The introduction of vacation rental platforms like VRBO and Airbnb revolutionized the way people discover and reserve vacation accommodations, initially earning praise from both travelers and property owners and managers.
Travelers were captivated by the advanced search engines that can locate, book, and pay for the ideal vacation rental worldwide. At the same time, property owners and management companies significantly expanded their reach to potential guests interested in vacationing in the specific location. The search results were clear-cut, relying on reviews, response times, and availability.
Everything was grand, but change was on the horizon.
As popularity in the vacation rental search platforms grew, both VRBO and Airbnb began to flex their massive financial power; and the effort to begin cashing in on all of us became the mission.
The mission shift wasn’t for the financial wellbeing of the consumer or property owner/manager.
What went from manageable listing fees and commissions paid for solely by owners, soon evolved to a guest "service fee" determined by the value of the vacation home rental stay booked. No booking comes without a service fee which has delivered billions in revenue to the listing sites.
Their defense was a promise insuring every property listed, every reservation made and paid for using their site was backed by 24/7 "support" and a "guarantee" that the property booked is valid and available.
Clearly, every property advertised and every reservation made on any site should be validated in more ways than one. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other sites prone to predation are not recommended as a viable property search option.
You might be asking, "Didn't these sites do this before the service fees were introduced?" Of course, they did.
Service fees weren't the only changes.
Subsequently, the restriction of customer identification and verified email addresses was implemented, leading to a reduction in communication and vetting opportunities between vacation rental guests and property owners/managers until a reservation was completed and paid for through their platform. This lack of screening guests in advance has resulted in an increase in irresponsible behavior on the part of guests, impacting property owners directly. Guests are required to engage in monitored chats with owners and managers, leaving limited space for their own discretion in communication.
At this point, you are probably wondering, "What is your purpose of this article and what should I do?"
First, we do not oppose the use of listing sites. VRBO and Airbnb effectively cater to a specific demographic and sector within the industry. Therefore, it is their right to set prices based on what customers are willing to pay. However, for some individuals, altering how they search for and book vacation rentals can save hundreds, even thousands with very little effort.
Listed below are some proven techniques to save a substantial amount of money while not compromising the quality or safety of booking outside of VRBO or Airbnb:
If you’ve found a home on one of the major vacation rental sites, before you book it and accept the extra fees, search the vacation home property name and location to see if the owner or property manager has a direct website with contact information and booking capability like we created at www.sunkissedandsalty.com.
Check out regional listing sites like Florida Rental By Owners www.floridarentalbyowners.com. These sites are trustworthy as they have excelled in placing safeguards for validating properties listed on their sites. The best news is they do not charge guests any fees. Our listing can be found there at https://www.floridarentalbyowners.com/listing.103 One downside is this site doesn't offer a direct booking ability
Return to the old school way of booking a vacation rental by contacting vacation property managers in area you want to visit. Management companies have dozens to hundreds of homes in their geography. They'll be glad to help you identify the property that best fits all of your needs - usually without added fees. Note: some rental agencies on Anna Maria Island now mimic listing site fees and we suggest avoiding them. Be sure to review the checkout page for any added fees other than tax, linen or cleaning fees
If you return to a particular vacation destination frequently, take notice and contact owners and management companies from "Vacation Rental/For Rent" signs posted in front of vacation rental properties. We have a sign in front our home and we receive dozens of calls a year from guests who pass our home.
As we wrap up this topic, the challenge is: Are you content with the current state of vacation rental home listing platforms, where you are spending more money than necessary (if yes, then carry on); or are you prepared to become a more financially savvy traveler?
We invite you to the world of booking direct.
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