Your vacation should be a break from stress, but if you book a vacation home before you have all the information you need, it can cause you a lot of trouble. Here are eight questions you should ask before you put down a deposit to make sure everything goes smoothly and all you have to do is relax.

• How Does The Rental Company Keep An Eye On Things?

Find out what kind of oversight the rental company or website has, especially if you book a vacation home online. Some websites check user information to make sure that everything they say about themselves is true. Other websites, on the other hand, are more like a free-for-all, with few consequences for dishonest homeowners and few ways for scammed renters to get their money back. 

If you’re looking at different rental listings on different websites, don’t just do research on the vacation homes or apartments for rent in Norman that are listed. Do research on the websites themselves to find out how much effort they put into screening the listings that get posted.

• How Do You Handle Cancellations?

We hope that you won’t have to cancel either your trip or your rental vacation home. But if something does come up, you’ll want to make sure you won’t be charged for a trip you can’t take. Find out what the rules are for canceling: Ask if you’ll get your deposit back, if you can change the date, and how far in advance you have to let the rental company know that your plans have changed.

• Who Should I Talk To Most About The Rental?

During your trip, it’s important to know who to talk to if you have questions or problems. Is there someone in the area who can come fix a broken appliance or let you into your house if you lose your key? Or, if the owner is out of town, will they still be able to respond quickly to questions or problems? Lastly, find out if you are renting from a private homeowner or a company that manages rental properties, and what services you can expect from each. 

If keeping a track of questions to ask becomes overwhelming, you can always record phone calls with a call recording app. All you need is download Call Recorder for iPhone and then make a record of any and all questions that you think are important to ask. It will help you to keep a list of important questions at hand. 

• Where In The World Is The House?

From a map, you can only figure out so much about a vacation home rental. Some questions you might want to ask about the location are how close it is to the beach and if there is a view of the sea, what kinds of public transportation or parking are available, and how far it is from other activities and attractions. If you want a quiet vacation, find out if the house is on a busy street or close to a lot of noisy people. Make sure the house is near a commercial district if you want to party, cook fancy meals, or go shopping.

• Is It Good For Families, For Pets, Or For Parties?

Find out what kinds of guests the host can handle. If you plan to bring a small child, find out if the house has been made safe for kids and if there are any hazards, like steep stairs or broken outlets, that a curious toddler could stumble upon. 

Also, if you plan to bring a four-legged friend, don’t assume that a home that says it’s pet-friendly is safe for your furry friend just because it says so. Before you decide to rent, find out if there are any poisons for rodents or other chemicals lying around that could hurt you. 

And if you’re looking for a party house instead of a place for families to stay, ask the owner if it’s okay to rent to a bunch of drunk people, how many people you can have over, and how many people can stay in the house at once. 

Some homeowners specifically want to rent to older people and families who are more likely to keep things clean and tidy. Others may be willing to rent to a younger, slightly rowdier crowd who is less likely to expect expensive amenities, high thread counts, and regular housekeeping.

• Are There Any Extra Costs?

Ask about any extra costs you might have to pay during your stay. Will there be a cleaning fee? Will you have to pay extra for Wi-Fi and other amenities? Make sure your rental doesn’t have any hidden fees, and make sure you get a written rental agreement so you don’t get charged unfairly later..

• What Kinds Of Equipment And Appliances Does The House Have?

Find out what’s in the vacation home before you decide to rent it. Does it have a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, a microwave, and a refrigerator? What’s the number of beds and couches? And does the house come with bikes and beach chairs, which are common vacation items? 

Don’t be afraid to get detailed: find out if the vacation home comes with sheets, towels, dishes, cutlery, and laundry detergent. Does the owner provide beach and bath towels, or do you need to bring your own? What about things like shampoo and conditioner that everyone needs? 

Find out what your vacation home has to offer besides the basics so you can bring what isn’t provided. This will help you decide what to pack and give you a better idea of what your trip will be like.

• How Do I Get The Keys And Give Them Back?

It may seem like a small question, but where and when to pick up the keys has big effects on your life. Find out if you can get the keys from the owner at the house or from someone else nearby, and if there are set times to pick up and drop off the keys. Make sure you know how to reach the owner or property manager in case the keys aren’t where they should be when you get there. Once all of that is done, it’s time for the most important step of all: sit back, relax, and enjoy your temporary home away from home.