Don't get Scammed on your next vacation rental.
Owners are utilizing alternative strategies to book guest directly, through face book rental groups, websites, alternative listing sites with open communication and no guest service fees, and other marketing strategies to boost the campaign #BOOKDIRECT . But what does HASHTAGBOOKDIRECT mean? Well its allowing open communication between owners/managers and guest. Its saving guest money by not paying the extra guest service fees.
So what is with all the scamming? Well booking direct gives scammers the open door to convince guest that they are saving them money by showing them copied pictures of rentals, copied videos, and telling them to book direct through a personal message, and/or sending them links to big sites that are not theirs, and saying "LOOK BUT DON'T BOOK."
Owners/Managers I want to encourage 2 things.
- Owners/managers protect the guest by signing up on at least one secure listing site, that verifies owners and shows telephone numbers, names, and photo/info/rental information, that does not charge guest fees, and that allows guest to opening message/email you questions directly. (signing up on at least 2 listing sites makes it easier to verify ownership) You can now find multiple listing sites with these features. Check out Vacation Rentals 101 Face book Group.
- Owners/managers create a web site. (or join multiple listing sites to cross reference ownership)
Guest you need to do your homework too.
- ALWAYS check out the owner/managers and verify in at least 2 secure locations that the owners information is LEGIT *telephone number is the same, *name is the same and *photos/info/rental are the same. (if possible confirm in 3 places)
- STOP communicating through private messaging on facebook. THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM IN THE BOOK. They are not saving you money, they do not care about you, if they cared they would be able to show you 2 secure links to at least verify rental ownership. Sending you pictures, bills with address, and videos are not secure and can be easily copied/forged.
If an owner/manager personal messages you and tells you that they don't have at least one listing site link with open communication/no guest service fees, and/or website or another listing site, to verify the rental is legit, that should throw up two red flags. First that owner/manager does not care about you or protecting you from scammers and Second that owner/manager is trying to stay hidden or under the radar for some reason, possibly to scam. When you are in the vacation rental business you want guest to find you so they can book with you.
Diamond on the Emerald Coast can be found and verified on multiple listing sites and websites
To find multiple listing sites to list and search for your vacation rental check out Vacation Rental 101
Find verified HOUFY rental links in HOUFY vacation rental group
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