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Remote keyless locks with no monthly fees... what are my options?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 19:25:28 GMT

We are switching out of our current management company to running on our own in early April. At that time we'll need to change our lock and I'm trying to determine the best fit. Being 2 hours from our rental, I like the ability to change the lockpad remotely, have no keys for the renters to lose - seems like quite a convenient system. I've looked into a few and as I get into it, I find the fine print about monthly service fees to update remotely. Ugh! I don't want to have to pay a monthly fee. It looks like RemoteLock has a setup without a monthly service fee. Has anyone had good luck with their system? Any other options?

Rental owner blew me off.

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:14:53 GMT

We've rented many times with no problem. But we're planning a trip to Cape Cod and an owner just blew me off and wasted a week of my time. I contacted her, she said her place was available. She asked for my information to send the lease, and I replied immediately. She promised to send a lease later that morning, then fell off the face of the earth. I've had a very busy week (one reason I wanted to get this rental squared away) so I didn't really have time to pursue her incessantly, but I emailed her every day since then and have gotten zero response. Now we're left scrambling to find a place with less than two weeks before our trip.

Who does that? I mean, at least have the decency to respond and say "I'm sorry but the place is no longer available" rather than just leaving me hanging.

I wish you could leave a review for a place you haven't stayed. People should know the owner might screw you over.

What do you think?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:14:44 GMT

This inquiry looks phishy to me. There is no phone number, no dates, no guests, no mention of anything except really odd first inquiry questions. I don't usually ignore any inquiry, but this one really bothers me. What do you think?

What is clean?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:03:33 GMT

What do owners define as clean and what do you expect from your guests?

This is how I run my business:

I do not charge separately (or offer that option) for cleaning. By doing so, it gives people the idea: "I've paid for the service so I do not have to do anything."
My rental agreement says: "The accommodations will be clean prior to your arrival. We simply ask you to respect the property and amenities provided and to leave things in good and clean condition on your departure."
I take a separate security/damage deposit.
I am present when guests arrive and they see the state (clean!) the accommodation is in.
In addition to the rental agreement, I have guests sign an additional form on arrival. It reinforces the rental agreement with additional: "Report any breakage or damage promptly and not on the day of your departure" and "The kitchen must be clean on departure including the tiled wall, counter top, cooking hob, oven and microwave. All dishes, cups, glasses, utensils, cutlery, pots and pans etc. must be clean and put back where you found them on arrival. The dishwasher must be empty and clean (and not running) and the refrigerator empty, wiped clean and without food.
I never tell a renter to "leave the place as you would at home" instead I say "we clean the accommodation after your departure but we will not clean up any mess you leave behind"
The security deposit is returned in full minus any breakage, damage, exceptional/extra cleaning within 10 days of departure if without issue
I follow up any issue with details of problems found with photos if necessary. I give a detail of charges involved and let them reply before deducting any costs.

Perhaps my experience and approach is different as I am an on-site owner/manager. The system has worked for me and I would say I have only needed to charge on rare occasions of "big breakage" (not an odd glass or two) and major cleaning which usually involves filthy ovens and/or unreported stains on bedding or furniture. These are the most time consuming issues!

Interested in thoughts, experiences of other owners. What do you do and why it might be "better"...

Flexible dining room arrangements

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:32:48 GMT

I have a good sized dining room -- about 13'x15' -- and I am trying to figure out how to make my seating arrangement more flexible. The house can sleep about 16, but often guests will host a dinner party with a few more visitors. (I know some of you don't allow this -- I do for special occasions).

Currently, I have one table that seats 8 plus an old dropleaf table that can seat another 8. The dropleaf came with the house when I bought it and isn't the most attractive of tables, so I've been thinking about replacing it. One of my guests suggested that I think about replacing both the tables with smaller restaurant-type tables that can be moved around easily to change the seating arrangement. If I purchase four 30"x45" tables, I could probably seat 16-20 depending on how friendly people are. Plus, the tables could be placed end-to-end to run into the living room, banquet style. These tables would be far less complicated to rearrange than the dropleaf table or a regular dining table with leaves.

What dining room arrangements do you have, especially if you have a bigger house or allow dinner parties? Do any of you use commercial, restaurant-style tables or are they not sufficiently "nice" for a home?

