<p>No worries- He now has a titanium rod in his leg and does triathalons</p>
<p>I have been renting apartments, condos and homes exclusively (over hotels) for 8 years now (more than a dozen, now), using VRBO. My first criteria in choosing a place is that there must be several (current) reviews. My second is I write an email telling about myself and the reason for the trip (just chatty, but with stuff like woman, mid-50s, world traveler, non-smoker, coming to see shows, big fan of VRBO) and ask VERY SPECIFIC questions, such as cross streets (so I can google street walk), and best bagel shop in the area - IF they respond with general info, I’ll ask again, for something very specific. My experience has been that if the response is specific in return, rather than general, I have had 100% satisfaction, if I get general or form letter responses, I move on. </p>
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My second is I write an email telling about myself and the reason for the trip (just chatty, but with stuff like woman, mid-50s, world traveler, non-smoker, coming to see shows, big fan of VRBO) and ask VERY SPECIFIC questions, such as cross streets (so I can google street walk), and best bagel shop in the area - IF they respond with general info, I’ll ask again, for something very specific. My experience has been that if the response is specific in return, rather than general, I have had 100% satisfaction,</p>
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<p>It is very nice that you provide some basics about yourself. I like it when inquiries include the purpose of their visit, that they are non-smokers, non-partyers, etc. If they want more specific info, such as restaurant suggestions, etc, that is fine, too. In each vaca rental, I provide a Welcome binder that includes menus from local restaurants and other info.</p>
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<p>LOL…I have to admit I do both…my first paragraph or two is personal to address their questions/concerns. But the rest of the basic info is a form letter (detailing rate and county lodging taxes, reviewing size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, no-smoking/no-pet rules, mentioning of security deposit, etc.)</p>
<p>If you were on the owners’ side, you would understand that not only is there not enough time to personally write out a long response for each inquiry, but if we didn’t use a boilerplate for much of our response, it is likely we would overlook or leave-out important info. Consistency of providing info is important. We don’t want renters to later say, "oh, we didn’t know (we needed to include # of children, check in time, check out time, no pets rule, etc. "</p>
<p>M2K, yes, it happens when you send an inquiry and the owner does not confirm at once. He might be dealing with overlapping requests that are not confirmed. I do not blame the owners as it might be the busy 4 days of a conference and have nothing for a week. That is why I look at the units that are book able directly. That means the owner does NOT have to confirm as he trusts Airbnb. </p>
<p>I had this issue in Brussels and I lost an amazing place as I waited for confirmation. The owner was sincere and helped book a different place but it was not on the Grand Place in a house of the 16th century. </p>
<p>The lesson for me was to book first and deal with details later. Details that might exist if I did my homework well enough. </p>
<p>PS My experience with chatty exchanges is a mixed bag. Some of my top rentals have been with people who were rather terse. One factor is most of them have been abroad, as not everyone is comfortable chatting with strangers. </p>
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<p>I don’t have the Book it Now feature enabled for any site. I can’t. It’s not that I don’t trust VRBO, Homeaway, or AirBnB, it’s that prospective guests often don’t provide enough info (or the right info) in their inquiries. Plus, it makes you more vulnerable for scams. </p>
<p>AND, you would be surprised how many people do NOT put in the right dates in their inquiries. They often confuse days with nights. Most of these mistakes come out when I respond: Arrival: Friday, Sept 12. Departure: Monday, Sept 15 - 3 nights stay (when they really wanted 3 days and 2 nights).</p>
<p>And, often people will not include CHILDREN in their guest counts, but in their inquiry they will say something like: “My husband, 3 kids and I will be visiting _______”. But in their guest count they will put 2 people. So, I have to respond with, “Just to make sure, your group consists of 5 people. Is that correct?”. This makes a big difference. If it is just a couple, then they will usually only use one bed, occasionally two. But a family of 5 is going to use 4-5 beds. Big difference in use of bed linens and towels…and even some utility costs! And a big difference in how long it will take housekeeping to clean up after they leave (laundry, remake beds, kitchen, bathrooms, sanitize everything.)</p>
<p>However, I do almost ALWAYS immediately respond. If I am driving and I get an inquiry text (unique sound), I will pull off the road ASAP to respond. (altho now H is retired, so he does 99% of the driving so I can respond in the car immediately nearly always.) I will respond in stores or wherever. I will respond in the middle of the night. I keep my iPad with me at all times. lol The early-bird gets the worm! I also have an auto-text feature that I can use when I can’t send a personal response, but it will let them know that I got the inquiry and will respond appropriately asap. </p>
<p>mom2collegekids: I was meaning if I exclusively get a form letter I’ll move on (that is to say, zero indication that my note was even read). I’m sure it’s a lot of work responding to inquiries, and from a renter’s POV, I appreciate the binders with menus and the like. I’m also partial to guest books where other renters tell of their finds in the neighborhood. In addition, within days of my return home I take the time to write detailed reviews. </p>
<p>Airbnb may run into a wall in NYC, as the Mayor and others recently announced their hostility to it. Apparently a full court press of a municipal investigation is planned.</p>
<p>I am curious about Airbnb, as their print ads are everywhere these days. I would see them and wonder how landlords in NYC felt about the practice. No mystery now; they plan to end it. Airbnb executives yesterday said that they’ve broken no NY laws.</p>
<p>Does it not speak volumes about the cities where airbnb faces challenges? New York and New Orleans, our bastions of corruption and dysfunctional existence. </p>
<p>I live in a beach town that has outlawed short term rentals of less than a month (except in certain designated “tourist” areas) and the restrictions are apparently rigorously enforced. There was a lot of grumbling in my neighborhood because many residences here are second homes. </p>
<p>But i have to say the vibe this summer in my neighborhood was markedly different than in the neighborhoods a few miles down the sand with no such restrictions. I personally was not in favor of the restrictions, but they have made for a quieter summer. Short term rentals with high turn-over can be disruptive. I wouldn’t be all that happy if my immediate neighbors were using their houses for short term rentals. (We dont have boardwalks or easy public access so our beaches are quiet here). </p>
<p>My point is that you cant assume restrictions are motivated by corruption, as xiggi seems to assume.</p>
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<p>lol…so true…I prefer owning properties where local gov’ts don’t have strangling chokeholds on business and housing. </p>
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My point is that you cant assume restrictions are motivated by corruption, as xiggi seems to assume.
