VRBO verses Full Service Property Management

When you take a vacation at a location like Folly Beach, the best places to stay are privately owned homes. Besides the fact there is only one hotel to choose from on Folly Beach, a vacation rental home or condo offers privacy, location and value that hotels can’t match.

Many vacation resorts are overpriced, overcrowded and noisy. A vacation rental provides you with the privacy you need to relax and enjoy your vacation. But, before you start searching for vacation rentals, you should be aware of your options.

There are 2 basic types of vacation rental properties: a vacation rental by owner (VRBO) and a vacation rental that is exclusively managed and administrated by a property management company. VRBO properties are displayed on the owner’s personal website and/or on a vacation rental website. A property management company will advertise the property on their website and usually also by traditional print ads like brochures and catalogues.

vacation rental by owner vrbo A big advantage of renting directly from the property owner is that no one knows the property better than the person who owns it. Any questions you have concerning the property can be answered quickly by the owner as opposed to a management company that might have to contact the owner first to get the answer. Property owners can be a very valuable asset for making a good vacation a great one. The owner can provide you with more accurate information about the property than a property management company because the owner is obviously more familiar with the house.

Many vacation rental property owners live in the area where they are renting. This can be a valuable resource because the owner can give you inside information about the area. The owner may be able to let you in on where the restaurant specials are or where to go for entertainment. They can also clue you in to the local laws and customs to help you feel less like a tourist.

cheap beachfront rental speceial vacation deals from local vacation rental owners

Most property management companies have set rates with no room for negotiating. Dealing directly with the owner offers much more flexibility because it eliminates the middle man. If you notice the owners reservation calendar mostly empty during the dates you plan on vacationing, you may be able to negotiate a discount.

Vacation rentals by owner properties can be offered at a cheap price compared to those run by a property management company because they are not sharing a percentage of their rental income. Full service property management companies can charge anywhere from 10 to 22 percent for service fees. Many companies also have hidden charges; reservation fees, cleaning and linen fees, credit check fees and so forth. By dealing directly with the owner you can bypass many of these charges. Talk with the owner about bringing your own linens and some amenities and save money. The owner may be more flexible regarding check-in and check-out times. Most property management companies are very strict about these times and many of them charge hefty penalties for late check-outs.

specialized vacation rental owner attention Another advantage of renting directly from the owner is that it assures you the personal attention that a busy property management company may not be able to provide. If a management company is involved, you run the risk of getting lost amongst all the other renters. Maybe they misplaced the key or have maintenance crews working when you should be checking in. Sometimes bad things happen when a company is trying to juggle dozens of properties at once. When you deal directly with an owner, you’re the main customer, not just another number. Renting directly from the owner also provides you the opportunity to build a long-term relationship so you can return to the same place year after year if you so desire.