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Re: Owners want money up front first?! (by KC):

There is some degree of risk when online transactions of any kind involve two parties entirely unknown to each other. RedWeek is generally a "safe" site, since only paid members can advertise on it, but it is still always wise to protect yourself as best you can. I will offer below my thoughts and opinion based upon my own direct experience and personal preferences over a few decades now as someone who occasionally rents out weeks that I own and who also occasionally rents a week from someone else. My advice follows, for whatever it's worth:

1. Always first look for listings that are “RedWeek Verified” in your geographic area / time frame / resort of interest to you. This verification provides assurance that the advertiser actually owns what they are advertising for rent and that fact has already been independently confirmed by RedWeek personnel in the "RedWeek Verified" process. Since it costs an advertiser only $10 extra to get their listing "RedWeek Verified", I cannot even begin to understand why advertisers would choose to NOT provide that simple reassurance to prospective renters. That's just being cheap and it is both selfish and inconsiderate, in my personal opinion.

2. If a listing is not a “full service” or “verified” or “verified and protected”, make sure that you at least obtain the name, address and phone number of the person you are dealing with. If all you have from an advertiser is a first name and a redacted copy of an (alleged) "reservation" document of unknown origin and unknown legitimacy, don’t send that person a penny!

3. If the advertiser is unwilling to provide (and sign) a formal rental agreement with all pertinent details of the rental, including a specific cancellation / refund policy, and clear personal identification of the owner / advertiser, unit details, etc. ask yourself why not. Then ask them why not! In my view, if there is no formal rental agreement then you should not proceed with that particular rental at all.

4. I would never send money by Venmo or Zelle to anyone outside of my family. Once sent by Venmo or Zelle, that money is GONE. Ask yourself why the advertiser wants money sent by Venmo or Zelle --- and with no rental agreement! Ask the advertiser to provide an answer to that question too -- before you move on to seek a more responsible, clearly identified and verified owner offering a rental. There are plenty of responsible, communicative owners renting out their weeks, so why get involved at all with unverified advertisers providing far too little information and making unreasonable payment demands?

5. Most owners want to receive full payment for a rental before the actual occupancy. That is an entirely reasonable expectation. However, anyone who wants full payment by Venmo or Zelle without even bothering to provide and sign a rental agreement, fully and clearly identifying themselves as the owner and providing the unit info and cancellation / refund policy in writing is simply NOT someone with whom I personally would ever choose to conduct any business in the first place. Your mileage may vary, as the saying goes.

Just my own views and opinions (which directly reflect my own personal practices over the years --- I "practice what I preach"). To each their own choices and decisions. Proceed with caution and good luck!