8 Reasons to Choose a
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Click here for a list of my favorite California vacation rental property managers.
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Much as I love renting vacation homes from owners who are passionately involved in managing their own homes, I have to admit that many of my very best “finds” have come from vacation rental management companies specializing in a city or region.
So, if you can’t find the perfect home among the growing collection reviewed on this site, I’m happy
to help you expand your options by introducing you
to a local vacation rental property manager or company doing a superb job in the beach town or region you're interested in visiting.
Look for profiles of local vacation rental management companies I recommend listed alongside reviews of homes I've handpicked.
Some are associated with Realtors. If you’re thinking about buying a vacation or retirement home in the area you’ll be visiting, a realty company can show you
what’s currently available during your stay.
Some vacation rental management companies are associated bed-and-breakfasts or inns -- which almost ensures that your home will be well stocked include little luxuries such as milled soaps and terry robes. You may even be invited to use the B&B’s pool or attend its nightly wine and cheese social hour.
Some companies specialize in luxury vacation rentals and provide extras like concierge services, event planning assistance and sports equipment rental.
Some can steer to only cottages or cabins.
Most are hybrids, as individual as the best homeowners.
Great California Vacation Rental Property Managers.
Great Florida Vacation Rental Property Managers.
Beach Vacation Rental Scout Recommends:
Check out two these comprehensive worksheets for evaluating local vacation rental property managers written by Wendy Perrin, an editor and columnist at Conde Nast Traveler.
The author of Wendy Perrin's Worldwide, Soup-to-Nuts, Get-It-Right-Every-Time Villa Rental Guide," Wendy specializes in villas rentals abroad, so don't let the different terminology confuse you -- "villa" is synonymous with "vacation rental." Same with "villa rental agent" and "rental property manager".
With these worksheets, Wendy does a superb job of organizing the important details and providing questions to ask and spot-on guidance through the evaluation process.
Both PDF documents can be downloaded by clicking here.
1. How to Identify the Right Villa Rental Agent and Villa for You -- 22 questions to ask a rental property manager, along with tips on interpreting the answers.
and ...
2. What You Need to Know About a Villa Before you Arrive -- an exhaustive checklist, with a special appendix related to Villa Security.
8 Reasons to Use a Local Vacation Rental Management Company
As you’ve probably guessed, all vacation rental property managers -- like all individual homeowners -- are not created equal. Each local company reviewed on this site offers these eight benefits.
# 1. They’ve built a quality inventory of homes.
Some have a handful of homes. Others have dozens. The common denominator: everyone working in the company knows each home intimately. Whoever answers the phone can speak confidently about the location and specific details that matter to you. You can trust local rental managers to recommend a particular home or homes based on your unique needs and preferences.
#2. They give you occupancy flexibility.
Here’s another plus. If you’re traveling with a large group: A local vacation rental property manager or management company may be able to recommend several homes within walking distance of each other.
#3. Some offer concierge services, discounts and special offers.
A local vacation rental property manager can help you rent everything from bikes to a lap top. You can have your refrigerator stocked before you arrive or hire a personal chef to cook you a private dinner. If the staff of the rental management company can't directly provide a certain service, they will know (much better than you) where to find a resource locally.
Many vacation rental managers partner with local businesses to offer discounts and special offers to their renters.
#4. Some offer trip cancellation insurance.
Say there’s a storm and the vacation home you’ve reserved is flooded right before you’re due to arrive? If you’re renting directly from the owner, you’re stuck. A vacation rental property manager is more likely to be able to find another home that meets your criteria at the last minute. Most individual homeowners do not have access to replacement properties.
Many vacation rental property managers who are members of the Vacation Rental Manager’s Association offer trip cancellation insurance.
#5. They know their area well.
What a pleasure to hear a friendly voice at the other end of the line! They will walk you through the selection process.
Most local vacation rental management companies are staffed by long-time residents of the community. Whoever you speak to is likely to know the area like the back of their hand.
Their websites include authoritative visitor’s guide and/or extensive links to local attractions, activities and services on their sites. You may also find the local weather report and a photo gallery.
Bottom line: a local vacation rental management company can share the kind of insider information you need to make your trip the best it can be.
Of course, owners can also be great resources, just check any home review on this site for Owner's Favorites.
#6. They have trusted relationships with lots of local vendors.
When the heat went out the first night in Lake Tahoe vacation rental (my family’s first experience renting a vacation home), the management company was all over it. They even deducted one night’s rent to make up for our inconvenience.
A vacation rental property manager has established relationships with local vendors who are familiar with the homes in their inventory and can quickly resolve unexpected maintenance issues and the unlikely emergency. (This is also true of owners who live adjacent to or near their rental homes.)
#7. They keep up on routine maintenance.
Did you know slipping into an improperly maintained hot tub can lead to serious health issues? Managers oversee scheduled maintenance of their homes to make sure the chemical balance is properly maintained in hot tubs and pools and that other appliances -- from dishwashers to dumbwaiters -- are working properly.
#8. They are there to greet you when you arrive -- and available to help any time.
If you rent directly from an owner, you may never meet face-to-face. When you rent from a rental management company, you will receive a friendly welcome along with your key. And you're just a phone call away from help or advice around the clock.
The best of both worlds.
A word about the Vacation Rental Managers Association
More than 600 professional vacation rental management companies belong to this professional trade association serving the short-term property management industry in North America.
VRMA publishes and enforces its own Code of Ethics and Practices in the management and renting of homes. VRMA members attend seminars and conferences to increase their professionalism and hone their customer service skills.
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