Advertising on VRBO is not cheap, so scammers claiming to be owners are more likely to be found on free sites like Craigslist. I love Craigslist for many things but I have heard of people sending money for a vacation rental that simply does not exist.
Also, VRBO has a new(ish) "Carefee Rental Guarantee" where they will reimburse for vacations gone wrong in certain circumstances. Read their site for details, but basically:
"While most vacations go as planned, life is full of surprises. The Carefree Rental Guarantee from HomeAway protects you up to $10,000 if:
- The home has been foreclosed or is inbankruptcy
- The owner inadvertently double-books the property
- The owner wrongfully withholds your security deposit
- The property is misrepresented
It looks like the cost of this coverage is based on the amount of the rental, and starts at about $40.
Personally, I pay attention to the reviews. If a property has been on VRBO for any length of time, it should have reviews, unless the owner has opted out. Why one would do that, I don't know. With VRBO, an owner cannot pick and choose reviews that show up. They all do, or none do.
Also, pay attention to the way the owner does business. Are they organized? Do they have a contract? Do they respond to your inquiries in a timely manner? In defining timely, keep in mind that VRBOs are not hotels, and the owners are not manning a reservation desk. They are likely at work, or at the store, or taking care of business. A one day response time for the initial contact is not bad.
Does the owner offer more than one way to get in touch? And, does the owner encourage communication? No one wants to rent from a blabby, intrusive person during their private vacation, but make sure the door is open for communication in case an urgent need arises during your stay.
Personally, I have my phone with me at all times when someone is staying at Casa Cielo.
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