[walkr]

If you are talking about short-term rentals, then I would ask if they are paying the Florida rental tax on the rent you will be paying. (It may be called something else.) I always feel a little uneasy about people who cheat on their taxes. If they do that, what else are they doing that's not quite fair or honest?

(I believe if the rental is for over six months, this tax is not required.)

[tv2016]

Also ask about a security deposit, how much and refundability. Pets or smoking, if you want either one. Cancellation policy. If long-term, payment structure.

Enjoy The Villages!

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I would check the county property appraisal site to make sure who ever you are dealing with is the actual owner of the house before you sign or send money to anyone.

[ijusluvit]

I think it's essential to have either the owner or their agent available at the home to greet and orient you to the place, and to be able to respond quickly to any problem which may occur.

[graciegirl]

Here is a thread started by a disgruntled renter.



From a renter's point of view....

[asianthree]

if you are renting long term more than six months one day, then there are no fl taxes..and you usually pay the cable electric internet... less than six months fl taxes are involved...ask if there is an inventory list so when you check in and out there is not problems, we have pictures of everything in the house email the inventory to the new tentent so they know what is in the house.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Cantwaittoarrive

I would check the county property appraisal site to make sure who ever you are dealing with is the actual owner of the house before you sign or send money to anyone.

I agree with Cantwait. Whatever county (Sumter, Lake or Marion) the house is located in, go on to the property appraiser's web site to verify that the person you are sending money to is really the owner of the house. I have done this each time I have rented in The Villages.

[Nancy10]

Originally Posted by katerogers

I am trying to choose the right home to rent. Unfortunately, I have to rent the place sight unseen. I am looking for recommendations about the questions I should ask, that someone who has ever been to TV might not think to ask.
Thanks Katie

We rented from someone via Villages4rent.com and had a disappointing experience. As far as I can tell, that website does not allow for feedback from renters so there is no way to communicate such an experinece.
Just for starters, the kitchen was very poorly equiped. There were 2 teaspoons in the flatware set, for example. There were many such examples of the poorly equiped house. The furniture was dirty. It took 3 months to get our deposit back. Money was withheld from the deposit for an unfair reason, we believe. We did not dispute that because we felt very fortunate to be finished with the woman who owned the home. This was an expensive rental, about $4,000, as I recall.
We rented previously from the same website and a different owner with an excellent experience except the gas golf cart had a lot of fumes. I think you can rent your own cart but don't know the details of that.
The Villages4Rent is not the only place to rent a house. You can rent from The Villages sales office, I think.
Sorry to have a bad experience to share and I wish you well in your search for a good experience.
I think renters would, for the most part, be willing to let you or your rep, check out the house before renting. As someone said, good "landlords" want good, repeat renters and I think would be willing to make the effort and want to meet you, too.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Nancy10

We rented from someone via Villages4rent.com and had a disappointing experience. As far as I can tell, that website does not allow for feedback from renters so there is no way to communicate such an experinece.
Just for starters, the kitchen was very poorly equiped. There were 2 teaspoons in the flatware set, for example. There were many such examples of the poorly equiped house. The furniture was dirty. It took 3 months to get our deposit back. Money was withheld from the deposit for an unfair reason, we believe. We did not dispute that because we felt very fortunate to be finished with the woman who owned the home. This was an expensive rental, about $4,000, as I recall.
We rented previously from the same website and a different owner with an excellent experience except the gas golf cart had a lot of fumes. I think you can rent your own cart but don't know the details of that.
The Villages4Rent is not the only place to rent a house. You can rent from The Villages sales office, I think.
Sorry to have a bad experience to share and I wish you well in your search for a good experience.
I think renters would, for the most part, be willing to let you or your rep, check out the house before renting. As someone said, good "landlords" want good, repeat renters and I think would be willing to make the effort and want to meet you, too.

I have rented 4 times from The Villages 4 Rent, Rentals in The Villages. All experiences were great. During one rental last year there were a few minor problems with internet access and the garage door not opening, but the landlord fixed those problems right away. I received my security deposit either upon check out or within 10 days after checking out. I think it helped that all landlords so far have lived in The Villages and could respond to any problems right away. Today starts rental number 5, and I brought a few things over to the rental house last night -- house looks just like it did the photos www.thevillages4rent.com, which is good.

Yes, you can rent your own golf cart if the home doesn't come with a golf cart. The online version of the Daily Sun has golf cart rental places in their classified section, or you can search on TOTV for golf cart rentals. Another web site to rent from that has listings in The Villages is VRBO® is Vacation Rentals By Owner.

[OldManTime]

Location, Location, Location! If you choose the location closest to major roads, close to shopping, close to your church, which area has the lowest crime stats.

[katerogers]

Originally Posted by Cantwaittoarrive

I would check the county property appraisal site to make sure who ever you are dealing with is the actual owner of the house before you sign or send money to anyone.

Have you had this experience or have known of others who have? Another fantastic point that I never would have even considered. Not that you have let my imagination run away with me, I can think of numerous ways that an unsuspecting, out-of-state, tenant could be separated from their money. I'll have to be on the alert for this. Thank you

Katie

[katerogers]

Originally Posted by Nancy10

We rented from someone via Villages4rent.com and had a disappointing experience. As far as I can tell, that website does not allow for feedback from renters so there is no way to communicate such an experinece.
Just for starters, the kitchen was very poorly equiped. There were 2 teaspoons in the flatware set, for example. There were many such examples of the poorly equiped house. The furniture was dirty. It took 3 months to get our deposit back. Money was withheld from the deposit for an unfair reason, we believe. We did not dispute that because we felt very fortunate to be finished with the woman who owned the home. This was an expensive rental, about $4,000, as I recall.
We rented previously from the same website and a different owner with an excellent experience except the gas golf cart had a lot of fumes. I think you can rent your own cart but don't know the details of that.
The Villages4Rent is not the only place to rent a house. You can rent from The Villages sales office, I think.
Sorry to have a bad experience to share and I wish you well in your search for a good experience.
I think renters would, for the most part, be willing to let you or your rep, check out the house before renting. As someone said, good "landlords" want good, repeat renters and I think would be willing to make the effort and want to meet you, too.

I am even more grateful now that Dee has graciously volunteered to check out the houses that I am considering renting. As I read these other helpful posts - and thank you all - I realize that her involvement might be a deterrent in more than just determining if the photos don't accurately reflect what the place looks like.

I'm renting for a year, so thankfully this extra tax won't be added.

Katie

[Jimbo120]

As a renter you may want to know what direction the lanai faces... east is preferrable for many people to get the morning sun and not the afternoon.
Privacy can be an issue in the villages where your lanai backs up to someone else's. Good luck!