How Do I Make Sure a Vacation Rental Is Legit?

Are you looking for a vacation rental property? Many properties are beautiful, well-kept, and offer plenty of benefits. Unfortunately, there's no denying the fact that there are scammers out there. That's why it's important to know how to tell if a rental is legitimate. These are a few tips that you should keep in mind. 

How Do I Make Sure a Vacation Rental Is Legit?

Recognize When It's Too Good to Be True

Finding a good deal on a rental property is exciting, especially if you're on vacation. That extra money could be something you use to splurge on making this experience even better.

But if the prices seem suspiciously low or like it's way too good to be true, then a good rule of thumb is that that's probably the case. One effective way to tell if the price is too low is by looking at other rental properties in the area and comparing the prices.

Don't Pay With Cash

If the person or company you're renting from tells you they only accept cash payments, that is a huge red flag, and you should look for a different property. Many scammers will ask for cash payments because it makes it much more difficult for those they've scammed to get that money back.

The same is true for payment methods like wire transfers, checks, or MoneyGram. Wire transfers are the preferred payment method in some areas, but a reputable rental property owner will work with you to find a payment method that works for both of you. 

Avoid Unsecure Website Payment Options

One reliable way to tell if you should consider looking at another rental property is by taking a good look at their website. If the website doesn't seem secure or if they're not offering secure payment options, look elsewhere. Remember to take a look at the terms and conditions that the property has before you book your stay. 

The best way to pay for a rental is by credit card. Credit cards offer you much more protection than other payment methods, which means if something goes wrong, it will be easy to trace the payment and get your money back.

Do a Background Check on the Owner or Company

You don't need to be invasive and figure out the rental property owner's personal history before you book your rental. But if you're looking for reputable rental property investment in Puerto Rico, a quick search of any memberships they may have can help.

Take a look to see if the company is part of any associations, and do a quick Google search to see if other people have had experiences with the company and what those experiences have been.

Check the Email Address

If the email address sending you this information seems sketchy, you should listen to your gut and back away. If the email provider isn't one you've ever heard of, or it doesn't seem like an official business one, that's a sign you might be being scammed.

The email address can also indicate that the email is not legit. Scam emails will often be a confusing mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If the email address you've been communicating with has this, that's a big red flag. 

Speak on the Phone

Email is one of the best ways to communicate in today's world, especially with people who may not be in the same country as you and live in different time zones. But if you want to avoid being scammed while looking for a rental property, email shouldn't be the only way you communicate. 

If you can, speak to the person you've been communicating with over the phone. This will help you get a much clearer idea of what the person you're working with is like and whether what they're offering is legitimate. 

Check That the Property Exists

Of course, one of the most important things to do when you're looking to avoid a scam is to ensure that the property exists in the first place. There are a few ways you can do this, and one is by looking at the address on Google Maps.

If you know someone in the area, that's even better. You can ask them to check out the property themselves, and you may even be able to book a tour to check out the interior. Ask the person checking for you to send you photos of the property.

Making sure that you're finding a quality rental property from a reputable person or company is essential. As long as you keep the above tips in mind, you'll be able to spot when something is legit and when something might be a scam.