Comments on: 3 secrets to avoiding a vacation rental scam http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/ The travel troubleshooter. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:26:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kalpesh http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-34199 Kalpesh Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:19:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-34199 I always go through http://www.vacationrentalpros.com for my most of florida trip. They are the property management company so all the vacation rental property managed by them. They have very fancy calender with availability of property or pet allowed vacation rentals. I always go through http://www.vacationrentalpros.com for my most of florida trip. They are the property management company so all the vacation rental property managed by them. They have very fancy calender with availability of property or pet allowed vacation rentals.

]]> By: Vacation home rentals: something to consider : Carrying On Colorado http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-27040 Vacation home rentals: something to consider : Carrying On Colorado Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:19:03 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-27040 [...] Elliott offers two savvy blog postings worth checking out, one on vacation home rentals that are cheap alternatives to hotels; the other 3 secrets to avoiding a vacation home rental scam. [...] [...] Elliott offers two savvy blog postings worth checking out, one on vacation home rentals that are cheap alternatives to hotels; the other 3 secrets to avoiding a vacation home rental scam. [...]

]]> By: Thomas Kosich http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-20680 Thomas Kosich Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:55:35 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-20680 Beware of TLC Mt Hood Cabin / VRBO # 151752 This cabin is listed as exquisite, reality is fair AT BEST...beware of dishonest owner as he will hold your deposit hostage upon departure. I have rented from VRBO over 12 times in the last year and never had a problem until I made the mistake of renting from this owner. Do yourself a favor and rent another property in Mt Hood / Goverment Camp, this owner is dishonest! Beware of TLC Mt Hood Cabin / VRBO # 151752

This cabin is listed as exquisite, reality is fair AT BEST…beware of dishonest owner as he will hold your deposit hostage upon departure. I have rented from VRBO over 12 times in the last year and never had a problem until I made the mistake of renting from this owner.

Do yourself a favor and rent another property in Mt Hood / Goverment Camp, this owner is dishonest!

]]> By: Karen C http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-17756 Karen C Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:29:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-17756 Be on the watch for this phone number: (206)-309-7174 and this address: 276 S Bender Ave, Humble, Texas, 77396 They are advertising properties that DO NOT belong to them & collecting deposits via Western Union. We accidentally found 2 of our properties advertised on forgetaway.com (The Weather Channel) that we did not place. When we inquired about the property (ours) we were told to wire funds to that Western Union account. BOGUS Our suggestion is not to use any of the vacation rental assistance websites. Go only through licensed property managers & real estate agents. Be on the watch for this phone number:

(206)-309-7174

and this address:

276 S Bender Ave,
Humble, Texas, 77396

They are advertising properties that DO NOT belong to them & collecting deposits via Western Union.

We accidentally found 2 of our properties advertised on forgetaway.com (The Weather Channel) that we did not place. When we inquired about the property (ours) we were told to wire funds to that Western Union account. BOGUS

Our suggestion is not to use any of the vacation rental assistance websites. Go only through licensed property managers & real estate agents.

]]> By: proud_bay_man http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-15820 proud_bay_man Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:07:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-15820 Just to let you know in the City of San Francisco, vacation rentals in a residential area are illegal if they are less than 30 days. Please call Lois Scott at the Planning and Zoning Department on the sf.gov site and report them. These people are in for a rude awakening. Please flag these ads on Craigslist! Simply do a search for your neighborhood in the "Vacation Rentals" section under housing. If you are nowhere near a hotel or a motel or a business district, please take a screen shot of the ad for evidence and report it. Just to let you know in the City of San Francisco, vacation rentals in a residential area are illegal if they are less than 30 days. Please call Lois Scott at the Planning and Zoning Department on the sf.gov site and report them. These people are in for a rude awakening. Please flag these ads on Craigslist! Simply do a search for your neighborhood in the “Vacation Rentals” section under housing. If you are nowhere near a hotel or a motel or a business district, please take a screen shot of the ad for evidence and report it.

]]> By: Erica http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-14526 Erica Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:58:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-14526 Just want to add my "me too": I wouldn't rely too heavily on any of the online maps; NONE of them can find my house, which is 2 years old. My old one, build in 1950, was marked at the other end of the block. It's a good start, but don't let it be definitive. Just want to add my “me too”: I wouldn’t rely too heavily on any of the online maps; NONE of them can find my house, which is 2 years old. My old one, build in 1950, was marked at the other end of the block. It’s a good start, but don’t let it be definitive.

]]> By: Meredith P http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-14525 Meredith P Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:53:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-14525 A number of hotel chains offer vacation rentals, such as Starwood and Disney. The SVO (Starwood Vacation Ownership) does give you the flexiblityof the Time-share experience with or without the commitment and it does also have the comfort in knowing there is a real company behind it. I would also check to see what the major chains have available if you want the experience and have the piece of mind behind it... (Speaking from experience in the travel industry and not endorsing any one company.) A number of hotel chains offer vacation rentals, such as Starwood and Disney. The SVO (Starwood Vacation Ownership) does give you the flexiblityof the Time-share experience with or without the commitment and it does also have the comfort in knowing there is a real company behind it.

