Vacation Home Marketing

By
Real Estate Agent with United Realty Group, Inc. BK641413

Vacation Home MarketingWhile searching the Internet for a cabin rental for a vacation I recently took, I found what I thought would be a nice cabin to rent.  Well, sure enough, the cabin itself was nice (just as I'd seen in the multiple photos provided on the website).  Unfortunately, before booking the reservation I did not take into account the one photo that was missing -- the one of the view.  Had I realized this sooner, I would've asked to see a photo of the view before renting the cabin and at that point decided it was not the one for me or my family. 

Perhaps a nice view is not important to you... but it is to me and a lot of people on vacation.  I must admit that in some respects, the rental company did their job -- they presented only the good and none of the bad.  The "bad" included the fact that the cabin is a 5-mile drive through mountain curves before you could get to the "tourist-y" area, as well as a few other things.  Like bath towels that were only 18" wide (barely enough to cover your torso) and no tissue boxes or night lights (it was pitch black), only 2 lumpy pillows per queen size bed, and beds that were hard as a rock and squeaked whenever you'd move even an inch. 

Will I ever rent that particular cabin again?  Definitely not.  Am I likely to rent from this particular rental management company again.  Highly unlikely -- they've already shown me that I can't get my money's worth.  Lesson learned?  Ask questions via e-mail for documentation purposes and don't book until I've seen multiple photos of the interior, exterior and views!

Has anyone else used Internet-based vacation rental sites to book a vacation rental property?  Any interesting tales to tell?

Comments (5)

Roberta Murphy
San Diego Previews Real Estate - Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad Real Estate and Homes
We have used www.VRBO.com with good success. It would be nice, though, if the site allowed for customer commentary.
Aug 31, 2006 04:10 AM
Scott Gormley
Oak Valley Mortgage-California Home Loans and Refinancing - Chico, CA

Hey Leanne,

 I swear by http://www.vrbo.com, ie: "Vacation Rentals By Owners". I have used the site about 5 times so far, and I just booked a rental for Honolulu. Most of the locations have full baths, ton's of pictures, feedback ratings, testimonials, full contact information and good value..Be sure to check it out everyone...I got 7 days on the water in paradise for $85/night :)

Scott

Aug 31, 2006 04:11 AM
Pam Hofmann
Third Tennessee Realty & Associates, LLC - Crossville, TN
Your Crossville, Lake Tansi & Fairfield Glade Specialist
Great picture of my beloved Hillsboro Inlet!
Aug 31, 2006 04:11 AM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
One time I went to England (it was even my honeymoon lol) and we had this great hotel booked; when we arrived it turned out a big festival for the Queen was going on and somehow our hotel was conveniently NOT booked; we wound up quite a bit off the beaten tracks, which location wise, who cares, it's London and fabulous. But the hotel? Let's just say it had red velvet walls and purple satin bedspreads and lots of activity in the halls involving men entering rooms and leaving approx every hour : - )   It was quite an experience to view! Did I mention the fishnet stockings on the women? LOL
Dec 12, 2006 07:45 PM
S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL
United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL
Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist
Oh, geez, Carole... I would've had to buy new towels, bed sheets & pillow cases to sleep there (yuk!) and if what you suggested happened nowadays, I would've also checked the room for hidden cameras!  :-)
Dec 13, 2006 09:14 AM