Booking a Villa independently-Protected??

[MonstersFAN]

We have seen a lovely villa being advertised by a couple in the UK.

My concern is if something happens or say they run away with our money, is there any protection. Do you think our travel insurance would cover us?

I will give them a call but just wondered if anyone on here had any experience/advice?

Any comments welcome.

Thanks

Claire

[Cal and Dave]

Hi claire

you can do checks to make sure they own the property :)

you can also pay by credit card, so that you are covered by the insurance protection that it gives you.

[das c]

Most villas are privately owned so they will not be ABTA protected so some insurance is advisable. Don't forget its all about trust, they are trusting you with their fantastic homes too.

If you want you can always check if they own the villa, find which area the villa is in and check with public records.
All taxes paid and home ownership are public records in Florida anyone can view them.

Darren

[WindwardGal]

Why not book a Dibb Villa. Thats good protection !

[WindsorHillsPad]

I won't run off with your money Claire!!

[sunsetlakes]

Hi Claire

Our ownership can be checked at http://ira.property-appraiser.org/ which is for the Osceola area, but all area's in Florida will have their own website. You can also check by public tax records. I'm sure when you speak to the villa owners they will be able to put your mind at rest - have a great time planning your trip x

[Jules R]

Hi Claire,

As the others have said there are ways to check that the couple actually own the home they are renting out but please rest assured that the vast majority of rental owners are very honest.

We have no way of checking up on the people who rent our homes we just hope that the cheque they send us clears and that they treat our home and belongings with the care they deserve.

Most owners will be happy to supply their management company's details and even the contact details for previous guests so that you can check that the house is being rented out and is as described to put your mind at rest.

Jules :wavey:

[Malcolm]

Hi... just to add that owners do get repeat bookings by the service they give guests. Last year we booked flights to go out and a booking asked if they could extend by a few days so we said no problem and stayed ourselfs in Speedwayfans villa, we went to our villa an hour after book out time and guests were still in, they wanted to meet us and said how good our villa was and help we gave them(first time visit) and asked to rebook September.
Owners do hope that guests pass onto family and friends there villa details and i dont think that any owner will run off with your money, check there callender and see what bookings they have in aswell, see if they advertise on a forum like the dibb and ask for references from anyone who has stayed in there home...

Malcolm

[force ten]

If you can pay for the villa using a credit card then I would choose that payment option, then you can go to the credit card company if the villa owner fails to supply the service that you paid for IE villa rental

[Bullpeppar]

We have booked a villa with an independant owner. I suppose its is taking a chance but we did check his ownership details on the property appraiser website mentioned earlier. It all looks kosher but like everything else remains to be seen. Our deposit has been paid already by cheque not credit card which may be a bit of a risk.

[deejay]

When you book direct with an owner there is always an element of trust involved - you are trusting the owners to rent you their vacation home, and they are trusting you to treat it with respect. Mostly everything works out fine.

[P&S]

Can anyone tell me where i could check ownership of a villa at Seasons?

[Cal and Dave]

Can anyone tell me where i could check ownership of a villa at Seasons?

Seasons is in Kissimmee, so you would check the Osceola website

[speedwayfan]

Please consider the Dibb for your booking, we owners all try and work together to make sure your holiday is the best. I stayed at Malcolm's villa when mine was booked too and can confirm it was all kosher and truly wonderful.

Jill

[Cal and Dave]

Please consider the Dibb for your booking, we owners all try and work together to make sure your holiday is the best. I stayed at Malcolm's villa when mine was booked too and can confirm it was all kosher and truly wonderful.

Jill



and I have stayed at Jills too, when I had guests in my villa. We had an excellent few days there :) I would of run off with her lounger, but she would of known it was me :pgig:

[welshwiz]

and I have stayed at Jills too, when I had guests in my villa. We had an excellent few days there :) I would of run off with her lounger, but she would of known it was me :pgig:

:d: Yep us Dibb villa owners all seem to know where other Dibb villas are and that they are kosher. Many of us know each other personally and can help to provide extra information that may assist you through the booking process aswell as information and assistance to enhance your magical holiday experience. So please consider booking from a Dibb villa owner ;)

Best Wishes,

Karen. :wave:

[andyhayley]

Seasons is in Kissimmee, so you would check the Osceola website

Yes, Seasons is just down the road from Bellavida, so you can check the ownership of a villa there at http://ira.property-appraiser.org/

You can also ask the owner if they accept credit cards, some do and some don't, but if you can pay the deposit on a card (I believe it has to be over £ 100) you are also covered by your card company should there be a problem.

For me though, (and one of the reasons we listed out villa here) Dibb Villas are good options because we are checked out and being an open forum if there was a problem with an owners villa im sure it would be posted on here, unlike booking from another site that simply advertises homes with no feedback.

Andy

[Malcolm]

and I have stayed at Jills too, when I had guests in my villa. We had an excellent few days there :) I would of run off with her lounger, but she would of known it was me :pgig:

Doubt it.... she knew i was after it aswell so we could have kept her guessing.... :d:

[jcholidays]

Has this helped Clair?

Private owners really do try to help out thier guests and want them to have a fantastic time.

[tomnj]

and I have stayed at Jills too, when I had guests in my villa. We had an excellent few days there :) I would of run off with her lounger, but she would of known it was me :pgig:

Evidently, you only need to worry about other Dibb villa owners :d:

[Betty_Boop41212]

Sorry to highjack the thread, but Ive booked a private villa and when I go onto the appraisers website I cant find any info on the people I have rented the villa from.

Does this mean I have to worry?

[welshwiz]

Sorry to highjack the thread, but Ive booked a private villa and when I go onto the appraisers website I cant find any info on the people I have rented the villa from.

Does this mean I have to worry?

No please don't worry. Firstly you need to know which county the home is in so that you are logging onto the correct appraiser site....

[Serendipity]

It will also come back as no results if you put too much information in or one thing slightly wrong.

[Betty_Boop41212]

ah ok thanks

[doradaxplorer]

Can anyone tell me where i could check ownership of a villa at Seasons?

Hi we stayed at Seasons in September last year,it was a really lovely villa,little bit further down the 192 than where we usually stay and it is not a gated community but right next to a Walmart. :wavey: