Original Message:
Re: Anyone have experience with Preston Green or Americap International Corp (by Preston G.):
Dear Forum Readers and RedWeek Members,
No nothing wrong with renting from Private owners. Most transaction go well. However, our company has cleaned up major messes, misrepresentations, and mistakes made by private owners. They don't do rentals all the time.
Most timeshare owners use their units or give them to family members and friends. So they may rent once every ten years or less.
Here are just some examples of very common owner direct problems seen over the many years we have managed these transactions between the traveler and private rental owners:
-Owners have made mistakes on check in days........"I'm so sorry" is not gonna cut it when you have booked 7 non-refundable airline tickets. A private owner is not likely to offer to pay for that or be in a position to compensate you.
-Husbands cancel the reservations, unbeknown to the wife or vice versa.
-They said they could get the week, "no problem", you book flights and then they tell you "sorry" I though I could get the week but they were all booked up.
-Owners have fudged (some even lied) view designations and say you can see the ocean from "Garden" or "Mountain View".
-Some owners call a Studio a 1bedroom and it is not the same thing. But it shows 1b in their posting instead of being correctly labeled a "Studio" *We had an owner rent us a 1bedroom side of his 2bedroom lock out, signed the contract, and was using the 1bedroom when our client arrived and refused to switch with our client, per the contract he signed. He said "sorry I'm not moving". NOT Honorable at all. *That same client wrote a negative review in this very forum even though he knows the owner was the one that breached the contract. We had to make things right with the renter. We are hoping we can settle with the owner out of court but he is belligerently resistant to honoring his rental agreement and honestly taking responsibility morally or financially. Which brings us to the next example of problems you can have with a private owner.
-They can just change their mind on you and say ......"sorry'........Sometimes someone calls them after you negotiated $100 off their asking price, they agree, you book non-refundable airline tickets, you have a gentleman's agreement with the owner, and then they say they changed their mind on you because some one else is going to pay them full price; or worse they lie to you and say they are going to use it or will not give you an answer as to why they will no longer rent to you.
-They simply made a mistake on the dates. They though it was a Friday check in but after you book flights for 7, they call you back and say it is a Sunday check in. Worse than that they, thought they had and owned WK25 but they actually owner WK26, and you already booked flights for 7 family members and friends.
Obviously there are many more examples and even companies can get bad information and make mistakes. The thing to consider is who would you prefer handle your family vacation rental, (which tend to be larger group expenditures), an individual who rents maybe once every ten years or an experienced vacation rental company that rents thousands of units, has the experience, the checks and balances, and is in a position to take responsibility and make things right if there is a problem. More than just "I'm so sorry about that", and your on your own.
Again, private owners are fine and most will do a wonderful job for you, just do your best to verify. Or if you want a professional concierge touch and likely get the best price because of their expanded pool of owners, call for a quote.
Happy Travels
Vacation Homes Only Beverly Hills, CA