How do I know Villa rental is legit?

[disneymadmom]

Hi,

I've booked a 6 bed villa in Oak Island Cove in October for two weeks.

Normally we book our villa through either Virgin or James Villas, but this time we have booked direct with the owner :grin:

However im now wondering how I can be sure that the person I do end up giving my hard earned cash to is infact the owner and the villa will be as shown on their website! :confused2

Ive heard of villas being registered...? Is there a way I can find out if ours is, other than asking the owner?

Dont want to appear untrusting.. but at the same time dont want to arrive in Orlando with 3 tired adults and 2 very tired kids with no where to stay!! :erm:

Any advice would be much appreciated.... :d:

Thanks

[Malcolm]

I think this property estate comes under Orange county so try here

http://www.ocpafl.org/searches/owner_form.html

Malcolm

[DonnaD]

Oak Island is in Osceola County. Not sure of the link to the tax office but I know it has been on the DIBB before. If you run a search and can't find it send me a PM and I will dig it out for you. As you already know the location is great. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Checking the tax records is a good way to put your mind at rest.

Donna

[apollo163]

osceola county checks here http://ira.property-appraiser.org/

[disneymadmom]

Wow you guys really know your stuff.... if only there was a who wants to be a millionaire disney edition ... :d:

have checked out the website and all is well - owners name and address match up to that on the booking form. :thumbs-up

So I guess ill just carry on planning ..... lol :D
Im sure ill have more questions soon.

Thanks again!

[Queen of Herts]

That's clever stuff, just found our house!

[Bullpeppar]

I'm a wee bit wary myself of the same. I haven't been able to locate a villa on the Dibb that ticks all my boxes.

[joanneclaire]

As well as checking online for each tax record (bearing in mind different communities fall under different countys)

you can ask the owner if they are fully licensed under Florida Law, each owner who is taking rentals should be fully licensed under Hotels and Restaurants.

Hope you mind is at ease now, enjoy your planning!

[Serendipity]

I'm a wee bit wary myself of the same. I haven't been able to locate a villa on the Dibb that ticks all my boxes.

Hi Bullpeppar,
I know you have said you were annoyed because you got replies from areas you didn't want but, in all fairness, you asked for Osceola Parkway which is a huge road that goes from the far west of Kissimmee heading towards highway 27, right to the far east of Kissimmee towards St Cloud. It covers well over 20 miles.

Maybe you could narrow your search area down a little or at least say which end of the Osceola Parkway you want? You could also have a look at the Dibb map to see what communities are in the area you prefer.

As far as I know you haven't mentioned a wish list, so why not put a list of exactly what you do want in which area you want and owners with your requirements will reply.

There are over 100 villas on the Dibb so I would be very surprised if at least one didn't have all your requirements.

There is no reason at all to be wary with ANY Dibb villa - the owners of the Dibb verify the villas officially advertised. As long as the avatar says 'Villa Owner' then that villa has been verified for ownership.
This of course does NOT cover the villa owners who are members of the Dibb, but not official Dibb Villa owners, who might also message or email you.


You can also be sure that everything listed on the advert of Dibb Villas will be as promised - anybody that didn't offer all they said could be ruined on the Dibb with one bad review, so no owner in the right mind would take that chance.

At the end of the day, the main aim of any competent villa owner is to help you have the best experience possible so you will hopefully someday return and recommend family and friends. Repeat guests and referrals are what we all strive for.

[Malcolm]

I run Villa Forums which is a villa owners website that was set up with the help of dibb villa owners, when i get a villa owner wishing to join the forum i check them out to see that they are who they say they are, you will be supprised of the tactics advertisers use to try and access the forum to spam the members. You will find most all villa websites will check owners out before allowing them to advertise as they dont want spamers to contact there members and also members will tell the admin if they are being spammed so admin can block there ISP number...

Malcolm

[deejay]

There is always an element of trust involved - you are trusting the owners to rent you their holiday home, and they are trusting you to respect it. Mostly, everything works out OK.

[Bullpeppar]

Serendipity, I was not refering to Dibb villa owners when I said I was wary of renting a villa from someone I didn't know. My experiences of the Dibb, and the advice I have received from people on it, has always been very positive. I will put another request on the villa section which will contain all my requirements and if I can locate a villa that ticks all my boxes, i will be more than happy to book with them.