Back To a Simpler Time

Sure it's tempting to jump at the chance to rent an apartment within easy walking distance of The Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain, but convenience may come at a cost. The apartment building that was touted as a city landmark and gushed over as the place this famous writer once lived or that famous painter once slept may offer less than meets the eye. If the building has been around long enough to participate in history, it's been around long enough for the plumbing to be outdated, the electrical system to be unreliable and the heating to be spotty, at best. And air conditioning? What air conditioning? There may not even be an elevator.

One of the first questions you should ask is: when were the building and the apartment last renovated and what renovations were made? Similar questions should be asked about houses, especially historic farmhouses.

Just Lean a Little More

Be careful if the price for an enticing property is considerably lower than its competitors. Perhaps it's not really in the same league as its competitors. To illustrate, suppose you want to rent property that allows you to view the ocean from your balcony. You simply look for property that touts an ocean view, right? Wrong.

A halfway clever ad writer can make any property with only the tiniest of ocean views seem to be sitting right on the beach when actually the property is blocks from the beach, and the only ocean view is a small glimpse of blue you can see through a warehouse window.

Ask the property owner or manager for as many photos as it takes for you to feel comfortable that you indeed will have a room with a view.

A Hop, Skip and a Jump

What does "convenient to popular destinations" mean in a rental property ad? It means virtually anything. Don't be satisfied until you get a map of the area and you have determined just how far it is to these popular destinations. Walking distance for some people may not be walking distance for you. After all, the entire Appalachian Trail is walking distance.

Don't Worry, I Have Something Even Better

You show up at the rental office ready to start your vacation and are told that the property you thought you were getting is unavailable but offered an alternative property. Sometimes this may be unavoidable. For example, a vicious storm less than 24 hours ago may have severely damaged the roof. If so, your rental agreement may allow the owner/manager to offer you a comparable property without additional compensation. But if not, there should be some compensation on the part of the owner/manager. You should ask for an upgrade in property or a reduction of the rental costs or any other reasonable compromise the two of you can reach.

But what if there is evidence that the property has been unavailable for some time? Why did you not receive advance notice? It could be that the property you feel in love with is simply bait. Once the vacationer arrives he is shuffled off to an alternative property. This maneuver is known as the bait-and-switch. It's illegal in the United States but may not be everywhere else.

Protect yourself by confirming that the property on which you placed a deposit is indeed the property the owner/manager has reserved for you. Emphasize the fact that you would not entertain the idea of staying in another property.