I am one of those “strangers” that rents properties to visitors to The Villages. I am honest, responsible, and trustworthy. I ONLY rent through professional short and long term rental sites (like Vacation Rental By Owner and VillagesHomes4rent) but how would you know to trust me? Well, to start with, I have a track record, dozens of 5 star reviews from previous renters. Those reviews frequently extoll the virtues of the house and say something like “exactly as advertised”. This puts my guests at ease.
That said, I have friends who rent on Craigslist, and they are honorable, but I have also seen MY OWN HOUSE advertised on Craigslist(!), clearly a scam. So bottom line, check references. If you have doubts, talk to the owner. Make sure you know where your money is going, using a trusted intermediary if you can’t personally verify who you are dealing with.
|