A vacation home is a home away from one’s primary residential dwelling used for recreational purposes, like vacations and holidays. Although most people prefer spending some vacations away from home, only about 6% of Americans own vacation homes. The rest of the population has to resort to hotels, camping, or renting vacation homes. Having a vacation home rental is often a great value, and the deal gets even better if you’re with family and friends.

Vacation homes are perfect for large groups traveling together. They are designed to make you feel more at home and become more beneficial for large families. Although renting vacation homes has been going on for a while, this is a relatively new concept to some.

Here are some of the things you don’t know about vacation homes.

What You Should Know About Rental Homes

1. What You See Is Not What You Always Get

Photos are deceiving. Do not judge the place by its photos alone. Ensure that you take your time to read through the amenities offered in the rental. Keep in mind that this is not a hotel room with room service that you are renting. This is someone’s home, and most likely, it will not be in perfect condition.

When you arrive, go through the property and take as many pictures as possible if you spot any damaged or broken items. Report the damages right away to the people in charge. In doing so, you will not have to pay for anything you didn’t break during checkout.

2. They Have Nearly as Many Amenities as Hotels

Just like hotels, vacation rentals vary in quality and amenities. Even though they lack daily room service, most people still prefer rental homes due to their flexibility and freedom. Some of the most common amenities offered in vacation homes include the following:

  • Coffee maker
  • A full kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating system
  • Free parking
  • Game console
  • A Pool
  • Pet-friendly environment
  • WiFi
  • Washing machine
  • Jacuzzi
  • TV and a sound system
  • Transfers and Tours

To avoid any disappointments, go through the list of amenities provided by the rental. Doing so will help you make an informed decision depending on your needs.

3. The House Owner Has Responsibility for You

A vacation rental is residential business property. Therefore, the owner has full responsibility for anyone who resides in their property. Homeowners have to exercise a high standard of care for anyone in their homes. They are bound to do so by premises liability laws.

You must be wondering, “what is premises liability?” Well, suppose you are the owner of residential property, and a person gets injured either in your home or on your land. In that case, you may be held liable for the harm or losses suffered by the victim. That responsibility is referred to as premises liability.

To avoid any preventable injuries, most homes have some rules of occupancy. Do not ignore reading through these rules, especially before you make any payments. You don’t want any surprises on arrival.

4. Vacation Rentals Are Not Always Available

Despite there being an estimated 1 million vacation rentals in the United States, it is still vital for you to book on time. Vacation rentals are more scarce than hotels, and getting a great vacation property is even more challenging. Although there are sites that allow last-minute bidding on vacation rentals, you do not have to take those chances.

5. You Can Book Unique and Exotic Homes

Vacation homes come in many different forms. You can get anything from mansions, trailers, and villas. Booking sites now offer attractive spaces like churches, treehouses, castles, windmills, lighthouses, cabins, and themed homes for rent.

This can be fun for adventurous people as you get to experience things you wouldn’t usually do in your daily life. Bet you want to vacation in a castle now, right?

Make It an Experience to Remember

You don’t have to spend half of your vacation time going through management issues and wishing you could have done your research. Before booking a home, do your due diligence and ask as many questions as possible to ensure you get precisely what you are looking for in a vacation home.