Some of you might have heard stories of private accommodation rentals that do not look the same in photos, or even worse, do not even exist. Hence, if you're thinking about booking that rental in Hawaii, ensure that you do not get scammed. Do not shell out your money upon the first accommodation rental you chance upon. Do not fall for the most promising advertising or the most enticing picture either. If you want to protect your money while enjoying the rest of your vacation stay, read on to get some tips and advice.
First of all, work only with licensed and reputable agencies. Such agencies can be located on the accredited business practices bureau website. In general, a credible agency will post their address as well as phone number on their website. You might even want to ask them for their agency license number to check if they are real. Be wary of those "anonymous" agencies - in a way, they might only be avoiding tax collectors. Nevertheless, for your own peace of mind, steer clear of these websites. Confirm if this agency guarantees the rental, and not only indicates the owners' information on their website.
The next step is to find out where your reservation deposit goes. You shouldn't mail your deposit through any kind of money transfer system that couldn't possibly be traced to a personal account. Another option is to pay using a credit card or via PayPal - if ever a dispute occurs, you can easily recover your funds.
A wise client knows that a binding contract is already iron clad evidence against potential scams. Have the rental owner sign in the contract as well and if you can afford the presence of a legal expert, then that's much better. If you prepare a contract beforehand, be assured that you are able to protect yourself against possible troubles. In the worst case scenario, you can chase after the scammer and file a corresponding lawsuit.
In addition, you should never make a reservation online. Keep in mind that nothing is secure in the virtual world. By calling in and directly talking to the person in charge of the rental, you are being prudent and cautious. What is more, by calling the person in charge, you are already verifying that the particular rental exists. You can similarly present your questions and other concerns to the person you're talking to. Ask pertinent questions such as when did the rental business start, what is the background of the owners and look for other references and referrals.
Again, you can never be too careful. Purchase travel.happinesslifetime.com travel insurance for yourself. The more legal documents you have, the more safeguarded and foolproof you become.
The important thing is that you conduct your own research. You can Google the rental property as well as the property's owner on the web. Unless the site is on the list of blocked properties, they will appear on the listing of White Pages. When owners of an accommodation rental give you their references and referrals, do not forget to verify them yourself.
It is unfortunate that a lot of scammers use popular websites to prey on possible victims. Do not let your guard down even if you are in front of the computer screen. Keep in mind that the virtual world is never ever secure. Nonetheless, once you find that reliable rental property, by all means enjoy your stay. Just get this word out and help others out of harm's way.
Slava Kandakou is Managing Director at Golden City Rentals Inc. - licensed agency in British Columbia, Canada that specializes in goldencityrentals.com furnished rental accommodations and provides peace of mind to both homeowners and guests. For more information on Golden City Rentals, visit goldencityrentals.com goldencityrentals.com
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