Should I Book My Holiday Villa With - The Owner Or A Reputable Agency? by Helen Cobb
Travel specialist Helen Cobb examines the pros and cons of booking your chosen accommodation through an agency or directly with the owner.
Where and with whom do you select your holiday home? The internet over the last few years has seen two key sources emerge.
Reputable agencies online have grown in number over the last 10 years. They ensure that the properties they have listed and the surrounding environs have been inspected.
The other most popular source is to find your property through one of several websites that merely list the owner's properties and you can book through the owner direct.The obvious advantage to you the customer is that you buy direct from the owner which is often cheaper than booking a through an agency.
The author's aim of this article is to make you aware of some of the potential pitfalls when booking direct with an owner and therefore to ensure you're not let down and ruining your hard earned holiday.
Here are some thoughts to bear in mind when making your choice:
Q. When an owner takes pictures of their house and uploads them onto the website will they choose the ones that put their property in its best light and that truly represent the whole of the property's interior and exterior?
A. So many clients have tried the "buy direct" route and the following year I hear horror stories from clients of how in real life a property looked completely different to the pictures on the internet.
Q. Will the description of the property truly reflect what it looks like in real life and will it give a full and candid appraisal of local area?
A. Once again the tales I hear of customers arriving to find that the description the owner made on the internet was in many respects different from what they experienced upon arrival. Sometimes worse than that the owner has seemingly purposely omitted to include key pieces of information that may have influenced the decision to book the property - for example the property has a noisy railway line nearby or perhaps is under the flight path of a local airport etc.
Q. Would you expect some key basic services as part of your booking direct with the owner or do you face being greeted by a dark lifeless home and a lengthy instruction manual which you need to sit and read through to discover for yourself how everything works!
Will you be faced with empty larders and fridge (you might be fortunate and be given a bottle of cheap wine, bread and milk) resulting in you spending the first day of your holiday visiting the local shops do get food and provisions?
A. A reputable agency will provide a "meet and greet" service at the airport and/or at the property. A guided tour explaining how things work and contact numbers for any queries is normally provided. Also in advance of your arrival an essentials shopping list will be taken by the agency and then bought, delivered and stored for you.
Q. You're unhappy at the standard of holiday accommodation promised by the owner and you want to get some compensation?
A. So many clients when faced with this dilemma find it very difficult to get compensation directly from an owner. The stress and aggravation alone puts many off plus the initial cost and hassle to go to court is often just one step too much for most to bear. However an owner that is registered with a reputable agency is more inclined to co-operate as he will be contractually responsible and accountable by the agency under the contract. A good agent will be worth many bookings and revenue to the owner and it is therefore in the owners interest to "play ball" and recompense the client for any problems.
If you pay by credit card through an agency (owners are unlikely to have this facility) you may complain to your credit card issuer and make a "claw back claim" of some or all of the monies paid on the premise that you have not received the goods/service you paid for. Agencies need good feedback and referrals to survive - owners operating on their own are able to be more anonymous and are less reliant on word of mouth and referrals.
For the price daily price of a good bottle of wine a day you can reduce the risk of falling foul of these dangers and feel confident that the holiday home you booked is what you will find when you get there!
Helen Cobb is a travel specialist #1 and has been looking after her villa rental customers for over 15 years. Helen and her team at Luxurybreaks #2want to ensure that your next holiday villa rental experience is one to remember for all the RIGHT reasons.
Where and with whom do you select your holiday home? The internet over the last few years has seen two key sources emerge.
Reputable agencies online have grown in number over the last 10 years. They ensure that the properties they have listed and the surrounding environs have been inspected.
The other most popular source is to find your property through one of several websites that merely list the owner's properties and you can book through the owner direct.The obvious advantage to you the customer is that you buy direct from the owner which is often cheaper than booking a through an agency.
The author's aim of this article is to make you aware of some of the potential pitfalls when booking direct with an owner and therefore to ensure you're not let down and ruining your hard earned holiday.
Here are some thoughts to bear in mind when making your choice:
Q. When an owner takes pictures of their house and uploads them onto the website will they choose the ones that put their property in its best light and that truly represent the whole of the property's interior and exterior?
A. So many clients have tried the "buy direct" route and the following year I hear horror stories from clients of how in real life a property looked completely different to the pictures on the internet.
Q. Will the description of the property truly reflect what it looks like in real life and will it give a full and candid appraisal of local area?
A. Once again the tales I hear of customers arriving to find that the description the owner made on the internet was in many respects different from what they experienced upon arrival. Sometimes worse than that the owner has seemingly purposely omitted to include key pieces of information that may have influenced the decision to book the property - for example the property has a noisy railway line nearby or perhaps is under the flight path of a local airport etc.
Q. Would you expect some key basic services as part of your booking direct with the owner or do you face being greeted by a dark lifeless home and a lengthy instruction manual which you need to sit and read through to discover for yourself how everything works!
Will you be faced with empty larders and fridge (you might be fortunate and be given a bottle of cheap wine, bread and milk) resulting in you spending the first day of your holiday visiting the local shops do get food and provisions?
A. A reputable agency will provide a "meet and greet" service at the airport and/or at the property. A guided tour explaining how things work and contact numbers for any queries is normally provided. Also in advance of your arrival an essentials shopping list will be taken by the agency and then bought, delivered and stored for you.
Q. You're unhappy at the standard of holiday accommodation promised by the owner and you want to get some compensation?
A. So many clients when faced with this dilemma find it very difficult to get compensation directly from an owner. The stress and aggravation alone puts many off plus the initial cost and hassle to go to court is often just one step too much for most to bear. However an owner that is registered with a reputable agency is more inclined to co-operate as he will be contractually responsible and accountable by the agency under the contract. A good agent will be worth many bookings and revenue to the owner and it is therefore in the owners interest to "play ball" and recompense the client for any problems.
If you pay by credit card through an agency (owners are unlikely to have this facility) you may complain to your credit card issuer and make a "claw back claim" of some or all of the monies paid on the premise that you have not received the goods/service you paid for. Agencies need good feedback and referrals to survive - owners operating on their own are able to be more anonymous and are less reliant on word of mouth and referrals.
For the price daily price of a good bottle of wine a day you can reduce the risk of falling foul of these dangers and feel confident that the holiday home you booked is what you will find when you get there!
Helen Cobb is a travel specialist #1 and has been looking after her villa rental customers for over 15 years. Helen and her team at Luxurybreaks #2want to ensure that your next holiday villa rental experience is one to remember for all the RIGHT reasons.
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Before you book your next holiday vacation home, make sure you check out Helen Cobb's excellent free article on why paying less direct with an owner could end up costing you more in the long run,
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