distances. We also provide maps indicating some of the best places to park. Our short distance to the beach allows us to pass on significant rental rate savings to you! Those savings will allow you to afford to do some of the things that you’ve never been able to do before!
Most importantly, when you are booking your vacation with us, you’re staying in Our Home. We are not a management company nor are we investors. This is not an investment property, it is our vacation home. We have a vested interest in not only keeping the quality and value of your stay at its maximum, we want to keep it that way for ourselves as well! We want you to enjoy your stay so that you’ll become part of our Vacation Family and come back and stay with us again!
Your Hosts – Gerry & Pat Monaco
