Whether this is your first time renting a vacation property on Cape Cod or you have done it before but had a bad experience, there are questions you should ask and things that you should do to make sure your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud. When traveling to a new place, many people choose to stay in hotels or inns instead of renting a vacation property. Hotels and inns offer flexibility in your stay schedule, but many travelers are making the switch to staying at private homes or condos instead. Staying in a vacation property you often get more bang for your buck, and give you the opportunity to live more comfortably than a single room you would get in an inn or hotel. But with so many options out there, how can you make sure that your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud? Here are some of the steps you can take to make sure your vacation rental is a success.
Read the Reviews!
When you look at a vacation property, the first thing you should look for is the review section. If the star count on the property is low, or you notice that most visitors had the same complaints over and over again, those are big red flags. While it is difficult to make everyone happy, most vacation rental owners will receive feedback regarding their property and remedy the situation. Many sites have the ability for owners to respond to the reviews of the property. If the owners are defensive and not accommodating, that gives you an idea of what type of owner you are going to be dealing with. If you are renting a property through a rental agency, they will list the reviews of the property on their website as well. It is also possible to call the agency directly to see if there are additional reviews of the property, or ask if the agent has any information about how guests liked the property. Check out our blog, “5 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental” to see more ideas on how to make sure your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud!
Study the Listing
Do not assume a thing when renting a vacation property. The easiest way for your vacation to go wrong is to not really read your vacation property’s description. So if you want to make sure your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud, pay close attention to the details of the rental listing and really review the pictures of the property. Sometimes property owners will include pictures of beaches on their listings to show area beaches close to their homes. If you are not paying close attention, you could easily assume that the beach picture is the view from the property that you are renting. That would be a HUGE disappointment when you arrived to find that the beach in the pictures is 5 minutes away and not right outside your front door.
Many listings use colorful language to make the vacation property more appealing to potential tenants. It is important to sift through the fluff and get to the heart of the listing. Does it have the essentials that you need to enjoy your vacation? Does it have air conditioning? How far is the beach or bike trails? Read and re-read the descriptions of the properties that you are interested in to make sure that you are not disappointed once you finally rent the property. If you are renting through a rental agency such as Leighton Rentals, give the agency a call to clarify the description. An agent would be happy to answer any of the questions you might have regarding the property. If this rental is not the right fit for your needs, a rentals agent can email you links to properties that might be a better fit for your vacation. Check out our blog, “Top 5 Reasons to Book your Cape Cod Vacation Rental with Leighton Rentals” for more reasons why working with a rentals agency when booking your vacation property is easier when working with professionals.
Google Map It
Many properties do not list the actual addresses on their website listings, and many agencies do not list actual addresses but you can always ask for the addresses if you are serious about the property. Once you have the address to the property you are interested, you should Google it to make sure that the Cape Cod rental property is not a dud. Look for anything that might make your vacation less enjoyable around the property you are renting. Is the rental close to a landfill or busy street? Is the property in a nice neighborhood or as close to the beach as you had thought it would be from the description? Make sure that the rental is exactly where you thought it would be and in an area that you would feel comfortable staying in for the amount of time you will be staying there. In addition to Google Mapping the property, it is a good idea to Google the area to see what it is like. Are there activities that appeal to you in the area and is it appropriate for your needs?
Make Sure Your Cape Cod Vacation Property is not a Dud
When booking your vacation rental, you want to make sure your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud so you can enjoy your time on beautiful Cape Cod. A good way to make sure that your Cape Cod vacation property is not a dud is to work with a rental agency such as Leighton Rentals who has the experience and inventory of homes to make sure your vacation goes smoothly. The Leighton Rentals website offers virtual tours of properties, an advanced search, and updated pictures of all of the properties. If you have any questions, call our office to speak to a licensed agent who can answer all of your questions.