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<p>Corruption…control freaks…a rose by any other name…</p>
<p>Out of curiosity I checked both VRBO and AIrBnb for my neighborhood. Our community has an C C and Rs that forbid short term rentals and renting out guest houses. I noticed several guesthouses rented out by the night nearby. In both cases by viewing the owner info I knew the family from elementary school. I assume your fine till the neighbors complain.On VRBo the huge house down the street specifically says 28 day minimum. Though I know another house nearby that rents by the week. </p>
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I assume you’re fine till the neighbors complain</p>
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<p>The way many neighborhoods are these days, very busy people just minding their own business, likely no one is even aware of what is going on. 99% of my renters are quiet middle-aged adults with or without teen/adult children. It’s not like a SUV full of noisy/drunk spring-break 18 year olds are pulling up.</p>
<p>In my current neighborhood, I would have no idea if any were short-term rentals. I only know the people within a couple of houses of me, and we’re gone so much I don’t know who comes and goes. </p>
<p>One or two short term rental units is not going to change the character of a neighborhood. But when lots of people start renting their houses out by the week it is undeniable that the feel of the neighborhood changes. The differences are striking in California beach communities during the summer months. I like living in a neighborhood with a stable population, even if many of the neighbors are only here on weekends or during the holidays. I wouldn’t want to live in the neighborhoods with lots of rentals by the week during the summer.</p>
<p>In Calif, the beach communities that don’t have many/any rentals are filled with the very rich…cuz who else can afford those properties???..especially as second homes that would be empty most of the time.</p>
<p>I can understand why Newport Beach and others have a number of Vacation Rentals (I have rented there.). Those properties that are within a short-walk to the beach are multi-million dollar properties…and if they’re beachfront, then can be over $10M. </p>
<p>I agree that the character would be very different. My cousin lives 2 blocks away from Corona del Mar. Her townhouse cost $2M about 5 years ago. The SFH’s are likely $3M+ </p>
<p>I don’t think any of her neighbors are short-term rentals. But, that just means that her neighbors are folks that can afford pricey homes.</p>
<p>frankly, the character really changes when there are no controls on how many people can be in a rental. Sometimes people lie and say that they are a group of - say 6 - but then they not-so-quietly have their whole extended family camping out in various rooms. ugh. </p>
<p>And, of course, there are inherent problems when the renters are a bunch of college kids.</p>
<p>Xiggi’s point is well taken; the opposition in NYC may not be solely based on concern for the safety of tourists or the integrity of neighborhoods. If the Midtown Sheraton or the Manhattan Hilton are annoyed that they can lose $500-a- night customers to competitors who offer pleasant accommodations in some fairly nice apartments and brownstones, well then their motivation to fight Airbnb is quite transparent.</p>
<p>^^^
Plus, if travelers can rent at cheaper places, the city isn’t going to pull in as much in lodging taxes. I don’t know what the lodging taxes are in NYC, but in many places it can be 15% or more. So, a $500 per night customer would ALSO be paying something like an additional $75 per night for lodging tax…as opposed to paying an additional $30 a night in lodging tax.</p>
<p>ugh…I just had some guests today leave way after check-out time. Earlier this week, they had requested a Noon check out time (usually it is 11 am) and I agreed because I knew it was Time Change weekend. However, when the housekeeper arrived at 2:15 to begin cleaning, she walked into the 4 of them sitting in the living room, drinking beer, eating pizza and watching football games. Awkward!</p>
<p>She quickly left and called me. Since these were int’l guests (from Ireland), I hesitated calling their cell out of concern of causing them (or me) excessive phone charges. So, I texted them (free) to let them know that the housekeeper needed to clean for the next set of guests. They left an hour later…and didn’t bother to follow any of the Check-Out Rules. </p>
<p>so folks, if you use any of these Vaca Rentals, please don’t overstay your contracted stay w/o permission. I know most here would never do that, but some might not realize that when we only have 4-6 hours to complete the Turnover Work, so having some group stay late can really cause trouble. Sometimes we have to run out buy/replace something, so time can be of the essence…</p>
<p>Wow, that was nervy!!! 
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<p>^^ Unfortunately there are always those who think the rules of anything do not apply to them…it wouldn’t occur to me to overstay without agreeing beforehand with the landlord - but other people’s rules are not important to surprisingly quite a number. I know with airbnb (don’t know if the others allow it too) you can leave a review of the guest as well as the landlord so their overstay would be a good item to mention for future landlords’ info.</p>
We reserved an apartment in Rome this summer. First time to use VRBO. For anyone who has gone this route, is it unusual for the owner to ask for half the rent upon booking, and the balance paid in full, two weeks before our arrival? The reason I’m asking is that other VRBOs ask for payment in full (and a separate refundable deposit) upon arrival.