Vacation Renters... BEWARE ... or Use a Licensed Realtor®
If you are one of the thousands of vacationers coming to the Palm Springs area this winter, this is good information to take into account. It costs you, the tenant, nothing extra to work with a Realtor and in my opinion it is well worth it to do so.
In the October 25th issue of Time Magazine, an article about short-term and vacation rentals caught my eye. This season in the Palm Springs area the rental market is HOT, HOT, HOT ! Canadians, among others... are literally flocking here with their strong dollar and a migratory urge to escape the cold and bask in our beautiful sunny climate.
According to the article, peer-to-peer housing rentals are up due to the mortgage strapped homeowners and the budget conscious travelers. The Austin-based website HomeAway, Inc.-- the parent company of homeaway.com and VRBO.COM (short for Vacation Rentals by Owner)-- the number of listings has increased exponentially, from 51,000 in 2005 to 540,000 last month. The trend has also sparked the rise of dozens of other sites... some reputable... some not.
Repeat users of these sites love the low prices and the ability to "live like a local". But some users are finding that the photos online don't match the reality when they arrive. Sending a friend to scope out the place ahead of time can be enlightening, "because if the owner is reluctant... that says alot".
There are plenty of horror stories about vacationers arriving in cities only to discover that the property they rented does not exist or is occupied by owners unaware that scammers were advertising it online. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) says claims of vacation-rental fraud in the U.S. were up 50% this summer compared with last. Many communities are even banning short-term rentals less than 30 days, including Chicago and New York City.
How can you be certain you are renting an available property? How can you make sure you will have a clean, well-kept home to stay in on your next vacation ?
Make sure you rent or lease through a licensed Realtor®! Our commissions are paid by the homeowner, so there is no cost for a renter to use our services. I check out the properties myself for my out of town clients-- if needed I will do a flip-video and send them a virtual tour to give them a better feel for the property.
Instead of taking your chances online... and ruining your vacation... give me a call! I know top Realtors® in the best resort and vacation areas, including Chicago and New York City, beach, mountain, and golf resorts. And I can help you right here in the Palm Springs area to make sure you have an unforgettable vacation experience!
For tips on how to "live like a local" in the Palm Springs area visit 365 Things to do in the Palm Springs, CA Area on Facebook!
If you are looking for a great real estate agent in the Palm Springs area,
Kathy Schowe 760.333.8886
Visit: schoweproperties.com & livethedesertlife.com
The Lori Bowers Group
La Quinta, California
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