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As the owner of a vacation rental property, I can also relate to the frustrations many websites cause to individuals wishing to book a rental property online. With that being said the ease of actually searching online for the ideal vacation rental home goes without saying. The Internet allows one to conduct their search during hours outside of normal business hours kept by the normal "brick and mortar" rental companies.
Searching online allows the benefit of being able to scan, in minutes, photographs of properties being offered for rent. Depending on the website, various search functions provide the added convenience of being able to search by week or geographical area, by price, and by amenities.

Initially, when I decided to use my townhome as a vacation rental, I had it listed with the traditional walk-in vacation rental agency. I did most of the work and provided them with the key. Their fee was 20% of the rent. They ensured me that they would provide me with only the best guests and that credit checks would be conducted. Their fee forced me to raise my rental rate in order to meet my expenses and theirs. Unfortunately, it sat vacant for a year. I discontinued our agreement and decided that I could do better on my own.
When I decided to lease my unit out by using an online vacation rental site, I perused these websites deciding which ones looked cheesy and which ones had the best reviews from satisfied customers.
Ultimately, I chose to post my unit on two well-known sites. Because their fees were so much cheaper than the regular vacation rental agencies, I was able to lower my rent. I paid their fee, uploaded my recent pictures, and wrote a truthful description of my property detailing the price, taxes, cleaning fee, and security deposit.
If an individual wanted to rent it or desired more information, I encouraged them to contact me via telephone, postal mail, or email. I understood their concern about wanting to rent a clean, decent home with the best value for their dollar. I, too, wanted to make sure that the renters would not destroy my property or cause uproar to my homeowner's association.
From the time they first contacted me to the actual key exchange, I remained in contact with the tenants. I wanted to meet them face-to-face and reassure them that they were going to enjoy their vacation and that I was accessible in case any snafus arose.
I have rented vacation homes myself using the old traditional methods and by using the internet. I prefer the internet because of the time savings and the numerous search opportunities.

Learn more about this author, Robyn Banks.
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