SOURCE: Zonder

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwire - September 16, 2008) - Many vacation rental websites advertise rent-by-owner, meaning the renter deals directly with the homeowner. Unfortunately, these websites also come with risks that are potentially hazardous to the consumer. Bob Barnes, president and CEO of Zonder.com (a site that offers rental guarantees and features professionally-managed properties), presents the risks and challenges of renting by owner and how to protect yourself.

The risks and challenges of renting by owner:

--  Property might not exist. Rent-by-owner sites typically do not
    guarantee that their advertised properties exist. Many sites even recommend
    renters meet the owner and visit the property beforehand, which is not
    practical for most travelers.
--  You don't know what you're getting. Ever been on a date with someone
    you met online, only to find out they looked nothing like their picture?
    Rent-by-owner sites carry the same risk of false advertising. Because no
    one monitors the properties, you have no way of knowing if the pictures
    represent the true condition of the property. Most sites forewarn customers
    that they are not responsible for the properties or the advertisements, and
    the renter has to do all of the research to make sure they are not getting
    scammed.
--  Risk of identity theft and fraud. The renter is required to provide a
    plethora of personal information, including credit card and bank info. Add
    in your home address, phone number, etc., and you are ripe for having your
    identity stolen. With this information, an advertiser of a false property
    can charge your credit card and then disappear, leaving you with a
    transaction you can't trace.
--  Trading price for quality. Many renters choose the rent-by-owner route
    because they think it will cost less than a rental company that features
    professionally-managed properties. However, realize that renting to save a
    few dollars also comes with the risk of not getting what you pay for,
    especially if the property doesn't exist or doesn't meet your needs.
--  Renting from owners is time consuming. Once a renter finds a place, it
    is up to them to contact the owner to get rates and availability, set up
    payment, and fill out a rental contract, all of which can take time.
--  No local maintenance support. If the homeowner is away or lives
    hundreds to thousands of miles from the property, there may be no one to
    assist you if there is a problem. If the hot water goes out, you might have
    to call a plumber to fix it.
    

How to protect yourself:

--  Consider professionally-managed properties. Professional management
    companies provide security that rent-by-owner companies do not. Such
    companies guarantee the property is real and available, and guarantee that
    the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
--  Minimize your risk. Price is one of many factors to consider. Would
    you buy a brand new car without a warranty to save a few dollars? Travelers
    shouldn't have to worry about being taken advantage of when planning a
    trip; booking professionally-managed properties protects you from those
    risks.
--  Visit Zonder.com. The most trusted source of vacation rentals for
    Orbitz, Zonder offers safety and security for renters, and even goes above
    and beyond the assurances of professionally-managed properties. Zonder not
    only eliminates the risks of renting, but also does all the work for you.
    

Zonder's guarantee means you are not only getting safety and security but peace of mind. Use sites you can trust who stand behind the properties they represent.

About Zonder

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Zonder was the first vacation home rental company to offer accurate, real-time availability and markets the largest portfolio of vacation homes that can be booked instantly online. Only Zonder gives consumers and partners the necessary tools to efficiently search through tens of thousands of vacation home rentals and narrow their results using a variety of criteria. In addition, Zonder offers partners a powerful, flexible technology platform that makes it simple to add vacation rentals to their product offerings. Founded by search industry veterans, it is the technology behind Zonder that enables its powerful search, filtering and real-time booking capabilities.