I would just make sure it isn't a scam. I actually saw something on an investigative news program about how people will post fake vacation rental properties. When the renters show up for their vacation, the property is locked up and they have no access to it. I've been using VRBO for 18 years - the first time we used it was for our honeymoon! I've never experienced a scam so it might be pretty rare, but you never know!

I might be inclined to look up the property tax record for the home.

Can you send a Paypal payment?

Yeah, I did wonder. But the person has 50+ reviews for the property, and it was all proceeding normally until a system glitch. (It was HomeAWAy and they only take Visa, and I don't usually use credit cards so I only have one Visa. My Visa expires in Feb, and the payment is a certain amount now and then another amount taken next spring. So I think that is why my bank says they approved the charge but HomeAway did not).

I have the address for the home and all seems on the up and up.

Hi Mtn.,

I only take checks as payments from renters. It is actually much safer as there have been so many snafus with HA payments, Yapstone, Etc., I got a letter from Yapstone yesterday, in fact, (since I show my house via HA), despite having never used them or signed up with them, letting me know that a "recent incident" may have compromised personal info. All HA customers (VR owners) got the letter.

Does the house you want to rent have reviews with it? If the owner is asking you to send the check to a PO Box, hold off doing so. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making yourself feel secure about sending a check, and a good homeowner will eagerly help to put you at ease. I have offered skeptical inquirers in the past to call my homeowner's insurance company and my CPA to have it verified that 1) I am the owner; 2) it is a rental property; 3) the address is correct and the house does in fact exist.

Speak to the owner often on the phone. The owner should want to speak to you over the phone as well to feel good about to whom she is renting her house too. If an owner is hesitant to give you her phone number, I'd be leery.

Also, once you do send her the check, ask her to let you know when she has received it. I always email my guests as soon as I receive all payments. Constant communication is key.

Good luck.

oh good, Tibb. I was out last night but she and my DH had a long chat and we both feel pretty confident, I was just not sure if going thru HA gave me any protections that were material.

She has 50+ reviews, all five star but one who complained the steps to the third floor were steep (it is an old home).

Thanks!

One other thing: Most VR renters' property is secondary and they will have you mail the check to a different address, their primary residence. Make sure the names on that address and the rental property match.

You're probably good. If you are confident, you are actually safer paying her directly. I have on my RA a request for their snail mail address and specifically state, This is so I can mail your security deposit back to you" so that they feel confident that I will do so.

I also have very steep stairs but I always make them aware of that first thing, in our first phone conversation.

AirBnb has a pretty good protection program for owners should their house be trashed by a guest, but neither AirBnb nor HomeAway (nor any of the big companies) do diddly if there is a problem between the parties. It's a big issue on HA's Community (which is for homeowners). HA and AirBnb will not step up for either the renter - even if you can show you've been wronged - or the homeowner, same thing (like if a guest breaks a RA rule). It's a real point of contention between HA and owners since HA is really taking over our rentals, or trying to!

One-on-one is always better and safer, IMO.

Hope you love the spot!

You could also call Visa and get your expiration date extended, then use your credit card for that protection.

That's an interesting idea, Oly, since card companies do sometimes help out when there are disputes. It's odd, because I have held hotel rooms with cards that expire before the arrival, without an issue. I think most vendors assume cards will be renewed, I guess. Never thought about it before!

Doesn't the bank you use for your Visa automatically send you new cards before the old ones expire? I've never worried about an expiration date because we always get the new cards a month or two before they expire.

Yes, but this is for a reservation next June/July. It is only Sept. The card expires in Feb, and yes, they automatically will send me one before then.

I guess the vendor's system is looking for a card that is extant until the stay is over. Anyway, that part of it is kind of beside the point, other than to say the lessor suggested we do a check to get around this, so that is why I dont find it suspicious.

But my question, which Tibb answered, was if there was a reason Id be better off going thru a vendor.