Here's a link to the tables I'm looking at:

http://www.acitydiscount.com/All-About-Furniture-Restaurant-Dining-Table-Top-30-x-45-Single-Color-Options-RT3045-1C.0.117652.1.1.htm

(the bases are sold separately)

After your initial 15 or so reviews I see no reason to get more than 3 or so reviews a yr as vacationers only look at first 10-15

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:48:56 GMT

have about 22 reviews now and just want to maintain 3-4 new ones a yr as vacationers only look at the first page which is about 10. And that allows me to pick and choose who i want to ask instead of everyone. The more you ask the greater chance you'll get some negative ones

How can I change my email address????

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:36:35 GMT

I just couldn't find any answer, not even a discussion. Maybe somebody can help.

I created my profile with a "spam email address" which I don't monitor as it is full of spam. Now, in order to correspond with others here I'd like to change it but just can't find a way to do so. Obviously I do not want to create a new account as I have already feedbacks on this one.

Thanks for anmy tip.

Axel

not a lot money and need a vacation

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:06:45 GMT

Looking for a place to rent for 5days around Clearwater beach. There will be 4 adults and 5 children. We are looking for something that isn't going to cost us a lot. We are in much need of a vacation, and would really like to go. We could only afford to pay 400 for the the 5 days. the days would need to be check in 6-9-13 and check out 6-14 -2013.Thanks for any help Shamekia

WHO DO YOU TURN TO WHEN YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN USED IN A RENTAL SCAM?

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:38:10 GMT

Not Homeaway because they will tell the victim that your email was pfished to place liability upon you.

Not Law Enforcement because they will tell you they don’t have jurisdiction.

Many property owners are concerned about the current scam that VRBO/Homeaway keep telling us is because the property owner’s email was Pfished. For the past month we have been collecting documentation from victims and property owners by victims emailing us vacationrentalscamvictims@yahoo.com after a media release in Sydney Australia.

We have full headers on scammers emails, copies of several versions of contracts, original inquiry lists, Barclays Bank accounts etc. We have shut down many of these accounts and alerted Homeaway and Flipkey of phishing attempts and suspect ads.

What our investigation has shown is this:

1. This scam works without pfishing. All that is needed is an ad, a blank calendar, a Barclays Bank account and a “Travel” sounding email address, like dreamvacations@live. com. It is that easy!

2. More often than not the property used for the scam was not the property originally inquired with.

3. Most payment requests are by direct transfer to Barclays Bank in London

4. Often the scammers use “being on a cruise” as a reason for delays or not being reachable by phone or asking to call the victim rather than the victim calling the owner

5. The scammers use the identity of the owner of the property they have selected for the scam. It could be any property not usually the one originally inquired with. It could even be a property on a different website eg. A Homeaway inquiry results in a completely different Flipkey property being used for the scam

6. NEW Payment requests are now asking victims to pay by BPAY. The funds go to a “prepaid” Barclayscard

7. NEW Today 17th May we received documentation showing the scammers are using the Reservation Manager and payment on line. THIS TO ME INDICATES NOT PFISHING BUT A FALSE AD although maybe by pfishing the property owners Homeaway account this could also be done. Again the payment was requested through the online payment system at Homeaway

Is there a property owner out there who is computer savvy and can help us with tracking full headers on emails from the scammers?

Please … contact us vacationrentalscamvictims@yahoo.com We need help. Homeaway hides this because the fatal flaw on VRBO, Homeaway Flipkey/Tripadvisor is that anyone with an ad can do this scam. Right now our documentation shows it is one group with multiple victims with an estimated 7 – 30 million dollars a year being defrauded from travelers.Property owners need to be talking to each other and sharing information; doing everything they can to stop this crime.

Message was edited by: baliexpat

paiements par virement, comment communiquer ses coordonnées bancaires

community-no-reply@homeaway.com — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:11:51 GMT

je loue ma maison depuis 3 ans et c'est compliqué pour recevoir des paiements de l'étranger. j'hésite à passer par les paiements en ligne proposées par Abritel (il s sont injoignables en cas de problème).

Je suis passée une fois par Paypal mais je trouve qu'ils prennent très cher (vu le nombre modéré de réservations que je fais en une année)

Je demande donc aux vacanciers étrangers de me téléphoner pour que je puisse leur transmettre mon iban, mais c'est une procédure lente et lourde pour les deux parties.

Serait-ce vraiment dangereux de leur transmettre mes reférences iban par mail ?