I would also check to see what the major chains have available if you want the experience and have the piece of mind behind it…

(Speaking from experience in the travel industry and not endorsing any one company.)

]]> By: Carver Farrow http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-14518 Carver Farrow Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:08:53 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-14518 The disclaimer is completely irrelevant in this case for numerous reasons outside of the scope of this reply. The question is what is the relationship between the website and the condo owners. If they are merely providing space, then suing them would be aking to suing a newspaper for a fraudulent classified ad. However, if the relationship is more entangled: do they get a percentage, do they collect the money, etc,. then they might become an agent of the owner and liability can be imposed. If Ms. Hunter has a good faith belief that the website is involve in more than just providing space, she can absolutely sue in small claims. The cost is minimal. Nothing like receiving a Summons and Complaint to make the unresponsive responsive. The disclaimer is completely irrelevant in this case for numerous reasons outside of the scope of this reply.

The question is what is the relationship between the website and the condo owners. If they are merely providing space, then suing them would be aking to suing a newspaper for a fraudulent classified ad. However, if the relationship is more entangled: do they get a percentage, do they collect the money, etc,. then they might become an agent of the owner and liability can be imposed.

If Ms. Hunter has a good faith belief that the website is involve in more than just providing space, she can absolutely sue in small claims. The cost is minimal. Nothing like receiving a Summons and Complaint to make the unresponsive responsive.

]]> By: AmandaP http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-14484 AmandaP Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:35:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-14484 So sad that websites like this are out there - Unfortunately, I hear of people being taken advantage of by similar operations all of the time!! The best way to avoid such scams is to rent directly from a professional management company. That way, the homes are individually owned, but the management company provides standard and secure payment procedures, professionally cleaned and inspected properties, and is often a member of the Better Business Bureau or Vacation Rental Managers' Association (VRMA), as David mentioned earlier. AAA also rates some vacation home rentals across the country - Third-party endorsements like these are a great way to ensure it's a reputable company you're dealing with. You can search through each of these websites for vacation rental companies in specific areas (http://www.vrma.com, http://us.bbb.org, http://www.aaa.com) Professional management companies often have virtual tours online, too, along with guest testimonials, a 24/hour customer service contact, and partnerships with local vendors and attractions. A nonprofit vacation rental industry association has actually been formed to educate the traveling public on this very topic, and prevent people from going through the same ordeal - Discover Vacation Homes. Their national website will be launching soon with more tips & details at http://www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com. I hope this works out for Carole, and thanks, Chris, for bringing attention to this important issue!! So sad that websites like this are out there – Unfortunately, I hear of people being taken advantage of by similar operations all of the time!! The best way to avoid such scams is to rent directly from a professional management company. That way, the homes are individually owned, but the management company provides standard and secure payment procedures, professionally cleaned and inspected properties, and is often a member of the Better Business Bureau or Vacation Rental Managers’ Association (VRMA), as David mentioned earlier. AAA also rates some vacation home rentals across the country – Third-party endorsements like these are a great way to ensure it’s a reputable company you’re dealing with. You can search through each of these websites for vacation rental companies in specific areas (http://www.vrma.com, http://us.bbb.org, http://www.aaa.com)

Professional management companies often have virtual tours online, too, along with guest testimonials, a 24/hour customer service contact, and partnerships with local vendors and attractions.

A nonprofit vacation rental industry association has actually been formed to educate the traveling public on this very topic, and prevent people from going through the same ordeal – Discover Vacation Homes. Their national website will be launching soon with more tips & details at http://www.DiscoverVacationHomes.com.

I hope this works out for Carole, and thanks, Chris, for bringing attention to this important issue!!

]]> By: Chicky http://www.elliott.org/blog/3-secrets-to-avoiding-a-vacation-rental-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-14482 Chicky Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:35:54 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5209#comment-14482 If the area of the condo in question has followed the lead of other places, find out what county the property is in (if in the US) and see if the county has its tax assessor's office online. If so, you should be able to look up the tax record (which is public) online by address. The tax record will tell you how much the building is worth, square footage, when built and a few other tidbits. If it doesn't say, that's trouble. Or, if it says the purpose of the building is "storage" or something strange, you know it's bad news. If the tax assessor's office isn't online, you should still be able to contact them and ask for a copy of the tax and appraisal record. If they ask why, be upfront and tell them. The information is public record and it is not illegal, immoral or unethical to view it. If the area of the condo in question has followed the lead of other places, find out what county the property is in (if in the US) and see if the county has its tax assessor’s office online. If so, you should be able to look up the tax record (which is public) online by address. The tax record will tell you how much the building is worth, square footage, when built and a few other tidbits. If it doesn’t say, that’s trouble. Or, if it says the purpose of the building is “storage” or something strange, you know it’s bad news.

If the tax assessor’s office isn’t online, you should still be able to contact them and ask for a copy of the tax and appraisal record. If they ask why, be upfront and tell them. The information is public record and it is not illegal, immoral or unethical to view it.

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