Trip Cancellation

luvthebeach57:

If you luv the beach, and luv the property, why worry about $125 to insure yourself against losing your money in the event that you need to cancel?

Little Fish

Consider not using a rental agency, then rent directly from owners who manage their own property. Maybe they would be more flexible. Most owners will refund your money if the week is rebooked or work something out with you if unforeseen circumstances occur.

The cancellation insurance is not pocketed by agencies. It is an insurance purchased through an insurance company. The agencies started this after multiple storms rolled through in 2005.

If you don't want to pay it and a storm rolls through during your vacation, would you expect the owner to refund you? They are taking just as much risk as you, and also paying in much higher windstorm premiums since all the named hurricanes.

As far as rebooking the house, I will refund someone's monies if they have to cancel for personal reason and I can rebook the time. Fortunately this has not happened for anyone. I think the insurance when purchased by the agency goes hand in hand with the windstorm insurance, and I don't think they can separate it. Beside even if they could, the difference would probably be nominal.

For once I have to agree with Little Fish.

Mango:

"For once I have to agree with Little Fish."

I can't believe it! I almost fell out of my chair.

Cheers!

Little Fish

Mango:

"For once I have to agree with Little Fish."

I can't believe it! I almost fell out of my chair.

Cheers!

Little Fish

LF,

It happened to me once....I still have to take medication to this day. :blink:

😀

:drink2:

Go for the trip insurance, you never know.

That said, the trip insurance money goes to an insurance company as Mango said. If you don't want the trip insurance and just pay up front and then cancel, the management company will take it's normal commission and roll the remainder to the owner just like a regular renter. Sometimes you get lucky and they can rebook the unit to someone else.

Rental companies have gone to this policy since there is a direct correlation of family deaths to a rainy weekend. I personally spoke to a woman who called teary eyed stating she needed to cancel due to an emergency brain cancer surgery, but if we couldn't refund the money she was willing to change the dates to the following week. Aside from the amazing recovery time for brain surgery, we were also in the cone for an impending tropical storm.

Additionally, you should find out exactly what the insurance covers for cancelation. None of them cover a rainy forecast unless it is a hurricane.

To me if you go to VRBO you expect that - - - BY OWNER!!

I understand that many people are turning to management companies that will manage their property at a reduced commission b/c they only advertise on VRBO. Some big companies use it or the owners will forward the rental to the company for the company to handle and then they (the owner) are not charged as big a % from the rental company.

I feel that if you make contact with an OWNER then that OWNER should tell you UPFRONT that he/she uses a rental company so the potential renter needs to expect to check in at an office and other fees could/would be charged.

Now this is just me and how I feel. I have several rentals through VRBO but I do everything myself. I have had people cancel and not rebook and then cancel and rebook. Trust me, I totally understand that things come up and trips have to be cancelled. Mango is correct the $ goes to an insurance company. I did not have rental property after the storms so I dont have a 'bad taste in my mouth from cancellations'. I do understand if someone who lost 2 months of rentals and nothing to show for it wants cancellation insurance... :wave:

People (not saying you luvthebeach:wub:) have to remember that people who rent their property it is a business and has to be treated as such.

So, luvthebeach, I guess you will have to decide if you are hellbent on this place or go and find another. Unless it is the 4th of July you probably will still have PLENTY of options. ;-)

Go for the trip insurance, you never know.

Rental companies have gone to this policy since there is a direct correlation of family deaths to a rainy weekend. I personally spoke to a woman who called teary eyed stating she needed to cancel due to an emergency brain cancer surgery, but if we couldn't refund the money she was willing to change the dates to the following week. Aside from the amazing recovery time for brain surgery, we were also in the cone for an impending tropical storm.

.

how sad that people use a something like that as an excuse...:cry:
all I can say is KARMA!!

how sad that people use a something like that as an excuse...:cry:
all I can say is KARMA!!

Veryt true. I also agree with everything you said above. Although some people use management companies or companies use VRBO, they should be upfront about this.

The owner just gave me the option to cancel or change my reservation up until the last minute without penalty. She has been very kind and flexible. I've developed a rapport with her so that she feels that she can trust me. I've never had to cancel a beach reservation in 25 years. So, to answer my own question, yes an owner can override the rental mgmt policies.

The owner just gave me the option to cancel or change my reservation up until the last minute without penalty. She has been very kind and flexible. I've developed a rapport with her so that she feels that she can trust me. I've never had to cancel a beach reservation in 25 years. So, to answer my own question, yes an owner can override the rental mgmt policies.

I think it will be a rare owner that will do this, especially without penalty. What if you do have to cancel 3 days before, and she can't re-rent? She loses a whole week of rental income- wow.

luvthebeach,

I am glad everything worked out for you. one thing I enjoy about renting through vrbo is getting to know the people that are renting them - especially the ones who stay a week. I had a person once who had to cancel due to an emergency about 3 weeks out. She wanted to reschedule another date but I didnt have any that would work for her. She asked me to take money out of the rent that she had already sent me, I didnt. Once again, KARMA. I ended up renting the unit again and she was not out any money. :wub:
I felt good about it which is all that matters.

We allow full refunds for cancellation 45 days or more prior to arrival minus a small ($25) fee. Anything less than 45 days is not refundable unless we can rebook the property. Some people don't seem to realize that many times we have taken our property off the market for them for 6 months or more and have possibly turned down numerous other renters (many people inquire even though the availability calendar shows no availability).

Last minute cancellations for medical reasons and such are tough on the guest but most owners just cannot assume that risk themselves throughout the high rental seasons. We are not a hotel with hundreds or thousands of rooms. Our rental contract states that the guest is aware of the cancellation policy and has been advised to consider trip cancellation insurance.

Any evacuation is fully refundable but bad weather and rain is not.

The owner just gave me the option to cancel or change my reservation up until the last minute without penalty. She has been very kind and flexible. I've developed a rapport with her so that she feels that she can trust me. I've never had to cancel a beach reservation in 25 years. So, to answer my own question, yes an owner can override the rental mgmt policies.

This does happen, most rental companies will comply with what an owner wants to do. Except for extreme situations like over population of the unit.

We allow full refunds for cancellation 45 days or more prior to arrival minus a small ($25) fee. Anything less than 45 days is not refundable unless we can rebook the property. Some people don't seem to realize that many times we have taken our property off the market for them for 6 months or more and have possibly turned down numerous other renters (many people inquire even though the availability calendar shows no availability).

Last minute cancellations for medical reasons and such are tough on the guest but most owners just cannot assume that risk themselves throughout the high rental seasons. We are not a hotel with hundreds or thousands of rooms. Our rental contract states that the guest is aware of the cancellation policy and has been advised to consider trip cancellation insurance.

Any evacuation is fully refundable but bad weather and rain is not.

That's very reasonable. Do you rent on your own or thru a rental company?