Renter's Checklist

Make reservations early
Planning ahead and booking early guarantees you maximum choice, so you can be sure to find the rental that best suits your needs. By not waiting until the last minute you may also save money. Last minute renters often  have to settle for a lesser value: fewer amenities or higher price.

Get a rental agreement
Since rentals involve a significant amount of money and you will probably invest a lot of emotional energy in planning your vacation, don't let its success depend on a verbal commitment. Be sure to get everything down on paper before sending rental deposits or rental payments.

Don't miss deposit deadlines
Losing a reservation because you missed your deposit deadline is a sure way to ruin your vacation. Know when your deposit(s) are due and allow enough time for it to arrive.

Know the cancellation policy
Get a clear cancellation policy in writing. Be prepared to sacrifice at least a portion of your deposit should you have to cancel. Some owners have a no cancellation policy in which you could lose your entire deposit.

Clarify the deposit policy

 Some property owners may be more likely to keep deposits than others.  Make sure that you understand what the circumstances are under which your deposit money can be kept.

Get complete instructions in advance
Three things are critical to have before setting off on your vacation.

1.      Have complete directions to the property. 

2.      Have the keys in hand, or have clear arrangements made to get the keys.

3.      Have the owner's phone number or that of his local agent so that you have someone to contact should something unexpected occur.

Read the Renterrific ratings

The Renterrific ratings are there to help you learn a little more about a property through the opinions of someone who has stayed there. They may also tell you about the way the property manager handled any issues that arose during the stay.

Get references

If Renterrific ratings are not available (and even if they are) get references of former renters.  The best way to determine how a manager handles issues such as security deposits and rental schedules is to communicate with others that the property manager has dealt with before.

Use a credit card

Use a credit card if possible for your rental and deposits. Credit cards normally provide a means to dispute charges between the property owner and the renter.  This is merely an added protection.

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