Florida Scandi Vacation homes M/C

[NewtoOrlando]

We’ve booked a villa for 12 nights on HomeAway for next August, and it’s through the above company. Has anyone heard of them or booked through them before?

The reviews of the properly are good, and we drive past their offices on the 192 plus saw one of their maintainance team vans by the gas station, so they look legit enough but would like to hear from anyone who has booked through them? The villa is in Emerald a Island. We’ve only ever booked direct with the owners of villas/condos so am a bit nervous going through a M/C! Thanks!

[Tetrarch]

There are literally hundreds of management companies in the Orlando area but this is not one I've personally heard of. Booking with an MC rather than the owner direct for a specific villa, there is always the risk that the owner may decide to change MC's before your stay.

If this happened your original villa would no longer be available but you would hope the MC could offer you something else from their inventory. However, in a recent thread on here, another Dibber in exactly this position had problems getting a refund when the alternative offered was unacceptable to the renter. You might want to read your contract carefully to confirm whether you have rented a specific villa and what it says if this property is no longer available.

Debra

[DonnaD]

I do see their vans alot so definitely a fairly decent size company.

[NewtoOrlando]

Originally Posted by Tetrarch

There are literally hundreds of management companies in the Orlando area but this is not one I've personally heard of. Booking with an MC rather than the owner direct for a specific villa, there is always the risk that the owner may decide to change MC's before your stay.

If this happened your original villa would no longer be available but you would hope the MC could offer you something else from their inventory. However, in a recent thread on here, another Dibber in exactly this position had problems getting a refund when the alternative offered was unacceptable to the renter. You might want to read your contract carefully to confirm whether you have rented a specific villa and what it says if this property is no longer available.

Debra

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Thank you, it was that post that got me thinking, I need to have a good look at the T&C I think. I have the full address but cant check the taxes etc as don't have the owner details and when I put the address into the Osceola tax site nothing comes up. Not sure if this is something to be alarmed about? It's a lovely villa and we were quite late finding something we liked for our dates that fitted the bill

[NewtoOrlando]

Originally Posted by DonnaD

I do see their vans alot so definitely a fairly decent size company.

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We saw one of their vans coming out of the Wawa by Avalon Rd last month, which reassured me a little. Their office is up by Formosa Gardens. Just wish I booked direct with an owner as wouldn't be having doubts!

[vinlaasmummy07]

We drove past their offices daily when staying at emerald island. They are in the office that was another management company before that were also UK based.

There was lots of vans so would imagine They are busy

[NewtoOrlando]

Originally Posted by Magnificent

Sadly, I think this is the trouble with reading about others' bad experiences on a forum - it creates doubt like a row of dominoes!

If you only read the bad experiences (whether about hotels, villas, Disney, anywhere), you'd never leave the house ... and I think generally many will be more motivated to write about the bad experiences (unexpected) than the good ones (expected).

Though I also agree with what Debra has said that and that generally you are better book directly with the owner to avoid this sort of issue.

In other words, I'd say it's wise not to get too swayed by that thread and worry too much about this time's stay ... but that as it has made you realise this isn't a risk you want to take, you can avoid this risk next time by going back to booking direct.

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Thanks. I actually managed to track the owner down through the facebook advert and checked the tax records & everything looks like it's above board. I have also had the management company send me a copy of the terms and conditions of the booking.

I have only ever booked direct with owners on our 3 previous trips, but couldn't find what we wanted in the location we wanted direct with an owner for our dates, because my parents are coming we needed some extra facilities that we wouldn't usually look for so found it harder this time to book!