Property Scams and Scare Tactics

Property scams and scare tactics give vacation rentals a bad name.In fact, if I see one more article about vacation rentals asking “Is It Worth the Risk?” I’m going postal!

The truth is renting a vacation rental home is no more risky (for a reasonably savvy consumer) than choosing a plumber. Ask for recommendations. Ask questions. Use your intuition. If something seems fishy -- or too good to be true -- move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea. All you need to do is be the smart and careful consumer you already are.

And whenever you run into any of these five common property scams or scare-tactics, please don’t panic.

Each one has a reasonable solution or plan of action.

1. "The property might not exist."

Ask for the address and map it using Google Maps. You should see a photo the exterior and surrounding neighborhood.

Here’s a troubling new wrinkle. The property may indeed exist. However, it’s being advertised for a cut-rate rental fee by a foreign scam artist. Apparently, scammers are copying photos and facts about vacation rental homes from Web sites such as Craig's List, and listing the homes as their own.

The tip-off in property scams like this is typically the bargain rate -- which may be hundreds of dollars lower -- payable in cash only.

The FBI is on the case. But, meanwhile, old adage applies to potential rental property scams:

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

A little Internet sleuthing will tell you if the property manager is local. Refuse to mail or wire a cash deposit to anyone, because the chances of you getting that money back are slim. Use a credit card instead.

2. "You don't know what you're getting."

There's been a lot of talk about some vacation rentals that are SNAD (for significantly not as described).

If there are few photos or they’re dark, ask for more. If a listing is short and vague, the owner may indeed be hiding something. Ask for more information and testimonials from guests. Read between the lines and use your intuition.

Reputable owners and property managers will be straight with you. If the home you’re interested isn’t a good fit, they will tell you. If you have a bad time, it hurts their business.

3. "You're risking identity theft and fraud."

No more than you would in your everyday dealings. Just continue to be careful with your personal information.

Many owners and rental property managers take credit cards giving you third-party protection should a dispute arise. Some credit cards offer identity theft-protection, as well.

4. "You’ll trade price for quality."

Not unless you decide to! The truth: owners can charge less than rental property managers, because there is no middle-man. Simple economics.

But regardless of who you rent from, seasonal discounts (as much as 50% in some pretty prime areas -- May in La Jolla, for example) can easily trump anything you’ll find at a hotel with comparable location and amenities.

5. "You'll be on your own when it comes to maintenance."

An overflowing toilet would certainly ruin my vacation -- which is why I address this issue specifically in each Beach Vacation Rental Scout review. Who are you gonna call?

Again, ask. You’ll find that reputable homeowners have a stable of trusted local professionals they have worked with for years. Most owners and rental property managers are accessible by cell phone 24/7.

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