Vacation Rentals Accepting Various Payment Methods

Since you will be dealing with many different types of people, it is helpful to offer different ways of handling vacation rental payments. Finances can be scary to some rental home owners, but once everything is set up and put into place, you are ready for the fun part: sitting back and accepting the money!

Keep in mind that by the time a renter has decided to book your location, they have probably spent hours, if not days, researching different lodging options. Even though they are sure your home is the best, they may still be a bit hesitant about sending their hard earned money to a stranger. That’s why it is important to have very clear payment and money related policies are so important. They will limit the worry and frustration felt by your guests, and quite possibly, by you.

Be sure you inquirers have been sent all the important information concerning your vacation rentals. All documents need to be printed, signed, and returned, either before you accept any money or along with the initial deposit. You should highly suggest to your guests that they print a copy of the all rules and policies for themselves.

Once your potential renters have agreed to your terms by submitting the required paperwork, you may cover the methods of payment that are available to them. Accepting multiple forms of payment will make it easier on your guests, depending on how they like to pay for things. Below are the most common ways to receive payments for your booking.

• Credit Cards – Simply the safest and easiest way to accept and make payments in the world today. If you choose to only accept one payment method (which, in my opinion, would be crazy!), choose to accept credit cards. It will definitely hurt your business if you refuse their use. With credit cards, everything can be handled online, and you get the funds immediately. No more waiting for checks to reach your mailbox, or to clear the bank!

• Personal Check – This is the most convenient method for your guests, but it can present a risk for you. Make sure that once you receive the check, you cash it immediately. Wait for it to clear before moving further with the transaction.

• PayPal – This is similar to accepting credit cards, only it is taken one step further. Your guests can also link their PayPal account to their checking account, which enables them to pay for things online money straight from their bank accounts. As the receiver, you can also link your accounts so the money can be deposited into your checking account once you receive it.

• Money Orders and Cashier’s check – These are not very convenient for anyone. For the guests, these can only be obtained at certain locations (banks, post offices, etc.), which adds time and money into the equation of sending off their payment. Scammers use these forms of payment often to get money out of unknowing victims.

August 9th, 2008 Posted by admin | Vacation Rentals | 2 comments

Vacation Condo Rental: What IS A Vacation Condo Rental?

Image by wallyg via Flickr

Question: What IS a vacation condo rental? Isn’t that just a fancy name for a motel unit with a kitchen?

Answer: No. Vacation condo rental units are normally much nicer than motels.

Sizes of vacation condo rental units: Vacation travelers can choose a privately owned condo in sizes sleeping room plus kitchen, on up to 5 bedroom units in some tourist destination areas around the United States. These rental unites are available by the day, week, or month just like the motels, only they are fully-furnished private homes with an equipped kitchen instead of just a motel sleeping room. Vacation condo rentals units are normally priced comparable or less than local motel room rates per bedroom.

Locations of vacation condo rental units: Vacation condo rentals units are available in almost all tourist destinations within the United States. Vacation travelers can find these privately owned vacation condo rental units at the beach or in the mountains; condos can be found in the country, in the city, beside lakes, in quiet neighborhoods, and right in the middle of vacation excitement zones.

To procure your privately owned vacation condo unit you must shop online for it before leaving home, but today most of us make our motel room reservations before leaving home anyway – vacation planners just need to shop for lodging at different sites than the motels are using for their advertising.

What comes with a vacation condo rental? As an example of what you can find with a privately owned vacation condo rental, one in Florida along the oceanfront comes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, wet bar, 50” plasma TV, more TV’s and gaming systems, telephones and internet, linens, kitchen supplies, RV parking and other parking, private washer-dryer, bar-b-que, gazebo, balcony, jetted tub in master bath, pool, and more. This 3-bedroom vacation condo rental runs about 500.00 per week during all non-summer months.

Some vacation condo rental units are in high-rise buildings, and others are clustered with just a few on the lot together; what comes inside is normally based upon the location and space available. Almost all privately rented condo units will have owners trying to please the customer so that you will continue to come to their rental instead of a motel. Lodging is a very competitive industry in tourist areas, the private owners must try harder than the motels, so that they normally provide better lodging accessories for your enjoyment.

Where to find a vacation condo rental unit: Private owners advertise their vacation condo rental units online through vacation planning services. Place the name of your desired location into your search bar followed by house rental, cottage rental, condo rental, cabin rental, or apartment rental to find this reasonably priced nice lodging.

The rental ads on the internet come complete with pictures and a full listing of items that you will receive inside of your rental unit. Some travelers enjoy vacationing with their pets or children. Travelers browsing their way through the private rental unit ads will find options in vacation condo rental units that are especially designed for your needs.

As an example of what special needs covered by a vacation condo rental can be:

~ Locking garages are great places to store your rented car and rented sports equipment at night while visiting any tourist town.

~ Pets like space and yards to stretch in.

~ Children like space, child decorated bedrooms, and gaming options to play with.

~ Older travelers enjoy the quiet homelike nature of condo rentals.

~ Party animals enjoy meeting the same in singles only condo units.

~ Travelers on a strict budget enjoy having a kitchen with utensils and appliances in it as an option to eating expensive restaurant food.

~ Babies enjoy condos that have a baby room set-up with everything Mom needs for an easy stay.

~ Friends or couples traveling together enjoy sharing a condo to save on motel bills.

August 2nd, 2008 Posted by Catherine | Vacation Rentals | no comments