There is a lot that goes into planning a vacation. Making sure your passport is up to date, that you have checked out the foreign currency exchange rates and taken out enough money, and you have found someone to house sit your home while you're away, just to name a few. Of course there is also the very important matter of finding a place to stay.
If you are leaving your daily life and taking a vacation to a location you've never been to and are going to a place where you don't know anybody, finding a place to stay can be difficult, time consuming and of course, expensive. Sure it's not as hard as looking through condo listings and finding a permanent place to live but it can still be hard. Booking in advance is key. There are certain times during the year that are very popular so you want to make sure there are places to stay.
If your vacation is for an extended length of time and you would rather not stay in a hotel, as the costs can add up, you might want to consider finding a room in a house or renting out an apartment. That can be hard to do when you live in Canada. It's not like you can just drive up to Spain and check out a villa like you would when looking at homes. You're going to want to know everything about the place you are renting out beforehand. Searching online for vacation rental properties is the best way to get all the information you need. You'll get prices, availability, info on rental features and pictures of the property.
Getting recommendations from friends or people who have rented units you are looking at is another great resource. They can tell you if what you want to rent is worth it and they can also give you a piece of mind and alleviate any fears you might have. It's kind of like talking to a real estate agent.
You're also going to want to know the person who is renting out the room or apartment. Some people rent out directly while other people hire a company to do so. You need to know who you are dealing with so you know who to be in contact with in case a problem arises. Make sure to get everything in writing. You don't want to rent out a room that advertises itself as a 2 bedroom suite only to find out after you got there that it's only a 1 bedroom bungalow.
Always ask questions. Ask as many questions as possible about everything such as check in time, are towels provided, is there is a place to laundry, etc. You want to be as prepared as possible. If you have a bad feeling about the situation, just move on and look at the next rental property. Hopefully we've given you some helpful advice that will help you in renting out your vacation property.
| 