7 Vacation Home Renting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When it comes to booking your lodging for a vacation, there are plenty of reasons to choose a rental home over a hotel or resort.
In many cases, you'll enjoy more space. You'll also get a few touches of home, like a living room and kitchen. Depending on where you're traveling to, vacation homes may offer better locations, close to the activities that you plan to enjoy.
However, if you choose to book a rental home, there are a few things you should know. Keep reading to learn how to avoid common vacation home renting mistakes on your next getaway.
1. Opting for the Cheapest Option
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when renting a home is opting for the cheapest rental to save a few bucks.
When you're scrolling vacation home listings, it might be tempting to choose a listing that's less expensive than others in the area. However, this discount will usually come at a cost.
In some cases, the rental property is brand new. This means that it has no reviews that you can rely on to get an idea of what it's like to stay there. The property owners might be new to renting out a home. This can lead to some headaches at check-in, as the owner might have certain expectations that are out of the norm for rental homes.
Other reasons that the property could be listed for less than other Lubec vacation homes are that it's in a bad location, is smaller than other units, needs some upgrades, or lacks amenities. While accepting these issues might mean saving a few dollars on your stay, it can also have a big impact on your vacation.
2. Failing to Check the Vacation Home Location
Planning a vacation in Lubec, Maine? The last thing that you want to do is rent a vacation home that's located too far from your destination. When you want to enjoy the many Lubec vacation activities, you'll be forced to drive long distances to and from your vacation rental.
This is not only a drag, but can seriously cut into your precious vacation time. Instead, when you're checking vacation home listings, make sure to consider the location of each unit, and how far you'll need to drive to get to the activities you plan to enjoy during your stay.
3. Choosing a Unit That's Too Small
Nothing beats a vacation with family or friends. But if your group is squeezing into a unit that's too small, things can turn ugly fast.
Vacation rooms tend to be larger than hotels. The average hotel room is around 325 square feet, while the average vacation rental is around 1,300 square feet. However, even that may not be big enough.
Renting a vacation home that's too small for the number of people staying in it often means that not everyone will have a bed. Some might find themselves crashing on couches. Others will be relegated to air mattresses on the floor.
This is uncomfortable for those who get squeezed into makeshift beds. It might also violate the vacation home's rules, which can turn into fines or even result in you getting asked to leave the property.
4. Not Checking the Amenities
The number of beds and bathrooms isn't the only thing that you should be checking when looking for Lubec vacation homes. Another important factor in choosing the right rental is the amenities.
Some amenities are ones that can help to make your stay more comfortable. This might include an in-unit washer and dryer so that you can wash your clothes after a muddy hike or a walk-in closet so that you can unpack during your stay.
Other amenities will enhance how you enjoy your stay. This might include things like a media room or great views of the ocean.
5. Expecting a Hotel Experience
Another big mistake that people make when booking a vacation rental, especially if it's their first time, is to expect the same experience you'd get from a hotel.
Vacation rentals have a lot going for them. You typically enjoy more space than a hotel room, the comforts of home such as a kitchen and living area, as well as unique perks, like a great location or fun amenities.
What you don't get is a 24-hour front desk, on-site staff, or room service. This might mean that if you run out of towels, you'll have to wash them yourself. Unless you wash them yourself, you're unlikely to get new sheets part-way through your stay.
But if you're willing to let go of these small details, you'll get to enjoy the many other benefits of booking a vacation rental over a hotel.
6. Not Checking the Reviews
This next mistake is one that many travelers already know to avoid. On average, Americans read 17 reviews before booking any travel plans. While you might already know to check reviews before booking a hotel, don't forget to check them prior to choosing a vacation home rental, too.
Reviews can help tell you what a listing won't. You'll get an idea of the experience that real guests had on the property, as well as any details that might impact your stay.
7. Ignoring House Rules
Most hotels have rules that guests are expected to follow. The same goes for vacation rentals.
In a vacation rental, the list of rules might be longer than you'd find in a hotel. That's often because there is more space in the vacation rental, as well as more features and amenities that you'll need to know how to use properly.
Before booking, check to see if there are any rules that might influence your booking of the rental. For instance, there might be rules about how many guests can stay on the property, or whether or not you can bring pets. Then, when you check into your rental, look for a list of rules and read through them. These might include important things you need to know, like how to work the stove or where you'll find a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency.
Avoiding Common Home Renting Mistakes
From following the rules to reading reviews, following these tips can help you avoid the most common vacation home renting mistakes.
If you're thinking about planning a visit to Lubec, ME, and are looking for a beautiful, spacious vacation home rental, we've got you covered. Check out our stunning Boot Cove Luxury Vacation rental today to start planning your visit.